A Brief Exposition of Matthew, Biblical commentary · Part · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII.
In this chapter Christs resurrection is declared by Angels, to vers. 9. By Christ himself, ver. 11. by the watch to the priests, who do corrupt the watch, and make them to lie for money, vers. 16. Christ meeteth with his disciples, and authorizeth them to teach and baptize all Nations.
Ver. 1. IN the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre.
OUr Lord having satisfied Justice for us to the full, in his obedience unto the death, could not be holden by death, but as the Son of God in Power, behoved to rise again according to the prediction of the Scriptures, that he might give Righteousnesse, and Resurrection unto eternall Life, to all his Redeemed Ones, who do flie unto him for refuge. In these two women, who are made the first witnesses of his resurrection, learn, 1. The Power of Love and Faith in that soul which hath found peace of conscience through Christ, will not suffer the Believer to be unmindfull of him, as appeareth in Mary Magdalene, and that other Mary, They must know what is become of him, They come to see the Sepulchre the third day after his Buriall. 2. As any are before others in love to Christ, so are they in account in Gods books; for this is the third time, that Mary Magdalene is honourably made mention of, for her love to our Lord. 3. It is wisdome to moderate the expressions of Love and Zeal, so as commanded duties be nor neglected; for, These holy women do observe the Sabbath, and come not forth, till it he ended.
Ver. 2. And behold there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
In the manner of the Lord's Resurrection, learn, 1. That as our Lords Death was shamefull, in suffering the punishment due to our sins, so his Resurrection for our Justification was wonderfully glorious: for as Heaven sent forth an Angel for his service now, so the Earth trembled when he stirred to arise out of it, There was a great earthquake, and an Angel descended from Heaven. 2. Christ will make use of his creatures so, as he seeth most fit for his own Glory; for some base rascal… shall crucifie him, honourable Joseph of Arimathea shall bury him, an Angel shall roll the stone from the tombe. 3. Albeit all the Angels be at our Lords call, yet he will make use onelyonly of one or two in a service, when one or two … sufficient for his purpose, as here one spoken of, is abundant to roll away the stone, and to be Porter to him at his going out of the Sepulchre; one is sufficient to affray and boast all the Priests guard set about the Sepulchre; for this one Angel, when he had rolled away the stone, sat upon it, as a Commander.
Ver. 3. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.
4. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
In the description of the Angel, learn, 1. That Angels take upon them bodily shapes, when their commission to speak to men, and to be seen of men requireth so; as here this Angels countenance, and his garments are observed. 2. Great must be the Majesty of our Lord Jesus, when his servants countenance is like lightning, and his garment white as snow. 3. The plots of Christ's adversaries are turned about, as engines of war against themselves; for these keepers are sent forth to keep Christ within the tombe, and now they are made, nill they will they, witnesses of his resurrection. 4. Such as are most stout against Christ, shall be most afraid and astonished when he sheweth his Glory; for, The keepers now do shake, and become as dead men.
Ver. 5. And the Angel answered, and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Iesus which was crucified.
6. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said: come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The Angel speaketh comfortably to these two women, and sheweth them that Christ is risen, and commandeth them to carry the news unto the Apostles. Doct. 1. By the same means the Lord can terrifie his adversaries, and comfort his people: those he suffereth to lie still in their terrour, these he comforteth; Fear not ye, saith the Angel unto the women: as much as, these keepers may look for wrath; but, Fear not ye. 2. Such as are seeking after Jesus, may take comfort, whatsoever come; for upon this ground the Angel saith, Fear not, I know ye are seeking Iesus. 3. We have no reason to be ashamed of Christs crosse, when the Angels avow Christ crucified to be the Lord. 4. If God should use Kings and Emperours to be Preachers of Christs crosse and resurrection, it should be no disparagement to their high place; for this message is worthy of such an Angel as this …o be messenger, and even the Angels do not so much honour the message, as they are honoured by it: and who is he who thinketh himselfe too good to be a Preacher of the Gospel? 5. Christs body after his resurrection, retaineth the naturall properties of a body, it is in one place, and not in another, the Scripture knoweth no ubiquity of his body; for, He is not here, saith the Angel, he is risen. 6. No rest for our faith, save in our Lords word; if it be once received, then other things serve to confirm faith; for first, He is risen, as he said, saith the Angel, and then biddeth them, Come see where the Lord lay. 7. It is a sufficient argument to prove that Christs body is not present in a place, if sense perceive it not present, for the Angel proveth that Christ is not in the Sepulchre by this reason, Come see the place where the Lord lay, he is not here.
Ver. 7 And go quickly, and tell his Disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him; lo, I have told you.
