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Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
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Matthew Henry |
M A R K.
CHAP. XVI.
In this chapter, we have a short account of the resurrection and
ascension of the Lord Jesus: and the joys and triumphs which it
furnished all believers with, will be very acceptable to those who
sympathised and suffered with Christ in the foregoing chapters. Here
is,
I. Christ’s resurrection notified by an angel to the women that came to
the sepulchre to anoint him,
II. His appearance to Mary Magdalene, and the account she gave of it to
the disciples,
III. His appearance to the two disciples, going to Emmaus, and the
report they made of it to their brethren,
IV. His appearance to the eleven with the commission he gave them to
set up his kingdom in the world, and full instructions and credentials
in order thereunto,,
V. His ascension into heaven, the apostles’ close application to their
work, and God’s owning of them in it,
| The Women at the Sepulchre; The Apostles Reproved. |
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1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the
mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they
might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week,
they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the
stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled
away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting
on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were
affrighted.
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of
Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here:
behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth
before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto
you.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for
they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any
man; for they were afraid.
Never was there such a sabbath since the sabbath was first
instituted as this was, which the first words of this chapter tell us
was now past; during all this sabbath our Lord Jesus lay in the
grave. It was to him a sabbath of rest, but a
silent sabbath, it was to his disciples a melancholy sabbath,
spent in tears and fears. Never were the sabbath services in the temple
such an abomination to God, though they had been often so, as
they were now, when the chief priests, who presided in them, had their
hands full of blood, the blood of Christ. Well, this sabbath is over,
and the first day of the week is the first day of a new world. We have
here,
I. The affectionate visit which the good women that had attended
Christ, now made it to his sepulchre–not a superstitious one,
but a pious one. They set out from their lodgings very early
in the morning, at break of day, or sooner; but either they had a
long walk, or they met with some hindrance, so that it was
sun-rising by the time they got to the sepulchre. The had
bought sweet spices too, and came not only to bedew the
dead body with their tears (for nothing could more renew their grief
than this), but to perfume it with their spices,
v. 1.
Nicodemus had bought a very large quantity of dry spices, myrrh
and aloes, which served to dry the wounds, and dry up the blood,
But these good women did not think that enough; they bought spices,
perhaps of another kind, some perfumed oils, to anoint him.
Note, The respect which others have showed to Christ’s name, should not
hinder us from showing our respect to it.
II. The care they were in about the rolling away of the stone, and the
superseding of that care
(v. 3, 4);
They said among themselves, as they were coming along, and now
drew near the sepulchre, Who shall roll us away the stone from the
door of the sepulchre? For it was very great, more than they with
their united strength could move. They should have thought of this
before they came out, and then discretion would have bid them not go,
unless they had those to go with them, who could do it. And there was
another difficulty much greater than this, to be got over, which they
knew nothing of, to wit, a guard of soldiers set to keep the
sepulchre; who, had they come before they were frightened away, would
have frightened them away. But their gracious love to Christ carried
them to the sepulchre; and see how by the time they came thither, both
these difficulties were removed, both the stone which they
knew of, and the guard which they knew not of.
They saw that the stone was rolled away, which was the first
thing that amazed them. Note, They who are carried by a holy zeal, to
seek Christ diligently, will find the difficulties that lie in their
way strangely to vanish, and themselves helped over them beyond their
expectation.
III. The assurance that was given them by an angel, that the Lord Jesus
was risen from the dead, and had taken leave of his sepulchre, and had
left him there to tell those so who came thither to enquire after
him.
1. They entered into the sepulchre, at least, a little way in,
and saw that the body of Jesus was not there where they had left it the
other night. He, who by his death undertook to pay our debt, in his
resurrection took out our acquittance, for it was a fair and legal
discharge, by which it appealed that his satisfaction was accepted for
all the purposes for which it was intended, and the matter in dispute
was determined by an incontestable evidence that he was the Son of
God.
2. They saw a young man sitting on the right side of the
sepulchre. The angel appeared in the likeness of a man, of a
young man; for angels, though created in the beginning, grow not
old, but are always the same perfection of beauty and strength;
and so shall glorified saints be, when they are as the angels.
This angel was sitting on the right hand as they went
into the sepulchre, clothed with a long white garment, a garment
down to the feet, such as great men were arrayed with. The sight of him
might justly have encouraged them, but they were affrighted.
Thus many times that which should be matter of comfort to us, through
our own mistakes and misapprehensions proves a terror to us.
