Глава XXVIII

Matthew 28:1. After the Sabbath had passed, at dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. The fact that the Gospels describe different times when these women appeared at the tomb is not evidence of a lie, as wicked people present the matter. This shows their frequent visits to the tomb: they either came running or left impatiently, not wanting to leave the Lord’s tomb for long. Matthew 28:2–3. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord, who descended from heaven, came and rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb and sat on it; his appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. Our Lord is one and the same Son of God and Son of Man, and in accordance with both natures - divinity and flesh - He gives evidence, either of His humility, or of His greatness. Therefore, in the present place - although He is a man who was crucified, buried, imprisoned in a tomb to which a stone was rolled, yet what happens outside 678 shows that He is the Son of God: the hiding sun, the coming darkness, the shaking earth, the torn curtain, the disintegrating rocks, the resurrection of the dead, the appearance of angels - all this from His Nativity shows that He is God. Gabriel appears to the Virgin Mary; An angel talks to Joseph; he preaches the gospel to the shepherds; then the face of singing angels is heard: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). He is tempted in the desert, and immediately after his victory he is ministered to by angels. And now, too, the angel is the guardian of His tomb and with shining clothing shows the glory of the Triumphant. Also, during the Ascension of the Lord into heaven, two angels appear on the Mount of Olives 679, promising the apostles the second coming of the Savior (Acts 1:10). Matthew 28:4–6. Frightened by him, the guards trembled and became as if they were dead; The angel, turning his speech to the women, said: Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus crucified; He is not here - He has risen, as He said. The guards, shocked by fear, lay motionless like the dead, and yet the angel turns with consolation not to them, but to the women. "Don't be afraid." They, he says, are afraid; in those who remain in unbelief, fear continues. And you who are looking for Jesus crucified, know that He has risen and fulfilled His promise. Matthew 28:6–7. Come, see the place where the Lord lay, and go quickly and tell His disciples. If you do not believe my words, then believe the empty tomb and hasten to tell His disciples. “That He has risen and is going ahead of you” [on the way] “to Galilee, there you will see Him. Here, I told you "680". [In Galilee], that is, in the lair of the pagan peoples, where formerly there was error and a convenient place to fall, and where a firm and confident foot left no trace. Matthew 28:8. And, hastily leaving the tomb, they ran with fear and great joy to tell His disciples. The souls of the women were overcome by a double feeling: fear and joy. The first is due to the greatness of the miracle; the second due to the desire to see the Risen One. Under the influence of both, their haste increases: they strive for the apostles, so that through their faith the radiance of faith [in the world] may begin. Matthew 28:9. And behold, Jesus met them and said: Rejoice. Those who so desired, who were in such a hurry, now deserve to meet the risen Lord and hear before others: “Rejoice,” so that the curse of Eve over women is removed. And they came, grabbed His feet and worshiped Him. These approach, embrace His feet and worship Him. But, however, she who was looking for the living among the dead and did not yet know that the Son of God had risen, according to her merit, hears: “Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father” (John 20:17). Matthew 28:10–11. Then Jesus says to them: Do not be afraid. In both the Old and New Testaments, the following should be noted very often: when there is a more majestic vision [or: overwhelming - angustior instead of augustior], then fear is first driven away so that you can hear what is said with a calm soul. Go, tell My brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me. As they walked, some of the guards entered the city and announced to the high priests everything that had happened. Those brothers about whom it is said elsewhere: “I will proclaim Your name to my brothers” (Ps. 21:23), who see the Savior not in Judea, but among the multitude of pagans. Matthew 28:12–15. And these, having gathered with the elders and held a meeting, gave enough money to the soldiers, and said: say that His disciples came at night and stole Him while we were sleeping; and if rumors about this reach the ruler, we will convince him and save you from trouble. They, having taken the money, acted as they were taught; and this word spread among the Jews to this day. The guards confess a miracle: they go to the city with haste and report to the chief priests about what they saw, what they contemplated happening. And these should have repented and sought the Risen Jesus, but they persist in evil and use the money donated for the church to bribe lies, just as before they gave thirty pieces of silver to Judas the traitor. So, everyone who abuses alms for the church, and that 681 that is brought to the benefit of the Church, who dispose of it for other purposes, to fulfill their desires, are like priests and scribes who buy lies and the blood of the Savior. Matthew 28:16–17. The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus commanded them, and when they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but others doubted. After the resurrection, Jesus appears in Galilee on a mountain, and there they worship Him, although some doubted, but their doubt increases our faith. Then Thomas is more clearly shown both his side, pierced by a spear, and his hands nailed to the cross. Matthew 28:18. And Jesus approached and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” Power was given to the One who a little earlier was nailed to the cross, buried in a tomb, lay dead and then resurrected. And in heaven and on earth authority was given to Him, so that He who once reigned in heaven should now reign on earth according to the faith of those who believed. Matthew 28:19. Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. First they teach all nations, then they give water to the 682 who have been taught. For it is impossible for the body to receive the sacrament of baptism if the soul has not first received the truth of faith. And they receive baptism 683 in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, so that there may be one gift from Those whose deity is one: and the name of the Trinity is one God. Matthew 28:20. Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you. Special order: He commanded the apostles to first teach all nations, then saturate 684 with the sacrament of faith, and after faith and baptism teach everything that needs to be observed. And so that we would not think that this command was easy and insignificant, He added: “All that I commanded you.” So those who believe and are baptized into the Trinity, let them observe everything that is commanded. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. The One who promised the apostles to remain with the disciples until the end of the world showed them that they too would always be winners, and He would never abandon the believers. And He who promised His presence until the end of the world cannot but know the day when He, as He knows, will be with the apostles. In the translation: The Gospel of Matthew - ed. According to the new Synodal Russian translation: Olivet - ed. According to the new Synodal Russian translation: “That He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you in Galilee; you will see Him there. “Here, I told you” - ed. You might be interested in: