Matthew 28:5

"For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men."

Key Reflection

In Matthew 28:5, the guards' reaction to the empty tomb serves as a dramatic illustration of the awe and terror surrounding Jesus' resurrection. This scene reflects not only the profound fear of the soldiers, who were physically overwhelmed by their experience, but also points to the divine power that cannot be ignored or contained. The image of the guards as "like dead men" underscores the suddenness and impact of the event, suggesting that even those tasked with preventing such occurrences were confronted with a reality far greater than they could comprehend.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 5. And the angel answered and said, etc. This was not on the outside of the tomb, for Matthew does not say that the angel appeared to the women then, but only to the keepers. Mark says, "entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment," Mr 16:6. Luke says, (Lu 24:3,4) "They entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And as they were much perplexed thereabout behold, two men stood by them in shining garments." Seeing the stone rolled away, and the sepulchre open, they of course anxiously entered into it, to see if the body was there.

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