3. He silences their fears by assuring them that here was cause enough
for triumph, but none for trembling
(v. 6);
He saith to them, Be not affrighted. Note, As angels rejoice in
the conversation of sinners, so they do also in the consolation of
sinners. Be not affrighted, for,
(1.) “Ye are faithful lovers of Jesus Christ, and therefore, instead of
being confounded, out to be comforted. Ye seek Jesus of
Nazareth, which was crucified.” Note, The enquiries of believing
souls after Christ, have a particular regard to him as crucified
(1 Cor. ii. 2),
that they may know him, and the fellowship of his sufferings. His being
lifted up from the earth, is that which draws all men unto
him. Christ’s cross is the ensign to which the Gentiles seek.
Observe, He speaks of Jesus as one that was crucified; “The
thing is past, that scene is over, ye must not dwell so much
upon the sad circumstances of his crucifixion as to be unapt to believe
the joyful news of his resurrection. He was crucified in
weakness, yet that doth not hinder but that he may be raised in
power, and therefore ye that seek him, be not afraid of missing
of him.” He was crucified, but he is glorified; and the
shame of his sufferings is so far from lessening the glory of his
exaltation, that that glory perfectly wipes away all the reproach of
his sufferings. And therefore after his entrance upon his glory, he
never drew any veil over his sufferings, nor was shy of having his
cross spoken of. The angel here that proclaims his resurrection, calls
him Jesus that was crucified. He himself owns
(Rev. i. 18),
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and he appears in the midst
of the praises of the heavenly host as a Lamb that had been
slain,
Rev. v. 6.
(2.) “It will therefore be good news to you, to hear that, instead of
anointing him dead, you may rejoice in him living. He is risen, he
is not here, not dead, but alive again. We cannot as yet show you
him, but hereafter you will see him, and you may here see the
place where they laid him. You see he is gone hence, not stolen
either by his enemies or by his friends, but risen.“
4. He orders them to give speedy notice of this to his disciples. Thus
they were made the apostles of the apostles, which was a recompence of
their affection and fidelity to him, in attending him on the cross, to
the grave, and in the grave. They first came, and were first served; no
other of the disciples durst come near his sepulchre, or enquire after
him; so little danger was there of their coming by night to steal
him away, that none came near him but a few women, who were not
able so much as to roll away the stone.
(1.) They must tell the disciples, that he is risen. It
is a dismal time with them, their dear Master is dead, and all their
hopes and joys are buried in his grave; they look upon their cause as
sunk, and themselves ready to fall an easy prey into the hands of their
enemies, so that there remains no more spirit in them, they are
perfectly at their wits’ end, and every one is contriving how to shift
for himself. “O, go quickly to them,” said the angel, “tell them that
their Master is risen; this will put some life and spirit into
them, and keep them from sinking into despair.” Note,
[1.] Christ is not ashamed to own his poor disciples, no, not now that
he is in his exalted state; his preferment doth not make him shy of
them, for he took early care to have it notified to them.
[2.] Christ is not extreme to mark what they do amiss, whose
hearts are upright with him. The disciples had very unkindly deserted
him, and yet he testified this concern for them.
[3.] Seasonable comforts shall be sent to those that are lamenting
after the Lord Jesus, and he will find a time to manifest himself to
them.
(2.) They must be sure to tell Peter. This is particularly taken notice
of by this evangelist, who is supposed to have written by Peter’s
direction. If it were told the disciples, it would be told Peter, for,
as a token of his repentance for disowning his Master, he still
associated with his disciples; yet he is particularly named: Tell
Peter, for,
[1.] It will be good news to him, more welcome to him than to any of
them; for he is in sorrow for sin, and no tidings can be more welcome
to true penitents than to hear of the resurrection of Christ, because
he rose again for their justification.
[2.] He will be afraid, lest the joy of this good news do not belong to
him. Had the angel said only, Go, tell his disciples, poor
Peter would have been ready to sigh, and say, “But I doubt I cannot
look upon myself as one of them, for I disowned him, and deserve to be
disowned by him;” to obviate that, “Go to Peter by name, and tell him,
he shall be as welcome as any of the rest to see him in
Galilee.” Note, A sight of Christ will be very welcome to a true
penitent, and a true penitent shall be very welcome to a sight of
Christ, for there is joy in heaven concerning him.
