The Gospel according to Matthew
The gospel text below is from The Anchor Bible Matthew, intro, translation and notes by W.F. Albright and C. S. Mann.
106 – Burial of Jesus (27:57-66)
57At evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was attached to Jesus, 58 and he went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean linen, 60 laid it in a new tomb of his own which he had dug out of the rock, rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
62 On the next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate with the request: 63 “Sir, we recall that that impostor, while still living, said ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb secured until the third day, in case his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has arisen from the dead,’ and the last imposture will be worse than the first.” 65 “You have a guard of soldiers,” said Pilate, “go and make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
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57 – Arimathea – Some have identified Ramathaim-Zophim as Arimathea of the New Testament. A town that has been identified with the modern Palestinian village of Nabi Samwil (traditionally held to be the resting place of the prophet Samuel), about 5 miles north-west of Jerusalem.
– Joseph – all four of the gospels tell a version of this story.
58 – Mark adds that Joseph showed courage to request Jesus’ body of Pilate, who was surprised that he was reported as already dead.
59-60 – We are indebted to Matthew alone for the information that the tomb was new, that it was Joseph’s own, and that it was sealed by a great stone.
61 – The detail of the women watching here like the soldiers posted as guards secure the identity of the person buried there.
62-66 – The plot to steal Jesus’ body is a Matthew-only consideration.
62 – On the next day, that is, after the day of Preparation – a confusing note of time, since Matthew could easily have said “on the Sabbath”.
65 – “You have a guard” – i.e. take a guard – “of [Roman] soldiers,”
107 – The Resurrection of Jesus (28:1-15)
28:1 After the sabbath, and toward dawn on the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 There was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came and rolled back the stone, and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow; 4 for fear of him the guards were paralyzed with fright. 5 To the women, however, the angel said “Do not be afraid, 6 for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. But he is not here. He is risen, as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead,’ and ‘He is going before you into Galilee, and you will see him there.’ See, I have told you.” 8 They therefore left the tomb quickly, with awe and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And Jesus met them: “Hail!” he said. They came up, took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and they will see me there.”
11 While they were on their way some of the guard came into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and discussed it, they gave money to the soldiers. 13 “Tell people,” they said, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 They took the money and did as they were told, and this story is still told among the Jews to this day.
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1 – to see the tomb – Mark, who has no tradition of a sealed tomb, says the women went “to anoint him.”
2-4 – Matthew’s tradition is quite different from Mark who has the women wondering how the stone is to be rolled away.
2-3 – earthquake – Cp Daniel 7:18, 21, 22, 25 and 27.
4 – surprisingly no mention of Peter here.
The one thing all four gospels agree on is that, as the Messianic Community believed, the tomb was empty. The Messianic Community also believed God had raised Jesus from the dead.
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108 – Jesus’ Final Commission (28:16-20)
16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 and seeing him, they worshiped him, though some were doubtful. 18 Coming to them, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you; and I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
————-
Matthew is the only gospel that can properly be called an ending. This ending looks forward to the continuing work and outreach of the Messianic Community.
16 – Galilee – perhaps “Galilee of the nations” as in Is. 8:23.
18-19 – Here again Jesus expresses himself in the words of Daniel (7:14).
106 – Burial of Jesus (27:57-66)
57At evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was attached to Jesus, 58 and he went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean linen, 60 laid it in a new tomb of his own which he had dug out of the rock, rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
62 On the next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate with the request: 63 “Sir, we recall that that impostor, while still living, said ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb secured until the third day, in case his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has arisen from the dead,’ and the last imposture will be worse than the first.” 65 “You have a guard of soldiers,” said Pilate, “go and make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
————
57 – Arimathea – Some have identified Ramathaim-Zophim as Arimathea of the New Testament. A town that has been identified with the modern Palestinian village of Nabi Samwil (traditionally held to be the resting place of the prophet Samuel), about 5 miles north-west of Jerusalem.
– Joseph – all four of the gospels tell a version of this story.
58 – Mark adds that Joseph showed courage to request Jesus’ body of Pilate, who was surprised that he was reported as already dead.
59-60 – We are indebted to Matthew alone for the information that the tomb was new, that it was Joseph’s own, and that it was sealed by a great stone.
61 – The detail of the women watching here like the soldiers posted as guards secure the identity of the person buried there.
62-66 – The plot to steal Jesus’ body is a Matthew-only consideration.
62 – On the next day, that is, after the day of Preparation – a confusing note of time, since Matthew could easily have said “on the Sabbath”.
65 – “You have a guard” – i.e. take a guard – “of [Roman] soldiers,”
107 – The Resurrection of Jesus (28:1-15)
28:1 After the sabbath, and toward dawn on the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 There was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came and rolled back the stone, and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow; 4 for fear of him the guards were paralyzed with fright. 5 To the women, however, the angel said “Do not be afraid, 6 for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. But he is not here. He is risen, as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead,’ and ‘He is going before you into Galilee, and you will see him there.’ See, I have told you.” 8 They therefore left the tomb quickly, with awe and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And Jesus met them: “Hail!” he said. They came up, took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and they will see me there.”
11 While they were on their way some of the guard came into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and discussed it, they gave money to the soldiers. 13 “Tell people,” they said, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 They took the money and did as they were told, and this story is still told among the Jews to this day.
————
1 – to see the tomb – Mark, who has no tradition of a sealed tomb, says the women went “to anoint him.”
2-4 – Matthew’s tradition is quite different from Mark who has the women wondering how the stone is to be rolled away.
2-3 – earthquake – Cp Daniel 7:18, 21, 22, 25 and 27.
4 – surprisingly no mention of Peter here.
The one thing all four gospels agree on is that, as the Messianic Community believed, the tomb was empty. The Messianic Community also believed God had raised Jesus from the dead.
–
108 – Jesus’ Final Commission (28:16-20)
16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 and seeing him, they worshiped him, though some were doubtful. 18 Coming to them, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you; and I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
————-
Matthew is the only gospel that can properly be called an ending. This ending looks forward to the continuing work and outreach of the Messianic Community.
16 – Galilee – perhaps “Galilee of the nations” as in Is. 8:23.
18-19 – Here again Jesus expresses himself in the words of Daniel (7:14).
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This is a weekly update of the proceedings of the Zeteo [Searcher] Sunday School class of the First Presbyterian Church, Murray, Kentucky.
We read texts and discuss in a lively and unstructured fashion
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