The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 653

upon the watch. The BCCOunts in Mark and Luke may be harmonized to thia view, Then, deecending from the stone, he conducted them into the tomb, where they BBW a second angel, but otherwise a vacant sepulchre. "He is not here: for he is risen 0 I\S he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay," The stone was not removed to Ie, the Savionr out, but to let the witnesses in to see that he waa already gone. (3) The presumption, then, is that the body of Jesus had undergone such a change that it paased out of the sepulchre through the pores of the stone, as the electric matter freely passes through concrete snbstances. The following remarkable words are aeoribed to the Rabbi Judah Rak kodesh : "After three daye the soul of Messiah shall return to its body, and shall go out of that stone in which he shall be buried." (4) This same etherial property was afterwards exhibited whenever Jesus vanished from the sight of those to whom he had appeared. It was likewise remarkably exhibited on those occasions in which he stood in the midst of his disciples when they were assembled with closed doors (see John xx. 19-29). 2. But the body qf Je:sus is the pattern resurrection-body. (1) "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the imaize of the heavenly" ( cf. Rom. viii. 29; 1 Cor. xv. 20, 44, 48, 49 ; 2 Cor. ill. 18; iv. 11; Phil. iii. 20, 21). (2) The bodies of the saints that arose after his resurrection exhibited the same ctheria.l qualities (see eh. xx.vii. 53). (3) This will let in light upon the subject of the mingling of the saints of the first resurrection with living men during that great period of the reign of Christ, which is the burden of prophetic hope (cf. Rom. viii. 17; 2 Tim. ii. S-12; Rev. v.10; XL 6). (4) Jesus rose the third day, not only to answer the type of the Prophet Jonah, and to verify his own words (see eh. xii. 40), but to indicate the time of the first resurrection of his saints (cf. Hos. vi. 2). "A day is with the Lord as a thousand years." IlL THAT THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BRINGS BEAVEN NEABEB TO BELIEVER&. 1. It brings them into communion with angds.. (1) The appearanrAJ of the angels to the women evinced that through the risen Saviour we come to a heavenly communion (see Heb. xii. 22). Angels own Jesus as their Lord as well as we. Their communica tion is concerning him. (2) The women had comfortable assurance in their action. It announced to them that the Lord who had been delivered for our offences had rendered satisfaction to Divine justice, and therefore received his legal discharge from the prison. (3) They had this also in their words. (a) "Fear not ye." The watch were left to their fears. Not so the women. True daughters of Sarah (see 1 Pet. ill. 6). (b) "For I know that ye seek Jesus, which bath been crucified." Love seeks Jesus because he bath been crucified. Those who seek the Crucified One need never fear. (c) "He is not here: for he is risen, even as he said." Those who seek Jesus crucified will find him rise:n. "He is risen!" This is joyful news, not only to the women, but to all disciples of Christ in every age. The risen Christ is our consolation. If we find him not immediately in sensible comfort, the assurance that he is risen will be followed by that comfort in good time. Henceforth let us seek J esns as One that is risen, viz. not with carnal thoughts of him (see 2 Cor. v. 16), but with heavenly mind and spiritual communications (cf. Rom. x. 6--8; Phil. ill. 20; Col. iii 1-3). (d) "G6 quickly." Those sent on God's errands must no~ loiter. (e) "'Pen his discipl_es." The disciples of J esu.s are more honoured than kings. The apostles should. beli_eve without seeincr. The women are sent to testify to them, and thus to test their faith. We must not monopolize onr comforts (see 2 Kings vii. 9). "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (f) "Behold, be goeth before you into Galilee." Angels are in the secret of the Lord. 2. It 'brings them into new relations with their Lord. (1) He spiritually manifests himself to them. The women were highly honoured to be the first to whom the risen Lord appeared. That favour expressed the removal from the sex of its ancient reproach (cf. 1 Tim. ii. 14). (2) He speaks comfortable words to them. "A.ll hail I" equivalent to "Rejoice ye I " Let joy triumph over fear. The risen Christ is his people's Joy. "All hail I" equivalent to" All health I "-spiritual and saving health to yon 1 (3) He affords sensible proofs of his love. ".And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him." 'l'hey were now sure it was no phantasm, but the very body of the real Jesus. (4) He gives them his gracious commission:" Fear not; go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me." He went to Galilee to multiply his witnesses. The greater part of his disciples were Galilieans. There it was probably that" he was seen ofmor~ than fiv!I hundred br11thren a on, xxvm.1-20.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING '10 ST. MATTIIEW. 659