(3.) They must appoint them all, and Peter by name, to give him the
meeting in Galilee, as he said unto you,
Matt. xxvi. 32.
In their journey down into Galilee they would have time to recollect
themselves, and call to mind what he had often said to them there, that
he should suffer and die, and the third day be raised again;
whereas while they were at Jerusalem, among strangers and enemies, they
could not recover themselves from the fright they had been in, nor
compose themselves to the due entertainment of better tidings. Note,
[1.] All the meetings between Christ and his disciples are of his own
appointing.
[2.] Christ never forgets his appointment, but will be sure to meet his
people with the promised blessing in every place where he records his
name.
[3.] In all meetings between Christ and his disciples, he is the most
forward. He goes before you.
IV. The account which the women did bring of this to the disciples
(v. 8);
They went out quickly, and ran from the sepulchre, to
make all the haste they could to the disciples, trembling and
amazed. See how much we are enemies to ourselves and our own
comfort, in not considering and mixing faith with that Christ hath said
to us. Christ had often told them, that the third day he would rise
again; had they given that its due notice and credit, they would
have come to the sepulchre, expecting to have found him risen, and
would have received the news of it with a joyful assurance, and not
with all this terror and amazement. But, being ordered to tell the
disciples, because they were to tell it to all the world, they would
not tell it to any one else, they showed not any thing of it to any man
that they met by the way, for they were afraid, afraid it
was too good news to be true. Note, Our disquieting fears often hinder
us from doing that service to Christ and to the souls of men, which if
faith and the joy of faith were strong, we might do.
| Christ’s Appearances to Mary Magdalene and the Two Disciples. |
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9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast
seven devils.
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they
mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had
been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as
they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither
believed they them.
We have here a very short account of two of Christ’s appearances, and
the little credit which the report of them gained with the
disciples.
I. He appeared to Mary Magdalene, to her first in the garden, which we
have a particular narrative of,
It was she out of whom he had cast seven devils; much was
forgiven her, and much was given her, and done for her, and she
loved much; and this honour Christ did her, that she was the
first that saw him after his resurrection. The closer we cleave to
Christ, the sooner we may expect to see him, and the more to see of
him.
Now,
1. She brings notice of what she had seen, to the disciples; not only
to the eleven, but to the rest that followed him, as they
mourned and wept,
v. 10.
Now was the time of which Christ had told them, that they should
mourn and lament,
John xvi. 20.
And it was an evidence of their great love to Christ, and the deep
sense they had of their loss of him. But when their weeping had
endured a night or two, comfort returned, as Christ has
promised; I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice.
Better news cannot be brought to disciples in tears, than to tell them
of Christ’s resurrection. And we should study to be comforters to
disciples that are mourners, by communicating to them our experiences,
and what we have seen of Christ.
2. They could not give credit to the report she brought them. They
heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her. The story was
plausible enough, and yet they believed not. They would not say
that she made the story herself, or designed to deceive them; but they
fear that she is imposed upon, and that it was but a fancy that
she saw him. Had they believed the frequent predictions
of it from his own mouth, they would not have been now so incredulous
of the report of it.
II. He appeared to two of the disciples, as they went into the
country,
v. 12.
This refers, no doubt, to that which is largely related
&c.), of which passed between Christ and the two disciples going to
Emmaus. He is here said to have appeared to them in another
form, in another dress than what he usually wore, in the form of a
traveller, as, in the garden, in such a dress, that Mary
Magdalene took him for the gardener; but that he had really his own
countenance, appears by this, that their eyes were holden, that they
should not know him; and when that restrain on their eyes
was taken off, immediately they knew him,
Luke xxiv. 16-31.
Now,
1. These two witnesses gave in their testimony to this
proof of Christ’s resurrection; They went and told it to the
residue,
v. 13.
Being satisfied themselves, they were desirous to give their
brethren the satisfaction they had, that they might be comforted
as they were.
2. This did not gain credit with all; Neither believed they
them. They suspected that their eyes also deceived them. Now there
was a wise providence in it, the proofs of Christ’s resurrection were
given in thus gradually, and admitted thus cautiously,
that so the assurance with which the apostles preached this doctrine
afterward, when they ventured their all upon it, might be the more
satisfying. We have the more reason to believe those who did themselves
believe so slowly: had they swallowed it presently, they might have
been thought credulous, and their testimony the less to be
regarded; but their disbelieving at first, shows that
they did not believe it afterward but upon a full conviction.
| Christ’s Appearance to the Eleven. |
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14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat,
and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart,
because they believed not them which had seen him after he was
risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick,
and they shall recover.
