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MATTHEW 28:8 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 28:7Matt 28:9
“And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with great joy — the double emotion captures the resurrection's impact on all who encounter it: fear because nothing in ordinary human experience prepares a person for this, joy because everything they had lost has been returned beyond expectation. They ran to bring the disciples the news — the women's response is immediate obedience. They were told to go quickly; they go quickly. They were told to tell the disciples; they run to tell them. This is the first resurrection proclamation in Matthew's Gospel: women running from an empty tomb to tell terrified men that the one they watched die is alive. The disciples, who had abandoned Jesus and hidden, receive the first resurrection news from the women who had stayed. The resurrection reverses the abandonment.

Church Fathers on Matthew 28:8

The women having been comforted by the Angel, are straightway met by the Lord, that when they should proclaim His resurrection to the disciples, they should speak rather from Christ’s own mouth than from an Angel’s.

Hilary of Poitiers · 4th century

'They departed forth of the tomb,' that is, from that spot of the garden which was before the tomb hewn in the rock.

Augustine · 4th century · de Cons. Ev., iii, 23

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, as it follows, 'And did run to bring his disciples word.' They went to the Apostles, that through them might be spread abroad the seed of the faith. They who thus desired, and who thus ran, merited to have their rising Lord come to meet them; whence it follows, 'And, behold, Jesus met…

Jerome · 4th century
Read all 15 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Matthew 28:8 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy