They had not only the satisfaction of seeing him look with the same countenance, and hearing him speak with the same voice they had been so long accustomed to, Sic oculos, sic ille manus, sic ora, ferebatSuch were his gestures, such his eyes and hands! He that was to prophesy upon the dry bones was also to pray, Come, O breath, and breathe upon them. It was the same day that he rose, being the first day of the week, the day after the Jewish sabbath, at a private meeting of the disciples, ten of them, and some more of their friends with them, Luke 24 33. He had sent them the tidings of his resurrection by trusty and credible messengers; but to show his love to them, and confirm their faith in him, he came himself, and gave them all the assurances they could desire of the truth of it, that they might not have it by hearsay only, and at second hand, but might themselves be eye-witnesses of his being alive, because they must attest it to the world, and build the church upon that testimony. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Life: Henry lived from 1662-1714 in England. (4.) Such as occurred afterwards at the meetings of the apostles. No, they had evidence enough and to spare, and more witnesses to produce than they had occasion for. Note, Weak believers often make that the matter of their complaint which is really just ground of hope, and matter of joy. It was not only a sin, but a scandal. What Happens When Christians Don't Know Ecclesiology? 2. Accordingly, he here makes prompt payment of the legacy: Peace be unto you. The Resurrection. At one, the same day at evening that Christ rose, when Thomas was absent (v. 19-25). IV. not to do his own will, but the will of him that sent him? 2. He might well be ashamed to think, [1.] 2. It does not appear that she had any business now at Jerusalem, but to wait upon him for the women were not bound to go up to the feast, and probably she and others followed him the closer, as Elisha did Elijah, now that they knew their Master would shortly be taken from their head, 2 Kings 2 1-6. 2. The incredulity of Thomas, when the report of this was made to him, which introduced Christ's second appearance. Christ was now sending the disciples to publish peace to the world (Isa 52 7), and he here not only confers it upon them for their own satisfaction, but commits it to them as a trust to be by them transmitted to all the sons of peace, Luke 10 5, 6. [2.] A word of caution to these disciples, not to expect the continuance of his bodily presence on earth, nor the setting up of his temporal kingdom among men, which they dreamed of. Where, and how, Christ made them this visit. He commends the faith of those who believe upon easier terms. (26,27) Commentary on John 15:1-8 (Read John 15:1-8) Jesus Christ is the Vine, the true Vine. The dread of difficulty and danger will be taken off by observing the resolution and courage of others. The apostles were not to receive their instructions from the angels, but from the Spirit of grace. Both are through Christ's name, by his merit and power, and both indefeasibly sure to all true believers. IV. [1.] Matthew 17 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity [2.] John 15 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity II. This was her reward for her constancy in adhering to Christ, and enquiring after him; and a tacit rebuke to the apostles, who had not been so close as she was in attending on the dying Jesus, nor so early as she was in meeting the rising Jesus; she becomes an apostle to the apostles. 2. The constancy and fervency of Mary Magdalene's affection to the Lord Jesus, v. 11. We are not told whether he did put his finger into the print of the nails; it should seem, he did not, for Christ says (v. 29), Thou hast seen, and believed; seeing sufficed. He says it to Christ, and, to complete the sense, we must read it, Thou art my Lord and my God; or, speaking to his brethren, This is my Lord and my God. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Many good people complain of the clouds and darkness they are under, which are the necessary methods of grace for the humbling of their souls, the mortifying of their sins, and the endearing of Christ to them. It is a good sign if such a loss whet our desires, and a bad sign if it cool them. 13 20. But the demonstrations of his resurrection should be reserved as a favour for his particular friends, and by them be published to the world, that those might be blessed who have not seen, and yet have believed. He upbraids him with his former incredulity. 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Christ was now ascending to appear as an advocate with the Fatherwith his Father, and therefore we may hope he will prevail for any thingwith our Father, and therefore we may hope he will prevail for us. (4.) "In this Christ calls to me, and speaks to me.". He that believes upon that sight has his resistance conquered by a sort of violence; but he that believes without it, like the Bereans, is more noble. Peter and John pursued their enquiry no further, but desisted, hovering between faith and unbelief (v. 10): The disciples went away, not much the wiser, to their own home, pros heautousto their own friends and companions, the rest of the disciples to their own lodgings, for homes they had none at Jerusalem. Or thus, As the Father hath sent me is, as it were, the recital of his power; by virtue of the authority given him as a Mediator, he gave authority to them, as his ministers, to act for him, and in his name, with the children of men; so that those who received them, or rejected them, received or rejected him, and him that sent him, ch. Thus, in effect, he blessed and sanctified that day, because in it the Redeemer rested. The commentaries of the Reverend Matthew Henry have been a great blessing to the readers of the Blue Letter Bible since 1996. 