Here is,
I. The conviction which Christ gave his apostles of the truth of
his resurrection
(v. 14);
He appeared to them himself, when they were all together, as
they sat at meat, which gave him an opportunity to eat and drink
with them, for their full satisfaction; see
And still, when he appeared to them, he upbraided them with their
unbelief and hardness of heart, for even at the general meeting in
Galilee, some doubted, as we find
Note, The evidences of the truth of the gospel are so full, that those
who receive it not, may justly be upbraided with their unbelief;
and it is owing not to any weakness or deficiency in the proofs, but to
the hardness of their heart, its senselessness and stupidity.
Though they had not till now seen him themselves, they are justly
blamed because they believed not them who had seen him after he was
risen; and perhaps it was owing in part to the pride of their
hearts, that they did not; for they thought, “If indeed he be
risen, to whom should he delight to do the honour of
showing himself but to us?” And if he pass them by, and show
himself to others first, they cannot believe it is he. Thus many
disbelieve the doctrine of Christ, because they think it below
them to give credit to such as he had chosen to be the witnesses
and publishers of it. Observe, It will not suffice for an excuse of our
infidelity in the great day, to say, “We did not see him after
he was risen,” for we ought to have believed the testimony of those who
did see him.
II. The commission which he gave them to set up his kingdom
among men by the preaching of his gospel, the glad tidings of
reconciliation to God through a Mediator. Now observe,
1. To whom they were to preach the gospel. Hitherto they
had been sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and
were forbidden to go into the way of the Gentiles, or into any
city of the Samaritans; but now their commission is enlarged, and they
are authorized to go into all the world, into all parts of the
world, the habitable world, and to preach the gospel of Christ
to every creature, to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews; to
every human creature that is capable of receiving it. “Inform them
concerning Christ, the history of his life, and death,
and resurrection; instruct them in the meaning and
intention of these, and of the advantages which the children of
men have, or may have, hereby; and invite them, without exception, to
come and share in them. This is gospel. Let this be
preached in all places, to all persons.” These eleven men could
not themselves preach it to all the world, much less to every
creature in it; but they and the other disciples, seventy in
number, with those who should afterward to be added to them, must
disperse themselves several ways, and, wherever they went, carry
the gospel along with them. They must send others to those
places whither they could not go themselves, and, in short, make
it the business of their lives to send those glad tidings up and
down the world with all possible fidelity and care, not as an
amusement or entertainment, but as a solemn message from God to men,
and an appointed means of making men happy. “Tell as many as you can,
and bid them tell others; it is a message of universal concern, and
therefore, ought to have a universal welcome, because it
gives a universal welcome.”
2. What is the summary of the gospel they are to preach
(v. 16);
“Set before the world life and death, good and evil. Tell the children
of men that they are all in a state of misery and danger,
condemned by their prince, and conquered and
enslaved by their enemies.” This is supposed in their being
saved, which they would not need to be if they were not
lost. “Now go and tell them,”
(1.) “That if they believe the gospel, and give up themselves to
be Christ’s disciples; if they renounce the devil, the world,
and the flesh, and be devoted to Christ as their prophet,
priest, and king, and to God in Christ a their God in covenant, and
evidence by their constant adherence to this covenant their sincerity
herein, they shall be saved from the guilt and power of sin, it
shall not rule them, it shall not ruin them. He that is a
true Christian, shall be saved through Christ.” Baptism was
appointed to be the inaugurating rite, by which those that
embraced Christ owned him; but it is here put rather for the thing
signified than for the sign, for Simon Magus believed and
was baptized, yet was not saved,
Acts viii. 13.
Believing with the heart, and confessing with the mouth the Lord
Jesus
(Rom. x. 9),
seems to be much the same with this here. Or thus, We must
assent to gospel-truths, and consent to gospel-terms.
(2.) “If they believe not, if they receive not the record God
gives concerning his Son, they cannot expect any other way of
salvation, but must inevitably perish; they shall be damned, by
the sentence of a despised gospel, added to that of a broken
law.” And even this is gospel, it is good news, that nothing
else but unbelief shall damn men, which is a sin against the remedy.