The Angel sendeth away these women, to carry joyfull tidings to the scattered Apostles. Doc. 1. Albeit women be debarred from the ordinary office of preaching the Gospel, yet it may serve them sufficiently for incouragement to believe in Jesus, that beside other extraordinary passages of Christ's respect unto them, their Sex is honoured with the carrying of the first tidings of the resurrection. Go tell his Disciples, that he is risen from the dead, saith the Angel to the women. 2. What concerneth Gods glory, and others comfort in the day of griefe, should be diligently gone about without delay; Go quickly. 3. Christ is that good Shepherd who gathereth his people unto him, after that the storm of persecution hath scattered them, and driven them from him; for here, he sendeth his Angel to his feeble Disciples, to conveen them unto him in Galilee. 4. The Lord pitieth the infirmity of his people, and appointeth their Assemblies where they may be most secure and safe; as here, he trusteth his Disciples not at Jerusalem at the first, but in their own Countrey, Galilee. 5. The Lords order is first to crave belief of his hearers, and then to give them proof by sight and sensible experience; as here the Angel giveth command to carry the tidings of the truth delivered, and then promiseth that after that, They shall see him in Galilee. 6. It is a speciall prop to our faith, to consider from what Author the word of Faith cometh unto us, and by what Messenger; Therefore saith the Angel, Behold, I have told you.
Ver. 8 And they departed quickly from the Sepulchre, with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his Disciples word.
These faithfull women believe and tremble, and run away, and carry these good news. Doct. 1. Such as know what a heart grieved for want of Christ meaneth, will be very ready to comfort such as are in such a grief, as these holy women are glad to carry good news to the Heart-broken Disciples. 2. Mixed affections, fear and joy, at one time may well consist in the heart of a Believer: One may tremble at the Majesty of God, and rejoyce in his Friendship, manifested by any means which he pleaseth; for thus are these godly Souls affected. 3. It is a choice good disposition to believe the Lords Word, and diligently to go about the obedience of it, in fear and trembling, such as here is to be seen in these Women, having believed the glad tidings, They run quickly with fear and joy, and bring the Disciples word.
Ver. 9. And as they went to tell his Disciples, behold, Iesus met them, saying, All bail. And they came, and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10. Then said Iesus unto them, Be not affraid: go tell my Brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
They meet with Christ as they are in the way. Doct. 1. Such …as obey the directions of Gods Servants, and doe use prescribed Meanes that they may meet with Christ, shall finde him ere they be aware, much sooner then they expected; as these women do meet Christ, before they looked for him; as they went his errand, Iesus met them. 2. Joyfull is the meeting which a Soul hath with Christ, as here, Christ biddeth hese women, All bail, or rejoyce, and they Lay hold on him, and worship him. 3. An humble sinner may be homely with Christ, as these Women Fall down, and worship him, and hold him by the feet. 4. Such as believe Gods Word in the mouth of his Messengers, shall find confirmation of it by Christ himselfe; for here the Lord bids them do the same things, which the Angel had commanded before, To carry news to the Apostles. 5. For all that can be said unto us, our Faith is still mixed with some doubtings, which breedeth fear, and Christ only can remove them; therfore saith he here, Be not affraid. 6. The weakest of believers are much beloved and esteemed of by Christ: Oh how high love and estimation is this, Go tell my Brethren. 7. The place wherein Christ is most welcome to preach, shall be most honoured by his presence; as here, in Galilee, saith he, shall they see me. 8. Howsoever our Lord be purposed to give sensible satisfaction to his people in due time, yet doth he ever require some beliefe of his Word in the mouth of his Servants, and some obedience of Faith to go before it; Therefore saith he, Tell them that they go to Galilee, and addeth, There shall they see me.
Ver. 11. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chiefe Priests all the things that were done.
The Watch set by the Priests to guard the Sepulchre, come, and tell the Priests how Christ is risen. Doct. 1. The Witnesses of Christs Resurrection were not only Angels and holy men and women, but also the prophane souldiers, who were set to watch his Sepulchre; for, The watch came, and shewed the things that were done. 2. The Lord not only wil disappoint his enemies, but also triumph over them; for the watch whom the Priests sent out to obscure his glory, came back to the city, and shewed these things to the chief Priests.
Verse 12. And when they were assembled with the Elders, and had taken counsell, they gave large money unto the souldiers.