2. Two full breasts of consolation are here in these words:. Though she wept, she stooped down and looked in. The infallible proof of Christ's resurrection was his showing himself alive, Acts 1 3. 1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Do we accept of Christ as our Lord God? Thomas's believing consent to Jesus Christ. Note, Notwithstanding the freedom of communion which Christ is pleased to admit us to with himself, we must remember that he is our Master, and to be approached with a godly fear. My Master, my great Master. The description of the persons she saw. (2.) Mary turned herself back, in hopes of some discoveries. They were angels, messengers from heaven, sent on purpose, on this great occasion, [1.] Though it was said here expressly (v. 1) that Christ arose on the first day of the week, and it might have been sufficient to say here (v. 19), he appeared the same day at evening; yet, to put an honour upon the day, it is repeated, being the first day of the week; not that the apostles designed to put honour upon the day (they were yet in doubt concerning the occasion of it), but God designed to put honour upon it, by ordering it that they should be altogether, to receive Christ's first visit on that day. No sooner did Thomas consent to Christ than Christ gives him the comfort of it, and lets him know that he believes. Those that have lost Christ have cause to weep; she wept at the remembrance of his bitter sufferings; wept for his death, and the loss which she and her friends and the country sustained by it; wept to think of returning home without him; wept because she did not now find his body. Because he never showed himself alive after his resurrection to all the people, Acts 10 40, 41. It is a real grief, but no real reproach, to Christ's disciples, thus to abscond. Christ is our Peace; if he is with us, peace is to us. The ancients tell us that John lived longest of all the twelve apostles, and was the only one of them that died a natural death, all the rest suffering martyrdom; and some of them say that he wrote this gospel at Ephesus, at the request of the ministers of the several churches of Asia, in opposition to the heresy of Corinthus and the Ebionites, . Fourthly, Christ left those in the grave, as it were, for our use if the grave be a bed to the saints, thus he hath sheeted that bed, and made it ready for them; and the napkin by itself is of use for the mourning survivors to wipe away their tears. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. whom seekest thou? That one day in seven should be religiously observed was an appointment from the beginning, as old as innocency; and that in the kingdom of the Messiah the first day of the week should be that solemn day this was indication enough, that Christ on that day once and again met his disciples in a religious assembly. Their critics tell us that Rabbon was with them a more honourable title than Rabbi; and therefore Mary chooses that, and adds a note of appropriation, My great Master. Christ thou shalt have." And what is all this noise and ado for?" Note, Those who would seek Christ so as to find him must seek him early; that is, [1.] (2.) [a.] Commentary on Matthew 20 by Matthew Henry - Blue Letter Bible [2.] The honourable and ample commission he gave them to be his agents in the planting of his church, v. 21. "Therefore receive ye the Holy Ghost, to work faith in you, and to open your understandings." Two angels appearing to Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, John 20:11-13. By the death of the testator the testament was become of force, and he was now risen from the dead, to prove the will, and to be himself the executor of it. 3. (18-25) The Comforter promised. She came as soon as she could, for she came, (1.) Touch me not thus at all, for I am to ascend to heaven. She came to the sepulchre, to wash the dead body with her tears, for she went to the grave, to weep there, and to anoint it with the ointment she had prepared. However, by his absence he missed the satisfaction of seeing his Master risen, and of sharing with the disciples in their joy upon that occasion. To whom this message is sent: Go to my brethren with it; for he is not ashamed to call them so. Secondly, Then they were glad; that which strengthened their faith raised their joy; believing they rejoice. See how her heart was set upon finding Christ. This is, First, To direct our faith; it must have an eye to the life, the crown of life, the tree of life set before us. Peter and John consulted neither their ease nor their gravity, but ran to the sepulchre, that they might show the strength of their zeal and affection, and might lose no time. John 20:1. Now observe here. (3.) II. And thus he would gradually wean them from his bodily presence, which they had doted and depended too much upon. c. What the message itself is: I ascend to my Father. My victory over death was the victory of man, whose nature has in Me conquered death. John 17 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise) - Christianity Matthew 17 Commentary; PASTOR LIFE SERMONS - multiple different preachers. 1. (3.) Thus those who are raised to a spiritual life, in conformity to Christ's resurrection, must reckon that they rise to ascend; they are quickened with Christ that they may sit with him in heavenly places, Eph 2 5, 6. When it was that Christ repeated his visit to his disciples: After eight days, that day seven-night after he rose, which must therefore be, as that was, the first day of the week. Mary would fain know where her Lord is, and behold he is at her right hand. Back to Matthew Henry's Bio & Resources. Secondly, With what liveliness of affection she gives this title to Christ. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John followed Peter in venturing. He that was cast behind was Peter, who had denied his Master, and was in sorrow and shame for it, and this clogged him as a weight; sense of guilt cramps us, and hinders our enlargement in the service of God. [2.] 19-25 Matthew Henry Commentary on the Bible John 20:19-25 19-25 This was the first day of the week, and this day is afterwards often mentioned by the sacred writers; for it was evidently set apart as the Christian sabbath, in remembrance of Christ's resurrection. If she had had faith as a grain of mustard-seed, this mountain would have been removed; but we often perplex ourselves needlessly with imaginary difficulties, which faith would discover to us as real advantages. Table of Contents - Matthew Henry's Commentary - Bible Gateway she was presently aware who it was, as the spouse (Cant 2 8), It is the voice of my beloved. She supposed this gardener grudged that the body of one that was ignominiously crucified should have the honour to be laid in his master's new tomb, and that therefore he had removed it to some sorry place, which he thought fitter for it. And now in the beginning of his glory he was forty days, for the most part unseen, attended by good spirits. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (4.) Two angels appearing to Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, ver 11-13. Note, Those we preach to we must pray for. His concise whole-Bible commentary is one volume. Matthew 17:20; JOSEPH PARKER. III. Matthew Henry - Wikipedia Surprising comforts are the frequent encouragements of early seekers. Christ's ascension into heaven, in further prosecution of his undertaking for us, is likewise an unspeakable comfort: "Tell them I must shortly ascend; that is the next step I am to take." (1.) (3.) John 20 Matthew Henry's Commentary - Bible Hub Why are thou cast down? Then! Note, The exalted Redeemer will ever show himself open-handed and open-hearted to all his faithful friends and followers. It intimates likewise that angels are to be employed about the saints, not only at their death, to carry their souls into Abraham's bosom, but at the great day, to raise their bodies, Matt 24 31. Observe, [1.] 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. How Christ at length made himself known to her, and, by a pleasing surprise, gave her infallible assurances of his resurrection. b. He assures us that many other things occurred, which were all worthy to be recorded, but are not written in the book: many signs. The truth of her affection. Christ, being risen for our justification, sends his gospel heralds to proclaim the jubilee begun, the act of indemnity now passed; and by this rule men shall be judged, ch. Thomas speaks with an ardency of affection, as one that took hold of Christ with all his might, My Lord and my God. Matthew Henry's Commentary. Nay, but is it indeed?" See Heb 2 5. John 20:17, REV Bible and Commentary - Revised English Version When Mary told them what she had seen, they would not in this sense take her word, but would go and see with their own eyes. He forbids her to dote upon his bodily presence, to set her heart on this, or expect its continuance, and leads her to the spiritual converse and communion which she should have with him after he was ascended to his Father; for the greatest joy of his resurrection was that it was a step towards his ascension. Moses could not give his Spirit, God did it (Num 11 17); but Christ did it himself. A sight of angels and their smiles will not suffice without a sight of Christ and God's smiles in him. [2.] Observe. Christ himself appearing to her, John 20:14-18. (1.) (2.) It is the great dignity of believers that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is, in him, their Father. Thirdly, When we arise from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, we must leave our grave-clothes behind us, must put off all our corruptions. 3. Some think that the other disciples were with Peter and John when the news came; for they told these things to the eleven, Luke 24 9. Secondly, That he is the Son of God; not only as Mediator (for then he had not been greater than Moses, who was a prophet, intercessor, and lawgiver), but antecedent to his being the Mediator; for if he had not been a divine person, endued with the power of God and entitled to the glory of God, he had not been qualified for the undertaking-not fit either to do the Redeemer's work or to wear the Redeemer's crown. John went no further than Mary Magdalene had done. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 14 27. 