Dr. Whitby here observes, that they who hence infer “that the infant
seed of believers are not capable of baptism, because they cannot
believe, must hence also infer that they cannot be saved; faith
being here more expressly required to salvation than to baptism. And
that in the latter clause baptism is omitted, because it is not simply
the want of baptism, but the contemptuous neglect of it, which makes
men guilty of damnation, otherwise infants might be damned for the
mistakes or profaneness of their parents.”
3. What power they should be endowed with, for the confirmation of the
doctrine they were to preach
(v. 17);
These signs shall follow them that believe. Not that all who
believe, shall be able to produce these signs, but some, even as many
as were employed in propagating the faith, and bringing others to it;
for signs are intended for them that believe not; see
It added much to the glory and evidence of the gospel, that the
preachers not only wrought miracles themselves, but conferred upon
others a power to work miracles, which power followed some of
them that believed, wherever they went to preach. They shall do wonders
in Christ’s name, the same name into which they were baptized,
in the virtue of power derived from him, and fetched in by prayer. Some
particular signs are mentioned;
(1.) They shall cast out devils; this power was more common
among Christians than any other, and lasted longer, as appears by the
testimonies of Justin Martyr, Origen, Irenæus, Tertullian
Minutius Felix, and others, cited by Grotius on this place.
(2.) They shall speak with new tongues, which they had never
learned, or been acquainted with; and this was both a miracle (a
miracle upon the mind), for the confirming of the truth of the
gospel, and a means of spreading the gospel among those nations
that had not heard it. It saved the preachers a vast labour in learning
the languages; and, no doubt, they who by miracle were made
masters of languages, were complete masters of them and
of all their native elegancies, which were proper both to
instruct and affect, which would very much recommend them
and their preaching.
(3.) They shall take up serpents. This was fulfilled in Paul,
who was not hurt by the viper that fastened on his hand,
which was acknowledged a great miracle by the barbarous people,
They shall be kept unhurt by that generation of vipers among
whom they live, and by the malice of the old serpent.
(4.) If they be compelled by their persecutors to drink any
deadly poisonous thing, it shall not hurt them: of which
very thing some instances are found in ecclesiastical history.
(5.) They shall not only be preserved from hurt themselves, but they
shall be enabled to do good to others; They shall lay hands on the
sick, and they shall recover, as multitudes had done by their
master’s healing touch. Many of the elders of the church had
this power, as appears by
where, as an instituted sign of this miraculous healing, they are said
to anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord. With
what assurance of success might they go about executing their
commission, when they had such credentials as these to produce!
| The Ascension. |
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19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received
up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord
working with them, and confirming the word with signs
following. Amen.
Here is,
1. Christ welcomed into the upper world
(v. 19):
After the Lord had spoken what he had to say to his disciples,
he went up into heaven, in a cloud; which we have a particular
account of
(Acts i. 9),
and he had not only an admission, but an abundant entrance, into
his kingdom there; he was received up, received in state, with
loud acclamations of the heavenly hosts; and he sat on the right
hand of God: sitting in a posture of rest, for now he had
finished his work, and a posture of rule, for now he took
possession of his kingdom; he sat at the right hand of God,
which denotes the sovereign dignity he is advanced to, and the
universal agency he is entrusted with. Whatever God does concerning us,
gives to us, or accepts from us, it is by his Son. Now he is
glorified with the glory he had before the world.
2. Christ welcomed in this lower world; his being
believed on in the world, and received up into glory, are
put together,
(1.) We have here the apostles working diligently for him; they went
forth, and preached every where far and near. Though the doctrine
they preached, was spiritual and heavenly, and directly
contrary to the spirit and genius of the world, though it
met with abundance of opposition, and was utterly destitute of all
secular supports and advantages, yet the preachers of it were neither
afraid nor ashamed; they were so industrious in spreading
the gospel, that within a few years the sound of it went forth into
the ends of the earth,
Rom. x. 18.
(2.) We have here God working effectually with them, to
make their labours successful, by confirming the word with signs
following, partly by the miracles that were wrought upon the
bodies of the people, which were divine seals to the Christian
doctrine, and partly by the influence it had upon the minds of
the people, through the operation of the Spirit of God, see
These were properly signs following the word–the reformation of
the world, the destruction of idolatry, the conversion of sinners, the
comfort of saints; and these signs still follow it, and that they may
do so more and more, for the honour of Christ and the good of mankind,
the evangelist prays, and teaches us to say Amen. Father in
heaven, thus let thy name be hallowed, and let thy kingdom come.
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