Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 20:18
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and [that] he had spoken these things unto her.
18. came and told ] Better, cometh and telleth; literally, cometh telling instead of the more usual ‘having come telleth.’
Thus as Mary’s love seems to have been the first to manifest itself ( Joh 20:1), so the first Manifestation of the Risen Lord is granted to her. It confirms our trust in the Gospel narratives to find this stated. A writer of a fictitious account would almost certainly have represented the first appearance as being to the Virgin, or to S. Peter, the chief of the Apostles, or to S. John, the beloved disciple, or to the chosen three. But these are all passed over, and this honour is given to her, who had once been possessed by seven devils, to Mary of Magdala, ‘for she loved much.’ A late and worthless tradition does assign the first appearance to the Virgin; but so completely has Christ’s earthly relationship to her been severed (Joh 19:26-27), that henceforth she appears only among the other believers (Act 1:14).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 18. Told the disciples – that he had spoken these things] St. Mark says, Mr 16:11, that the afflicted apostles could not believe what she had said. They seem to have considered it as an effect of her troubled imagination.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This was that first appearance of our Lord after his resurrection to Mary Magdalene, after that he was risen from the dead, mentioned Mar 16:9,10, which she reported to the disciples; but Mark saith, they believed her not, Joh 20:11. Matthew tells us of another appearance of his, Mat 28:9, to the women as they went from the sepulchre, when they held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Luke tells us of a third appearance to the two disciples as they were going to Emmaus; which is also shortly touched by Mark, Mar 16:12,13; but it is there said that they believed them not. John mentions neither of these. These were all the same day that he rose, so was also the next, which is mentioned by our evangelist in the following verses.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. Mary Magdalene came and told thedisciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken thesethings unto herTo a woman was this honor given to be thefirst that saw the risen R edeemer, and that woman was not Hismother. (See on Mr 16:9).
Joh20:19-23. JESUSAPPEARS TO THE ASSEMBLEDDISCIPLES.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Mary Magdalene came,…. Directly and immediately, being ready and willing to obey the commends of her Lord, with the utmost cheerfulness; and glad to go on such an errand, and carry such news to his disciples, even though her private interest and personal affection might have inclined her to desire to stay with Christ:
and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord; not only that he was risen from the dead, and she had been told so by the angels, but she had seen him herself, and was an eyewitness of his resurrection, and which she firmly believed; this she said, not only with all the marks of pleasure, joy and transport, but with an air of assurance and confidence:
and that he had spoken these things unto her; as that he called them brethren, and bid her go unto them, and acquaint them, that as he was risen, he should in a short time ascend to his Father and theirs, to his God and theirs; all which she faithfully related to them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And telleth (). Present active participle, “announcing.”
I have seen the Lord (H ). Perfect active indicative of . She will always carry in her heart that vision (picture) of the Risen Christ. She tells this fact before she delivers Christ’s message to the brethren of Christ.
How that . No word in the Greek, but a conjunction like is implied. H here is recitative. The disciples (brethren) did not believe Mary’s story nor that of the other women (Luke 24:11; Mark 16:11). Paul does not mention the vision to Mary or the women in 1Co 15:5-7. But Mary Magdalene was the first one to see the Risen Lord.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Came and told [ ] . Literally, cometh telling.
19 – 23. Compare Mr 16:14 – 18; Luk 24:36 – 49.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples,” (Mariam he Magdalene angellousa tois mathetais) “Mary Magdalene then came of her own willing choice and announced to the disciples,” as an apostle to the apostles, forthwith, without delay, Mat 28:10.
2) “That she had seen the Lord,” (hoti heoraka ton kurion) “That I have seen the Lord;” Mar 16:10-11 indicates that “they believed not,” though some of them, at least Peter and John, had seen and gone into the empty tomb, Joh 20:6-8.
3) “And that he had spoken these things unto her.” (kai tauta eipen aute) “And that he had told these things directly and personally to her,” Luk 24:10-11. And their words seemed as idle tales to the disciples and apostles.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(18) Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples.Better, Mary Magdalene cometh, and announceth to the disciples. The coming is described from the point of view of the writer, who was one of the disciples.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Came and told the disciples And so formed one of the band of female witnesses, summed up by Luk 24:10, who testified only to be disbelieved. Such was the contrast between her faith and theirs.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Mary Magdalene comes and tells the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”, and how he had said these things to her.’
Mary then went to the disciple and faithfully reported what she had experienced to all the disciples. Note how in this chapter Jesus is constantly referred to as ‘the Lord’. There was a distinct change in attitude towards Him. Mary had learned her lesson from His words. But though she spoke so fervently and was so excited they did not believe her (Mar 16:11).
We do not know exactly how this ties in with the appearance of the other women at the tomb. No one was trying to piece the incidents together. On the whole they were summarised and telescoped together (Mat 28:5-6; Mar 16:1-8; Luk 24:1-9). All had been in the original party of women who had planned to visit the tomb and had sent the two Marys on ahead. All came to the tomb at one time or another and heard what the angels had to say, and returned to tell the disciples. It was the message that was important not the detail.
And in all cases the message was disbelieved. The disciples were in no state to accept the testimony of a bunch of women. Everyone knew what women were with their vivid imaginations and unreliable ideas. They even probably thought that Peter and John had got it wrong, although they at least did not claim to have seen Jesus at the tomb. But it was different when Peter himself claimed to have seen Jesus (Luk 24:34; 1Co 15:5). Light was gradually dawning.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. (19) Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus, and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (20) And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. (21) Then said Jesus to them again, Peace b e unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost; (23) Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them: and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
It should seem, that the message of the Lord to his disciples by Mary, was to prepare them for this most gracious visit of their risen Savior. And what a refreshing and soul-satisfying visit must it have been! We hear no upbraidings for their late desertions: nothing of reproach, but all love. Moreover, in the shewing them his hands and his side, these were not merely by way of proving the reality of his resurrection, and the identifying his person, but of shewing them also those tokens of redemption which he was going with to heaven, that would everlastingly plead for them there. The Lord had said in his message by Mary, that she should say to his brethren, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, to my God, and your God. So that in my ascension, those marks will openly appear for you. And all the petitions you send after me, I will put into my pierced hands and side, to ensure the acceptance both of your persons and your prayers. Reader! if the disciples were then glad when they saw the Lord, are not all his disciples made joyful now, with every spiritual view which the Lord manifests to them of himself, in their public or private assemblies?
The peace which the Lord Jesus pronounce over them, was a confirmation of what he had said at his farewell discourse. See Joh 14:27 . And the breathing on them, evidently intended as a communication of suited grace and strength for their spiritual necessities (See Joh 15:4 and Commentary upon it.) It could not mean the work of regeneration, neither the ordination of them to the ministry. For the former, no doubt, had been accomplished before; and the latter was to be the especial work of God the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. Luk 24:49 .
It is truly lamentable to behold the abuse which some have made of what the Lord Jesus at this time said, in relation to the remission of sins. And it is yet more awful what errors designing men have caused to spring from it. The Apostles wrought miracles, as they were appointed, in confirmation both of the Gospel, and their authority as Ministers of it; but we never read of either of them exercising power to forgive sins. Indeed, they knew better. It is God alone (as the Scribes and Pharisees justly in that instance, reasoned,) who can forgive sins; and Christ, as God, exercised it. (See Mar 2:2-12 and Commentary.) But in whatever sense the Lord intended the words, either in the remission of sins, or the retaining of them, it should seem to be very clear, that no such power as hath been supposed was ever given. Certain it is, that when by the preaching of a full, free, and finished Gospel, under the Holy Ghost’s influence, sinners are awakened, regenerated, and made new creatures in Christ; their sins are forgiven. And, as faith cometh by hearing, Christ’s ministers, in this sense, may be said to remit sins. Rom 10:17 . And on the contrary, where that Gospel is thus proclaimed, and not mixed with faith in them that hear it, there the sins are retained. Hence Paul’s observation, of being a sweet savor, both in them that are saved, and in them that perish. Heb 4:2 ; 2Co 2:15-16 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Ver. 18. Mary Magdalene came and told ] She had told them and troubled them before with a conceit that they had (but to what end, or whither, she knew not) removed the Lord’s body; fitly therefore is she sent to assure them of the resurrection. And though loth to depart, yet she bridles her affections, though never so impetuous, and brings them to be wholly at Christ’s beck and check.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
came = cometh.
and told = telling. Greek. apangello. See Joh 4:51. Mat 2:8. Compare App-121.:6.
seen. Greek. horao. App-133.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 20:18. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
She was a true woman one whom they had known well enough to be quite able to trust her, and her witness ought to have been believed, but there were some that doubted.
Joh 20:19. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.
How he came there we do not knew, but doors cannot shut him out. Is there any door between my soul and Christ tonight then? Have I shut myself up in the chamber of doubt, despondency, unbelief? He can come to me. While the doors are yet shut, he can appear within my spirit, and say, Peace be to you. Oh! that he would do so! Do we not cry to him to come and breathe peace upon us?
Joh 20:20. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side.
That they might be sure it was he the same who had died by crucifixion that they might see how intimate he was with them familiar that his scarcely healed wounds should be seen by them.
Joh 20:20. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Oh! for such a sight! There is a depth of gladness in a risen Christ. Those wounds preach peace and joy.
Joh 20:21-23. Then said Jesus to them again. Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Thus did Jesus Christ support and make for ever true the probing of his word. Do we declare that the sins of penitents are remitted? They are remitted. Are we, in his name, bidden to declare that he that believeth not shall be condemned? So shall it be. He will make the word which is uttered to be true. We shall not speak without our Master making the utterance of his word to be readier of fact.
Joh 20:24. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Perhaps he lived a long way off, or else, being rather slow, he had stayed away, doubting, and fearing, and questioning, and he had not got there in time; anyhow, he was not there. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is, for it will be a loss to you, as it was to him.
Joh 20:25. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Dogged, obstinate unbelief. Some have said he was a large-hearted man, who investigated truth. I do not see it. He had not gone to the tomb, like Peter and John, to look at the grave-clothes, and to discover that Christ was not there. He does not appear to have investigated the testimony of Mary Magdalene and of the others. He was just as narrow-minded as he very well could be, as I believe modern doubters are with all their boast of their wonderful thoughtfulness and liberality. We have only their own opinion, I am sure, upon that matter; and when a man sounds his own trumpet, there is not much in it.
Joh 20:26-27. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then said he to Thomas.
For our Lord has a way of making personal application of his word. He looks after the sheep that is sick, and severs it from the flock, that he may deal with it in his wisdom. Then saith he to Thomas.
Joh 20:27-28. Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
And whether Thomas did put his finger into the print of his nails or not, we cannot tell. Everyone may think as he likes about that. He may have done so, or he may not, but this one thing happened, that he answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. He made a splendid leap from the depths of doubt to the firm rock of confidence. With two blessed mys he seems to grasp Christ with both hands, and in two grand words he pictures him, My Lord and my God.
Joh 20:29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
That is the faith the true faith that wants no buttressing and props, but believes the testimony of God.
Joh 20:30-31. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God: and that believing ye might have life through his name.
God grant that the object of writing the New Testament may be answered in each one of us.
Fuente: Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible
Joh 20:18
Joh 20:18
Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and that he had said these things unto her.-Mary went to make his resurrection known to his disciples and to deliver his message to them. Peter and John had seen the empty tomb and were prepared somewhat for the information of his appearance, but Mar 16:11 says, And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved. [John does not mention their unbelief because he himself believed (Joh 20:8), and he could not mention their unbelief without an invidious distinction. Mary Magdalene was the first to tell the story of the resurrection.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
came: Mat 28:10, Mar 16:10-13, Luk 24:10
Reciprocal: Dan 6:22 – My God Mat 27:56 – Mary Magdalene Mat 28:7 – go Luk 24:22 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
Mary obeyed the instructions of the Master.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 20:18. Mary Magdalene cometh, bringing word to the disciples, I have seen the Lord, and that he said these things unto her. Mary has now recognized her Lord. We have seen her longing, with weeping eyes and breaking heart, for the Friend whom she had loved on earth. She was prepared for more, and more was given. Her Master was revealed to her, not as the human Friend alone, but in all that awakened at the same time her reverence and awe, in all that reminded her of the Divine in Him. Thus she was ready for another step, and she was led that step forward. She saw before her the risen and glorified Lord; and she could look forward to the future, inviting at the same time the disciples to join her in the prospect, as a future in which He who is for ever with the Father should be for ever, by His Spirit, with her and them, weeping changed into joy, and defeat into victory). With a message of this kind she goes to the disciples, and they are prepared for what is now to follow.
