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The Myrrh-bearing Women at the Empty Tomb

Matt 28:1–8; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–2 · Post-Resurrection

Scripture

Matthew 28:1–8

n the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2And, 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. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7And 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. 8And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

King James Version · public domain

Mateu 28:1–8

dhe si shkoj e-shëtuna, dyke gdhir’ e Djelë, që ësht’ e para dit’ e javësë, erdhi Maria Magdhalini, edhe Maria tjatërë, që të shihninë varrë. 2Edhe ja tek ubë një tëmet i-math; sepse ëngjëll’ i Zotit sbriti nga qielli, edhe erdhi e rrukullisi gurinë nga dera e varrit, edhe rrinte sipër’ ati. 3Edhe faqeja e ati ishte posi vetëtimë, edhe rroba e ati e-bardhë posi dëborë. 4Edhe ata që ruanin’ utrëmpnë nga frik’ e ati, edhe ubënë posi të-vdekurë. 5Edhe ëngjëlli upërgjeq e u tha gravet, Mos kini frikë; sepse e di se kërkoni Jisunë që ukryqëzua. 6Nukë është këtu; sepse ungjall, sindëkur pat thënë. Ejani, shihni vëndinë ku dergjej Zoti. 7Edhe shkoni shpejt e u thoni nxënësvet t’ati, se ungjall nga të-vdekuritë; edhe ja tek po vete ay më përpara se ju ndë Galilet; atje dot’a shihni atë; ja tek u thashë juve. 8Edhe ato duallnë shpejt nga varri me frikë edhe me gëzim të-math, edhe usulnë t’u apënë zë nxënësvet t’ati.

Kristoforidhi, Dhiata e Re Toskërisht 1879 · zotërim publik

In their own words

Mark how He Himself sends good tidings to His disciples by these women, bringing to honor, as I have often said, that sex, which was most dishonored, and to good hopes; and healing that which was diseased.

St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 89 (on Matthew 28:1–10)

The Myrrh-bearing Women at the Empty Tomb (Matthew 28:1–8; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–2)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 89 (on Matthew 28:1–10) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/npnf110.iii.LXXXV.html

On why the angel removed the stone, and why the earthquake came, though the Lord was already risen:

For this cause he removed the stone, for this cause also an earthquake took place, that they might be thoroughly aroused and awakened. For they were come to pour oil on Him, and these things were done at night, and it is likely that some also had become drowsy.

On "Fear not ye", and the honor shown the women over against the guards:

First he delivers them from the dread, and then tells them of the resurrection. And the ye is of one showing them great honor, and indicating, that extreme punishment awaits them that had dared to do, what the others had dared, except they repented. For to be afraid is not for you, he means, but for them that crucified Him.

On "He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay":

So that if ye refuse to believe me, he would say, remember His words, and neither will ye disbelieve me. Then also another proof, "Come and see the place where He lay." For this he had lifted up the stone, in order that from this too they might receive the proof.

On the women made the first bearers of the good tidings to the disciples:

Mark how He Himself sends good tidings to His disciples by these women, bringing to honor, as I have often said, that sex, which was most dishonored, and to good hopes; and healing that which was diseased.

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon 153 (on Luke 24:1–9) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_14_sermons_146_156.htm

On the women counted worthy, for their love and zeal, to see the angels and hear the joyful tidings:

For their love's sake to Christ, and their earnest zeal thereunto, they were counted worthy of seeing holy angels, who even told them the joyful tidings, and became the heralds of the resurrection, saying, "Why seek you the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen."

On the woman who of old ministered death now made the first to learn and tell the mystery of life:

For she who of old was the minister of death is now freed from her guilt by ministering to the voice of the holy angels, and by being the first both to learn and tell the adorable mystery of the resurrection. The female sex therefore gained both acquittal from their reproach and the reversal of their curse.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Mark (on Mark 16:1–5) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.xvi.html

On the spices, and the women's care to keep the body from corruption:

But they came according to the custom of the Jews to anoint the body of Christ, that it might remain sweet-smelling, and might not burst forth into moisture, for spices have the property of drying up, and absorb the moisture of the body, so that they keep the body from corruption.

On Mary Magdalene, present at every stage through the ardour of her love:

But Mary Magdalene was with all parties, from her burning zeal and ardent love.

St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 28:1–8) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxviii.html

On the women's constant going and coming, unable to be long absent from the tomb:

This apparent discrepancy in the Evangelists as to the times of their visits is no mark of falsehood, as wicked men urge, but shews the sedulous duty and attention of the women, often going and coming, and not enduring to be long absent from the sepulchre of their Lord.

On "Fear not ye", spoken to the women and not to the guards:

The guards lay like dead men in a trance of terror, but the Angel speaks comfort not to them, but to the women, saying, "Fear not ye;" as much as to say, Let them fear with whom unbelief abides; but do ye who seek the crucified Jesus hear that He has risen again, and has accomplished what He promised.

On the mingling of fear and joy that quickened their steps:

A twofold feeling possessed the minds of the women, fear and joy; fear, at the greatness of the miracle; joy, in their desire of Him that was risen; but both added speed to their women's steps

St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 21 (on Mark 16:1–5) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.xvi.html

On coming to the sepulchre with spices, that is, with the sweet savour of good works:

But if we believe on Him who is dead, and are filled with the sweet smell of virtue, and seek the Lord with the fame of good works, we come to His sepulchre with spices.

On why the women who came with spices were they who saw the angels:

But the women who came with spices see the Angels; because those minds who come to the Lord with their virtues, through holy desires, see the heavenly citizens.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Homilies on the Gospels (on Matthew 28:2–7) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxviii.html

On why the angel rolled back the stone:

And came and rolled back the stone; not to open the door for the Lord to come forth, but to give evidence to men that He was already come forth.

On the angel found seated, as one enthroned over vanquished death:

But the Herald of the Resurrection is related to have been seated, to shew that now He had overcome him that had the power of death, He had mounted the throne of the everlasting kingdom. He sate upon the stone, now rolled back, wherewith the mouth of the sepulchre had been closed, to teach that He by His might had burst the bonds of the tomb.

On the women counted worthy to be the first heralds:

Happy women! who merited to announce to the world the triumph of the Resurrection!

Patristic sources

Read the sources: Chrysostom on Matthew, Homily 89 (CCEL) · Cyril on Luke, Sermons 146–156 (tertullian.org) · Catena Aurea on Matthew, ch. 28 (CCEL) · Catena Aurea on Mark, ch. 16 (CCEL)