7 39. And here observe. His disciples had lately carried themselves very disingenuously towards him; he had never seen them together since they all forsook him and fled, when he was apprehended; justly might he now have sent them an angry message: "Go to yonder treacherous deserters, and tell them, I will never trust them any more, or have any thing more to do with them." 16 22), I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice. Some refer this to all the signs that Jesus did during his whole life, all the wondrous words he spoke, and all the wondrous works he did. 2. He suffers his wounds to be raked into, allows Thomas even to thrust his hand into his side, if then at last he would believe. By a strict discipline, applying the general rule of the gospel to particular persons. 1. And therefore enemies were most solicitous to stifle the notice of this, because it was put on this issue, and, if he be risen, they are not only murderers, but murderers of the Messiah. And, besides, he would have all the disciples witnesses of the rebuke he gave to Thomas, and yet withal of the tender care he had of him. Some disciples are quick, and they are useful to quicken those that are slow; others are bold, and they are useful to embolden those that are timorous; diversity of gifts, but one Spirit. In visiting Christ's sepulchre she exposed herself, and perhaps the disciples, to the suspicion of a design to steal him away; and what real service could she do him by it? Peter and John had left her seeking him carefully with tears, and would not stay to seek him with her; and now she comes to tell them that she had found him, and to rectify the mistake she had led them into by enquiring after the dead body, for now she found it was a living body and a glorified one; so that she found what she sought, and, what was infinitely better, she had joy in her sight of the Master herself, and was willing to communicate of her joy, for she knew it would be good news to them. The method he took to convince them of the truth of his resurrection, They now saw him alive whom multitudes had seen dead two or three days before. Resources Matthew Henry's Commentary John John Chapter 1 Verses 1-5 Verses 6-14 Verses 15-18 Verses 19-28 Verses 29-36 Verses 37-42 Verses 43-51 Chapter 2 Verses 1-11 Verses 12-22 Verses 23-25 Chapter 3 Verses 1-21 Verses 22-36 Chapter 4 Verses 1-3 Verses 4-26 Verses 27-42 Verses 43-54 Chapter 5 Verses 1-16 Verses 17-30 Verses 31-47 Chapter 6 (2.) Now that the Son of God was again to be brought into the world, the angels have a charge to attend him, as they did at his birth, Heb 1 6. In these verses we have the first step towards the proof of Christ's resurrection, which is, that the sepulchre was found empty. 7 Short but Mighty Lessons from the Book of James, When it Comes to Miracles, God Does it His Way. Here is the design of those that wrote the gospel. He bottles their tears, and records them in his book. Christians should thus sympathize with one another. II. His kind and familiar salutation of his disciples: He said, Peace be unto you. Those that by faith have seen the Lord, and tasted that he is gracious, should tell others what God has done for their souls; only let boasting be excluded. When and where this appearance was, v. 19. When Christ manifests his love to believers by the comforts of his Spirit, assures them that because he lives they shall live also, then he shows them his hands and his side. Some write books for their diversion, and publish them for their profit or applause, others to oblige the Athenian humour, others to instruct the world in arts and sciences for their secular advantage; but the evangelists wrote without any view of temporal benefit to themselves or others, but to bring men to Christ and heaven, and, in order to this, to persuade men to believe; and for this they took the most fitting methods, they brought to the world a divine revelation, supported with its due evidences. What was said and done in this visit Christ made to his disciples, and his interview between them. They that are free among the dead are separated from the living; and it must be an extraordinary affection to the person which will endear his grave to us. As one coward makes many, so does one believer, one sceptic, making his brethren's heart to faint like his heart, Deut 20 8. God having constituted him the umpire and referee, we must approve the choice, and entirely refer ourselves to him. She found the stone taken away, which she had seen rolled to the door of the sepulchre. To inform him: "We have seen the Lord, and we wish thou hadst been here, to see him too, for thou wouldest have seen enough to satisfy thee." Observe. Great spirits will not be dictated to by their inferiors, especially in their acts of grace; yet Christ is pleased here to accommodate himself even to Thomas's fancy in a needless thing, rather than break with him, and leave him in his unbelief. By sound doctrine. Where there is a true desire of acquaintance with Christ there will be a constant attendance on the means of knowledge. Upon the first day of the week, as soon as ever the sabbath was gone, longing, not to sell corn and to set forth wheat (as Amos 8 5), but to be at the sepulchre. And why so? It was no breach of ill manners for John, though the younger, to outrun Peter, and get before him. As the Father sent him to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, so he sent them into all the world. John 17 Matthew Henry's Commentary - Bible Hub
You May Not Make A U-turn In Front Of,
When Are The Leafs Wearing St Pats Jerseys,
Articles J
john 20:17 matthew henry commentary