The relation between the appearance of Jesus to Mary and that to the women spoken of in Mat 28:9, can hardly be discussed here. The question belongs to the First Gospel, involving, as it does, considerations connected with the general structure of that Gospel upon which we are not able here to enter. It may be enough to say that we cannot regard the two appearances as identical: they differ in almost every circumstance.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Our blessed Saviour’s first appearing after his resurrection having been to Mary Magdalene, as the former verses acquainted us, the same day at evening, when the doors were shut for fear of the Jews, Jesus miraculously, and, as to the disciples, insensibly opens the door, and stands in the midst of them, and says, Peace be unto you: and shows them his hands and his side.
Where not, 1. That it has been no strange thing in the church, that the best members of it have been put to frequent their assemblies with great fear, and been forced to meet in the night with great caution, because of the fury of the persecutors: here Christ’s own disciples were forced to meet together in the night the doors kept shut, for fear of the Jews.
Note, 2. Let Christ’s disciples meet together never so privately, and with never so much hazard and jeopardy, they shall have Christ’s company with them; neither bolts, nor locks, nor fastened doors, shall hold Christ from them; When the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood in the midst of them.
Observe lastly, the evidence which our Saviour offers to evince and prove the certainty of his resurrection: He shewed his disciples his hands and side. Christ appealed to, and admitted of, the judgment of their senses, to assure them that was the real body. And if we must not be allowed to believe our senses, (as the Romish synagogue would persuade us,) we shall want the best external evidence we can have to prove the truth of the Christian religion; namely the miracles of our Saviour; for how can we be assured those miracles were true, but by the judgment of our senses? Now as our senses tell us that Christ’s miracles were true, so they assure us that the popish doctrine of transubstantiation is false.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Joh 20:18. Mary Magdalene came With the other women; and told the disciples As they mourned and wept for the loss of their beloved Master, (Mar 16:10,) that she had seen the Lord, &c. That he had indeed appeared to her, and that he had spoken these gracious things mentioned above. Peter and John had left Mary seeking their common Lord carefully with tears, and would not stay to seek him with her; and now she comes to tell them that she had found him, and to rectify the mistake she had led them into by inquiring after the dead body; for she now found it was a living body, and a glorified one; so that she found what she sought, and, what was infinitely better, she had the happiness of having seen the Master, and was willing to communicate of her joy to them, for she knew it would be good news to them. And, as she told them what she had seen, so also what she had heard: she had seen the Lord alive by this token, that he had spoken these things unto her as a message to be delivered to them, and she delivered it faithfully. Observe, reader, when God comforts us, it is with this design, that we should comfort others. And they that are acquainted with the word of Christ themselves, should communicate their knowledge for the good of others, and not grudge that others should know as much as they do.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Verse 18
As has already been remarked, several hypotheses have been framed, by ingenious scholars, to combine the various incidents related by the different evangelists, as having occurred in the vicinity of the sepulchre on the morning of the resurrection, into one harmonious narrative. These hypotheses are all framed on the supposition that the scene was one of great excitement; that many persons must have been going and returning in different groups and parties,–some, perhaps visiting the sepulchre several times,–and that, consequently, a considerable number and variety of incidents would occur there; and that each of the evangelists, instead of describing fully what took place, has only related such incidents as were particularly reported to him. On this view of the subject, it has not been found difficult to frame hypotheses by which the various incidents related are combined into one connected narrative, the seeming omissions and connecting links being supplied by conjecture. These hypotheses are, however, of little value, except to show that the accounts can be reconciled, and so are not inconsistent. Farther than this, there can be no valuable end attained by framing hypotheses, which rest, of course, wholly on conjecture.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
As an obedient disciple, Mary went to the other disciples and told them that Jesus was alive plus the message that Jesus had given her. Again "the Lord" probably meant "Jesus" to her at this time, but she spoke better than she knew. Later she would understand more about the implications of that title. Mark mentioned that the disciples were weeping and mourning when Mary met them, and they failed to believe that Jesus was alive (Mar 16:10-11).
John did not mention Jesus’ appearance to the other women that followed His appearance to Mary Magdalene (Mat 28:9-10). He also omitted Matthew’s account of how the guards at Jesus’ tomb reported to the Jewish rulers that it was empty (Mat 28:11-15). Likewise he passed over Jesus’ appearances to the two disciples on the Emmaus road (Mar 16:12-13; Luk 24:13-32) and to Peter (Luk 24:33-35; cf. 1Co 15:5).