The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 655

are with an aggravating epeed (soo Pa. lxu. 27). If the wicked give "large money" to promote a lie, the good should not give small money grudgingly to propagate the 88ving truth. (2) His confusion will be all the more signal. (a) The disciples were not likely to attempt the stealing of the body. For had they thought Christ a deceiver, they would not have run any risk for him. Had they believed him the Mesaiah, they could have had no OOC&11ion or inducement. The pilgrimage of the women was one of devotion, to weep over the dead, and pour eome fresh ointment over One whom they desired to preserve, but dreamt not of being able to restore. They were perplexed as to who should roll away the stone, being ignorant both of its being sealed and of the watch being set over it. They were not likely to be in any plot for the stealing of his body to trump up a story of his resurrection. (b) The soldiers were not likely to have allowed the removal of the body. A watch of sixty armed men could not have been overpowered by a few terrified disciples. The whole watch could not have been asleep, and asleep so soundly as not to be awakened by the rolling away of a stone so large that a company of women despaired of moving it, and by the entrance into the sepulchre of a number of men, and their subsequent exit from it bearing the body. This is all the less likely to have occurred when it is remembered that, according to Roman military law, it was instant death that a guard should be found off their watch. And if they were asleep, how did they know what happenc-d? (c) The elders pain- fully felt the clumitlness of their story, else why did they not ■earch the lodgir;igs of the disciples for the body said to have been stolen by them? Were they likely to have been careful for the safety of the Roman soldiers unless they had some reason for it? Do not the words of Gamaliel (see Acts v. 38, 39) assume that the resurrection might be true? Could this argument have been pleaded in the council had the senators continued to maintain their story? III. THE DISCIPLES WERE MOVED. L W7ud u sorrow to tM wicked is often Joy to tM good. (1) While the soldiers went to the elders with the news of the Resurrection, t-0 fill their faces with shatne, the women went to the disciples with the same news, to fill their hearts with gladness. They were commissioned to gather the disciples to 11 particular mountain in Galilee, there to meet their risen Lord. The "names" in Jeru- salem were "a hundred and twenty;" in Galilee the number was greater. This was probably the occasion upon which the Lord appeared to" above five hundred brethren" (see 1 Cor. xv. 6). Matthew passes by at least five different appearances of our Lord, and proceeds to speak of one which seems, Crom its previous appointment, to have been an occasion of peculiar solemnity and importance. His object evidently was to refute the tale respecting the stealing of the body. (2) The fact of the Resurrection is eminently joyful, as it settles for ever the Measiahship of Jesus, and with it the absolute truth of his teaching and the trustworthiness of his glorious promises. 2. Holy Joy la dapened with the assu.rance of faith. (1) When the disciples saw Jesus they wor- shipped him. Here was a recognition of his Divinity (cf. eh. xviii. 26; Acts x. 28; Rev. v.; vi; xix. 10). Dy accepting their worship Jesus acknowledged himself to be God. Christian worsl.tip is the adoration of Christ as" the true God and Eternal Life" (see 1 John v. 20, 21). To worship in truth is to serve in love. (2) "Some doubted." 'l'hey doubted that we may believe. For the disciples were the reverse of credulous men. They doubted transiently, viz. while Jesus was yet at a distance; but when he "came to them, and spake unto them," they doubted no more ( cf. ver. 18; Luke xxiv. 37; John xx. 24). Doubts may transiently trouble the sincere worshipper, but in due time Jesus will come nearer and bleesedly manifest himself (see John xvi. 21). 'l'he wickedly obstinate will not believe, though they see (see John ix. 41).-J. A. M. Ven. 18-l:l0.-The commission. The angel at the sepulchre directed the women to announce the resurrection of Christ to bis disciples and summon them to meet him in Galilee. Jesus himself afterwards appeared to them and repeated this instruction. The eleven accordingly repaired to the appointed place, and with them probably the five hundred brethren (see 1 Cor. xv. 6). "Some" of this number-some of those who had not seen him, like Thomas-" doubted " of the reality of the Resurrection, until they were convinced by the evidence of sense. In the words he addressed to them we have: L The commission he receiveJ from God. 2. The commission he gave to his disciples. 3. The promise of his presence with them. The COJP,J1U1Wion to the disciples on. xxvm. 1-20.J TfiE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 661