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Explanation for:
Matthew
28
:
2
And behold there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
13
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Our Lord is both the Son of God and the Son of Man, manifesting His humility and grandeur through both His divine and human natures. Therefore, even though He is a man who endured crucifixion, burial, and confinement in a tomb sealed with a stone, the events that transpired outside reveal His divine identity: the sun's hiding, the onset of darkness, the quaking of the earth, the tearing of the temple veil, the shattering of rocks, the resurrection of the dead, and the appearance of angels, all point to His divine nature from the moment of His Nativity. The angel Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary, an angel speaks to Joseph, and he shares glad tidings with the shepherds; the joyous song of the angels can be heard: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men’ (Luke 2:14). He is tested in the wilderness, and following His triumph, angels attend to Him. Even now, an angel guards His tomb, clad in radiant attire, displaying the glory of the Victorious One. Furthermore, at the time of the Lord's ascension into heaven, two angels appear on the Mount of Olives, assuring the apostles of the Saviour’s return (Acts 1:10)."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Upon arriving at the tomb, they were met with a sudden earthquake, coinciding with the angel who moved the stone and took a seat upon it. At that moment, the Lord had already risen. The evangelist does not indicate that the Savior emerged from the tomb after the stone was rolled away; rather, it is stated that the angel rolled the stone away and sat upon it. For the Lord’s body had already become incorruptible, and as the divine being that He is, He arose from the tomb even while the stone remained in place, similar to how He later entered where His disciples were gathered despite the doors being locked (John 20:19)."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The tremor of the earth heralds resurrection for the believers, yet it instills dread in those who are unprepared. To the faithful, it signifies that the dead body will awaken from death's slumber. However, those consumed by worldly fears, swayed by the instability of temporal matters, abandon their belief in the resurrection."},{"author-name":"Isidore of Pelusium","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d94130e668938c9ae9d_Isidore%20of%20Pelusium.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The angel removed the stone from the entrance of the tomb (Matthew 28:2) following the Lord's resurrection, but it is important to understand that the resurrection itself did not occur due to the stone being rolled away. You might ask, “What was the purpose of the angel's appearance then?” I will explain: it was to give assurance to those who seek that the Lord has truly risen, and that His body was not taken away. This mission was entrusted to the angel, who served as a messenger, for it is God alone who is served by His angels."},{"author-name":"Peter Chrysologus","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896c8505740d15218d3ed_Peter%20Chrysologus.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":5,"exegesis-text":"An angel descended and removed the stone. This act was not to create an entrance for the Lord but to demonstrate that He had already risen. The stone was rolled away to strengthen the faith of His followers, not to assist in the Lord’s resurrection. It was moved for the sake of belief, as it had been secured by disbelief. By doing so, He who overcame death could be acknowledged as Life. Therefore, let us beseech the Lord for an angel to descend and soften our hearts, to open our closed understanding, and to remind us that Christ is risen; for where Christ dwells within the heart, there is paradise, while the heart devoid of Him is a tomb. Let it be acknowledged that just as He died, so did He transform. The Man Christ endured suffering, died, and was laid to rest; as God, He lives and reigns forever."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"In the Gospel of Matthew, it is noted that an angel was seated on the stone that had been rolled away from the entrance, while the Gospel of Mark describes how the women were struck with fear upon entering the tomb, where they found a young man dressed in white sitting on the right side (Mark 16:5). This variation might seem confusing unless one considers that Matthew does not mention the angel seen entering the tomb, whereas Mark omits the angel sitting on the stone at the entrance. Thus, it is plausible that the women encountered two angels and received messages about Jesus separately—first from the angel at the entrance and then from the one inside on the right side. At the invitation of the angel outside, they were told, \\"Come, see the place where the Lord lay\\" (Matthew 28:6). Upon entering, they experienced a similar encounter with the angel sitting on the right inside the tomb, who is acknowledged by Mark but not mentioned by Matthew. Should this interpretation fail to satisfy, one might visualize the interior of the tomb resembling a fortified space, possibly allowing for some area in front, as it was hewn from rock. In that case, they would have seen the same angel discussed by Matthew on the stone, given that the stone had been moved during the earthquake that had occurred."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The Lord was raised from the dead while the stone remained at the entrance of the tomb. After His resurrection, an angel arrived to roll away the stone, allowing the women to enter. The earthquake shook the ground so that the guards might awaken and comprehend the significance of what had occurred. Thus, the Lord was in the grave for three days. How do we calculate these three days? He was crucified at the eighth hour, and from that moment until the ninth hour there was darkness, which counts as one night; from the ninth hour onward, there was light, marking the beginning of the day—this accounts for a full twenty-four-hour period of night and day. Following this is the night after His crucifixion and the Sabbath day—constituting a second twenty-four-hour span. Lastly, we have the night of the Sabbath and the dawn of the Lord's Day, as noted in Matthew: “on one Sabbath, at daybreak,” which indicates that the morning is included in the count for the entire day—therefore representing the third twenty-four-hour period. \\n\\nAlternatively, we can account for the three days differently: on Friday, the Lord breathed His last, which is one day; on Saturday, He lay in the tomb, making it another day; and during the night leading to the Lord's Day, He arose, which, from His perspective, counts as a third day. Consider this: even regarding the deceased, if one one dies at the tenth hour and another at the first hour of the same day, they are said to have died on the same day.\\n\\nLet me provide another method for calculating the three days and three nights. On Thursday evening, the Lord shared a meal with His disciples, saying, “Receive, eat My body.” Since He possessed the authority to lay down His life at will, it is evident that He willingly surrendered Himself while teaching His disciples about His body, as no one consumes anything that hasn’t been pierced first. Ponder this: in the evening, He instructed about His body, and that night until the sixth hour of Friday constitutes one complete twenty-four-hour period. From the sixth hour to the ninth, there was darkness, followed by light until evening, accounting for a second twenty-four hours. Again, the night after His crucifixion and the day of the Sabbath form the third twenty-four hours. The Lord then rose on the Sabbath night, totaling three full twenty-four-hour spans. \\n\\nConcerning the angel, Matthew describes him as sitting on the stone, while Mark notes that after rolling it away, he sat inside the tomb on the right side. Are these accounts contradictory? Not at all! Evidently, the angel first appeared perched on the stone, and upon the women’s arrival, he guided them and then took his place inside the tomb on the right side. He addressed the women, saying, “Do not be afraid,” indicating that the guards should indeed be fearful, but that the disciples of the Lord need not fear. After calming their fears, he proclaimed the joyous news of the resurrection, for he needed to dispel fear before declaring the glad tidings. He proudly speaks of the Lord's crucifixion, for he sees the cross as a victorious standard, which has brought us all blessings."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Jesus Christ rose from the dead before the angel arrived. Just as He was born preserving the purity of virginity, He also emerged from the tomb with the seals undisturbed. An earthquake occurred to awaken the soldiers stationed at the tomb; upon witnessing the miraculous removal of the stone, they ran to report what they had seen to the Jews, becoming unlikely witnesses to the truth—truth that often shines brighter when revealed by adversaries. The angel removed the stone from the tomb to allow the women to see the empty grave and believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mark states that these women wondered aloud, \\"Who shall roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?\\" as they journeyed. However, while they discussed their concern, an earthquake took place, and an angel descended from heaven to roll away the stone, enabling them to see the tomb was already open. Mark, aiming for conciseness, did not mention the earthquake or the angel's action. Likewise, Luke succinctly noted, \\"But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,\\" thereby indicating the women's arrival but omitting the moment of the Lord's resurrection. This timing is known solely to Him, who uniquely experienced His own rising. Nonetheless, the holy Fathers and Teachers collectively affirm that the resurrection of Jesus Christ occurred at the first crowing of the rooster, signaling the dawn of the resurrection day. Consequently, after the sixth hour, or the twelfth hour of the night, the faithful conclude their fast and begin the celebration. As Jesus proclaimed, He was raised on the third day. Having died at the ninth hour on Friday, the sequence is as follows: Friday is the first day, Saturday the second, and Sunday, at dawn, marks the third when He rose, shortly before the arrival of the women, encompassing both the end of Friday and the start of Sunday. Regarding Jesus' remarks about Jonah, \\"So shall the Son of man also be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights\\" (Matt. 12:40), there is certainty about the days counted, though let us focus briefly on the nights. The Jews positioned guards over the tomb for three days, from Friday until sunset on Sunday, at least according to their decree, leaving the third night unguarded. If Jesus was to wait until the entire third night had passed, it could raise doubt about the Resurrection. The Jews might claim that since He did not rise while the tomb was secured, His resurrection was not credible, suggesting that He was taken away during the unguarded period. To counter this, Jesus rose while the tomb was still guarded to dispel any such objections; He did not wait for the entirety of the third day but arose at its inception. A resurrection that occurred while the tomb was still watched raised no suspicions, yet one that occurred afterward might provoke doubt. Rising before the appointed time demonstrated power, while a resurrection after that would imply weakness. Furthermore, a king who grants a favor before the promised time not only fulfills his word but enhances it, reflecting the quickness of its delivery. With the seals and guards in place, the Jews inadvertently facilitated the immediate proclamation and witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ by their own sentinels."},{"author-name":"Gregorios Palamas","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bfc03f555204c307b7e_Gregorios%20Palamas.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":14,"exegesis-text":"Following the earthquake and the flight of the guards, all the women approached and discovered the tomb opened and the stone removed. At that moment, when the Virgin Mary appeared, another earthquake occurred, causing the stone to roll back and the coffin to unveil. Those who had fled were present, though filled with dread, and as the tremors ceased, they regained their composure and quickly departed. In contrast, the Virgin, unafraid, found joy in witnessing these events unfold. It seems that, for the sake of Her firstborn, the Life-giver opened the coffin. Through Her, and through Him, all that exists in the heavens above and on the earth below was revealed to us. For Her honor, He sent an Angel whose brilliance resembled lightning, allowing Her, even before dawn, to witness not only the empty sepulcher but also the neatly arranged grave clothes, providing abundant evidence of the Resurrection of the One Who had been laid to rest."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"And likely around midnight, the great earth trembled violently. As Archbishop Innocent of Kherson observed, it could not help but quake as the mighty Firstborn from the dead emerged from within its depths. The glorious Resurrection, which the Powers of Heaven were privileged to witness, unfolded as the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone from the tomb's entrance, and sat upon it. The sacred body of our Lord was no longer contained within the tomb. He rose even while the tomb remained sealed, exiting while the stone was still positioned there, and the seals had not been broken. This occurred as miraculously as His later appearance to the apostles behind locked doors (John 20:19). Just as He was born with the integrity of virginity preserved, so too did He rise with the seals of the tomb unbroken (E. Zigaben). None among humanity was deemed worthy to witness this glorious resurrection; mortal eyes could not endure the blinding radiance with which the Risen One departed from the realm of the dead. The heavenly being rolled away the stone merely to reveal to all that the grave was already empty. \\n\\nThe Holy Fathers and revered teachers concur that the moment of Christ's resurrection coincided with the first crowing of the rooster, heralding the dawn of Sunday. Thus, following the sixth hour, that is, at the twelfth hour of the night in our notation, the faithful, having ceased their fasting, commence the celebration (E. Zigaben). He indeed rose on the third day, fulfilling the prophecy, rising at the very dawn of that day, eager to declare triumph over death. “Accomplishing something before its appointed time emphasizes strength, whereas fulfilling it afterward suggests weakness. When a king promises to bestow a favor on a given day but then confers it earlier, he not only fulfills the promise but adds another blessing due to the swiftness of the accomplishment” (E. Zigaben). St. Athanasius of Alexandria remarked that He could have instantly raised His body at the moment of death and shown Himself alive again, yet He wondrously and purposefully refrained, for it could be claimed that the body had never truly died. One can only imagine the sheer terror that overwhelmed the guards stationed at the entrance of Christ's tomb in that moment."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"A significant tremor shook the ground\\" occurred prior to the women reaching the sepulcher (see Mk. 16:2-4). This quake likely affected only the vicinity of the tomb and did not reach distant areas, as its intent was to displace the guards (refer to Chrysostom). - \\"the stone was rolled away\\": see commentary on Matt. 27:60."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"On that fateful night, the exact hour remains a mystery, the most extraordinary miracle occurred: the resurrection of Christ! As night enveloped the world and all lay in slumber, guards were stationed at the entrance of the tomb. Suddenly, they felt an intense trembling of the earth: the stone that sealed the entrance rolled away with great force. The soldiers beheld a celestial being clothed in garments as white as snow, radiating like lightning. Overcome with fear, they were paralyzed, completely awestruck by the divine spectacle before them, hardly able to move, as if lifeless. The duration of this extraordinary event is unclear; however, as they gradually regained their composure, the soldiers retreated from the tomb, intent on reporting the astonishing news to their superiors. Some hurried to the chief priests, who had ordered their watch. The tremor was likely felt only in the vicinity of the tomb, and with such a massive stone being displaced, the guards perceived it as significant. As for the details regarding the earthquake, the angel rolling away the stone, and the discovery of the empty tomb, the Evangelist Matthew may have learned these truths from the soldiers who remained unbribed by the chief priests—eyewitnesses to the miraculous events—or from those credible individuals to whom the soldiers recounted their experience."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Evening descended, yet no one could foresee the momentous and joyful day that awaited. The entire world was enveloped in a profound slumber. Only the followers of Christ had remained awake through the night, consumed by inconsolable sorrow, just as they had the previous day. As dawn broke, these disciples hastened to the garden where their crucified Lord lay in the tomb. An eerie, solemn stillness surrounded them, disrupted only by the measured footsteps of the guards at the sepulcher. Two nights had elapsed since the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, and the guards felt no threat from the disciples. The sealed grave remained undisturbed, and silence enveloped the confined body within. Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the ground, awakening the world from its slumber, as young men, gleaming like lightning and clothed in garments white as snow, descended from heaven into the garden. One approached the stone entrance, touched the tomb, and at once, the seal was broken, the heavy stone rolled away, and from the grave emerged the Life-giver, enveloped in heavenly light. The guards stood petrified with fear. Regaining her composure, one of the angels hurried to Jerusalem to announce the miraculous event. What fervor she would have brought to the city with her message, had it not still been the early hours, with the city lost in deep sleep."}]}
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