When they know that he is risen, and so behoved to be convinced that he was the Son of God, powerfully manifested by resurrection from the dead, they resolve to bear down the truth. Doc. 1. Christs malicious enemies are of the divels nature, they will never cease to oppose him, though they know him to be the Son of God: as appeareth in these chief Priests and Elders. 2. The madnesse of malicious adversaries of the Gospel, and the slavery of Satans captives, is wonderfull, as here is seen; for after they are assembled, they resolve to corrupt the witnesses against the light of their conscience. 3. Money is a great Idoll in the world, when the Priests and elders think it may over-balance the most precious Truth, and are confident for gain to make the souldiers make a lie against the resurrection of the known Messiah. 4. The more men be ingaged in a sin, they are the more forward to go on in it, and will spa…e no cost to gain their point; for, These Priests and Elders gave but thirty pieces of silver to have Christ crucified, but here they gave large money to keep down the report of his resurrection.
Ver. 13. Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14. And if this come to the governours cares, we will perswade him, and secure you.
15. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Iews untill this day.
They devise a lie, and do hire the souldiers to vent it. Doct. 1. Calumnies and lies devised by Christs adversaries, are the speciall Engine which they use against the gospel; when al other devises do fail, they make service to Satan by this means; such is this lie here. 2. They who are entred in service of ungodly masters, can hardly win out, still new and worse imployment is furnished unto them; as these godlesse souldiers are set on, from step to step in this ungodly course of opposing Christ. 3. The wicked care not what shame they do put upon themselves, and one upon another, to gain their point, in case they cannot come to their purpose another way; as these men are put to say, that they slept when they should have watched, (which was a disgrace and a capitall fault) that they might make out their devise against Christ. 4. Such as do tempt unto sin, labour to make the sinner secure from worldly inconveniences, but cannot secure them against Gods Justice: as the Priests here do undertake to secure the Souldiers at the Governours hands, but no further. 5. A profane person will make sale of conscience, and tongue, and all for money; as here, the souldiers take the money upon the condition offered. 6. Such as can be content to be silent, and to keep up truth for any earthly gain, will yeild also to speak contrary to known truth for gain; as these men took the money, and did as they were taught. 7. Such as do not apprehend any wrath from God for sin, do seek no guard against it, but do think it sufficient to be secure at mens hands; as here, Money, and Assurance to be secure at the Governours hand, suffice these souldiers; having these granted unto them, They do as they were taught. 8. He that taketh the bait of sin, will also swallow the hook; for so soon as these men took the money, They did as they were taught. 9. Where truth is rejected, a lie will be received, were it never so incredible, and it is righteousnesse with God so to plague those that do not receive the truth in love; for what lesse probable speech could be spoken, than that Christ's few and fearfull Disciples should hazard to open the Sepulchre, when a Guard of souldiers were about it, that all the Guard set about the Sepulchre should be sleeping at once, and be so fast asleep, as the great stone of the Sepulchre should be rolled back, and none be awake? yea, that there should be an earthquake in the mean time, and none of them for this be awaked? and yet This saying findeth credit among the misbelieving Iews.
Ver. 16. Then the eleven Disciples went away into Galilee, into a Mountain where Iesus had appointed them.
17. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
Beside sundry other meetings which Christ had with his Apostles, we have here a solemn and appointed meeting, which we judge to be that meeting wherein there were above five hundred Brethren, whereof the Apostle Paul speaketh, 1 Cor. 15.6. In which meeting Christ establisheth a Ministry in his church, for Preaching of the Word, Administration of the Sacraments, and exercise of Discipline for the better observation of his commands unto the end of the World. Doct. 1. Let the Lord shew himself to us as he pleaseth, it is our duty to attend and keep what means and meetings he hath appointed, as the eleven Disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where he had appointed them. 2. Christ loveth the Assembly of his Saints, and doth not disappoint the expectation of those that wait upon him in the appointed means; for in the appointed place it is said, The Apostles saw him. 2. The Faith of believers is not alwayes alike vigorous and active, neither in comparison one of another, nor in comparison of a man with himself at divers times: for here are disciples who doubt nothing of Christ's Resurrection when they see him; and some also are who doubted at the first sight. 4. As Faith is clear and vigorous, so doth it see Christ to be God, and bringeth the soul down before him to worship; for such as did not doubt, When they saw him, they worshipped him.
Ver. 18. And Iesus came, and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19. Go ye therefore, and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost.
20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the World. Amen.
To remove all doubting from every man, Christ draweth nearer to them, and speaketh to the people in open audience, and giveth order for gathering and ruling his church unto the end of the World. Doc. 1. The Lord draweth near unto his own, and communicateth himselfe familiarly to them, when it is needfull, and leaveth no means unassayed which may remove doubting from his weak Disciples, as here knowing that some doubted, He came and spake in their hearing. 2. Christ not only as the Son of God, hath joynt, equal and the same Soveraignty in Heaven and Earth with the Father, communicate unto him by eternal Generation, but also as God Incarnate, God-man, he hath supreme and absolute Authority given unto him over all things in Heaven and Earth, to and for the church, all things, for the good therof, being put under his Feet, without exception of any thing, save of him who hath put all things under his Feet: and he hath supreme, sole, and absolute Authority, as onelyonly Head and King of the Church, to appoint and maintain the way and means of gathering, preserving and ruling his church, and all the affairs thereof unto the end of the World; for so much will these Words, being compared with other Scriptures, bear, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 3. Christ hath instituted a Ministry of Teachers and rulers of his church, to continue from his Resurrection unto the end of the World; for he saith, Goe ye, make Disciples, Teach them obedience unto me, I wil be with you to the end of the world. 4. The community of Ministers and Rulers of the church respective, have all the Nations of the earth under their charge, to gather Disciples unto Christ out of them; Go, make all nations disciples, saith he. Now these are made disciples whosoever are given up unto Christ, to be taught and governed by him, whether by themselves, or being brought by others who have power of them, as Parents and Masters are dedicate and consecrate unto Christ, who hath said of children elsewhere, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, All those may and should be taken charge of, admitted into the Church as Disciples, and baptized; for hee saith, Go, make Disciples of all Nations, and baptize them. 6. The community of believers, or the body of covenanted and baptized disciples, are not the subject of this authority granted for gathering of churches, administration of doctrine, Sacraments, Discipline, and other publick Ordinances: but the community of the Ministers, Teachers, and Rulers, contradistinguished from the body of Disciples, which is taught and governed; for it is said, Go ye, my Ministers; make ye Disciples, Baptize yee, and Teach ye them. 7. Ministers or church-rulers in this their Ecclesiastics charge, do not derive their power and authority from any under Heaven, but from Christ, who hath made all in heaven and in earth▪ & who giveth unto them a commision to make disciples unto him out of all nations; for after he hath said, All power is given to mee, Hee subjoyneth, Goe ye therefore, and make Disciples of all Nations. 8. The commission of Christs Ministers doth extend unto the drawing Nations into subjection unto Christ, and into covenant with him, to be his disciples, and to obey all his commandements, only by way of doctrine; for, Goe, saith hee, by Doctrine make all nations Disciples, this is the force of the Word Teach, in the Original. 9. The Ministers of the Gospel Teaching and Ruling-elders respective, are the true successours of the Apostles, in the dispensation of the Doctrin, Sacraments, and Discipline appointed by Christ, for they are appointed in the same Parent with the Apostles, and spoken unto in the Person by Christ, saying, I will be with you unto the end of the world. 10. Baptisme is the seal of the covenant, made between God and all initiate Disciples, elder and younger; for after that they are commanded to make disciples, they are commanded to baptize them, Go make Disciples, and baptize them. 11. There are three persons in the God-head distinct one from another in order of subsistence and Operation, the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghost, for so beareth the text. 12. These three are one GOD undivided in Essence and Operation, equall and one in Authority and Power, their Name and their exercise of Authority is one; for it is said, Baptizing them not in the names, but in the Name of the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost. 13. The Covenant of Grace on both sides is made for cleansing and putting away sinne, according to the way and order prescribed by GOD, in whose Name Baptisme or sprinkling with water, for assuring Disciples of remission of sinnes through CHRIST, and obliging them to study Holinesse, is given and taken. 14. The Ministers and Rulers of the Church are limited unto the commands given to them from CHRIST: they may not injoyne unto the Church any thing save the commands of CHRIST; These, and all these, and only these must they teach; Teaching them, saith he, to observe whatsoever I commanded you. 15. The baptized Disciples of Christ may not walke as they list, but must study to observe all that Christ hath commanded his Ministers to teach them; for hee saith, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. 16. Faithfull Ministers have assurance of Christs assistance and blessing, in whatsoever part or time of the World they fall into; I am with you, saith he, unto the end of the world. 17. People need not feare to joyne themselves in church society with any Nation, under such Pastors as do faithfully teach whatsoever Christ hath commanded: for Christ hath promised to bee with such Teachers, and to blesse their labours to the end of the world; Behold, I am with you to the end of the World. 18. This whole Gospel is solid Truth, and worthy to bee imbraced, to be sealed, and to bee setled upon by all Men, according as the Evangelist giveth example unto us, closing the whole doctrine, and this last Promise, with AMEN.
FINIS.
End of the text · David Dickson, A Brief Exposition of Matthew (1651)