Worthy.Bible » STRONG » John » Chapter 20 » Verse 1-21

John 20:1-21 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 G1161 The first G3391 day of the week G4521 cometh G2064 Mary G3137 Magdalene G3094 early, G4404 when it was G5607 yet G2089 dark, G4653 unto G1519 the sepulchre, G3419 and G2532 seeth G991 the stone G3037 taken away G142 from G1537 the sepulchre. G3419

2 Then G3767 she runneth, G5143 and G2532 cometh G2064 to G4314 Simon G4613 Peter, G4074 and G2532 to G4314 the other G243 disciple, G3101 whom G3739 Jesus G2424 loved, G5368 and G2532 saith G3004 unto them, G846 They have taken away G142 the Lord G2962 out of G1537 the sepulchre, G3419 and G2532 we know G1492 not G3756 where G4226 they have laid G5087 him. G846

3 Peter G4074 therefore G3767 went forth, G1831 and G2532 that other G243 disciple, G3101 and G2532 came G2064 to G1519 the sepulchre. G3419

4 So G1161 they ran G5143 both G1417 together: G3674 and G2532 the other G243 disciple G3101 did outrun G4390 G5032 Peter, G4074 and G2532 came G2064 first G4413 to G1519 the sepulchre. G3419

5 And G2532 he stooping down, G3879 and looking in, saw G991 the linen clothes G3608 lying; G2749 yet G3305 went he G1525 not G3756 in. G1525

6 Then G3767 cometh G2064 Simon G4613 Peter G4074 following G190 him, G846 and G2532 went G1525 into G1519 the sepulchre, G3419 and G2532 seeth G2334 the linen clothes G3608 lie, G2749

7 And G2532 the napkin, G4676 that G3739 was G2258 about G1909 his G846 head, G2776 not G3756 lying G2749 with G3326 the linen clothes, G3608 but G235 wrapped together G1794 in G1519 a place G5117 by itself. G1520 G5565

8 Then G5119 G3767 went in G1525 also G2532 that other G243 disciple, G3101 which G3588 came G2064 first G4413 to G1519 the sepulchre, G3419 and G2532 he saw, G1492 and G2532 believed. G4100

9 For G1063 as yet G3764 they knew G1492 not G3764 the scripture, G1124 that G3754 he G846 must G1163 rise again G450 from G1537 the dead. G3498

10 Then G3767 the disciples G3101 went away G565 again G3825 unto G4314 their own home. G1438

11 But G1161 Mary G3137 stood G2476 without G1854 at G4314 the sepulchre G3419 weeping: G2799 and G3767 as G5613 she wept, G2799 she stooped down, G3879 and looked into G1519 the sepulchre, G3419

12 And G2532 seeth G2334 two G1417 angels G32 in G1722 white G3022 sitting, G2516 the one G1520 at G4314 the head, G2776 and G2532 the other G1520 at G4314 the feet, G4228 where G3699 the body G4983 of Jesus G2424 had lain. G2749

13 And G2532 they G1565 say G3004 unto her, G846 Woman, G1135 why G5101 weepest thou? G2799 She saith G3004 unto them, G846 Because G3754 they have taken away G142 my G3450 Lord, G2962 and G2532 I know G1492 not G3756 where G4226 they have laid G5087 him. G846

14 And G2532 when she had G2036 thus G5023 said, G2036 she turned G4762 herself G1519 back, G3694 and G2532 saw G2334 Jesus G2424 standing, G2476 and G2532 knew G1492 not G3756 that G3754 it was G2076 Jesus. G2424

15 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto her, G846 Woman, G1135 why G5101 weepest thou? G2799 whom G5101 seekest thou? G2212 She, G1565 supposing G1380 G3754 him to be G2076 the gardener, G2780 saith G3004 unto him, G846 Sir, G2962 if G1487 thou G4771 have borne G941 him G846 hence, G941 tell G2036 me G3427 where G4226 thou hast laid G5087 him, G846 and I G2504 will take G142 him G846 away. G142

16 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto her, G846 Mary. G3137 She G1565 turned G4762 herself, and saith G3004 unto him, G846 Rabboni; G4462 which G3739 is to say, G3004 Master. G1320

17 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto her, G846 Touch G680 me G3450 not; G3361 for G1063 I am G305 not yet G3768 ascended G305 to G4314 my G3450 Father: G3962 but G1161 go G4198 to G4314 my G3450 brethren, G80 and G2532 say G2036 unto them, G846 I ascend G305 unto G4314 my G3450 Father, G3962 and G2532 your G5216 Father; G3962 and G2532 to my G3450 God, G2316 and G2532 your G5216 God. G2316

18 Mary G3137 Magdalene G3094 came G2064 and told G518 the disciples G3101 that G3754 she had seen G3708 the Lord, G2962 and G2532 that he had spoken G2036 these things G5023 unto her. G846

19 Then G3767 the same G1565 day G2250 at evening, G3798 being G5607 the first G3391 day of the week, G4521 when G2532 the doors G2374 were shut G2808 where G3699 the disciples G3101 were G2258 assembled G4863 for G1223 fear G5401 of the Jews, G2453 came G2064 Jesus G2424 and G2532 stood G2476 in G1519 the midst, G3319 and G2532 saith G3004 unto them, G846 Peace G1515 be unto you. G5213

20 And G2532 when he had G2036 so G5124 said, G2036 he shewed G1166 unto them G846 his hands G5495 and G2532 his G846 side. G4125 Then G3767 were G5463 the disciples G3101 glad, G5463 when they saw G1492 the Lord. G2962

21 Then G3767 said G2036 Jesus G2424 to them G846 again, G3825 Peace G1515 be unto you: G5213 as G2531 my Father G3962 hath sent G649 me, G3165 even so G2504 send G3992 I G2504 you. G5209

Commentary on John 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 20

Joh 20:1-18. Mary's Visit to the Sepulchre, and Return to It with Peter and JohnHer Risen Lord Appears to Her.

1, 2. The first day … cometh Mary Magdalene early, &c.—(See on Mr 16:1-4; and Mt 28:1, 2).

she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre—Dear disciple! thy dead Lord is to thee "the Lord" still.

3-10. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came first to the sepulchre—These particulars have a singular air of artless truth about them. Mary, in her grief, runs to the two apostles who were soon to be so closely associated in proclaiming the Saviour's resurrection, and they, followed by Mary, hasten to see with their own eyes. The younger disciple outruns the older; love haply supplying swifter wings. He stoops, he gazes in, but enters not the open sepulchre, held back probably by a reverential fear. The bolder Peter, coming up, goes in at once, and is rewarded with bright evidence of what had happened.

6-7. seeth the linen clothes lie—lying.

And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes—not loosely, as if hastily thrown down, and indicative of a hurried and disorderly removal.

but wrapped—folded.

together in a place by itself—showing with what grand tranquillity "the Living One" had walked forth from "the dead" (Lu 24:5). "Doubtless the two attendant angels (Joh 20:12) did this service for the Rising One, the one disposing of the linen clothes, the other of the napkin" [Bengel].

8. Then went in … that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre—The repetition of this, in connection with his not having gone in till after Peter, seems to show that at the moment of penning these words the advantage which each of these loving disciples had of the other was present to his mind.

and he saw and believed—Probably he means, though he does not say, that he believed in his Lord's resurrection more immediately and certainly than Peter.

9. For as yet they knew—that is, understood.

not the scripture that he must rise again from the dead—In other words, they believed in His resurrection at first, not because they were prepared by Scripture to expect it; but facts carried resistless conviction of it in the first instance to their minds, and furnished a key to the Scripture predictions of it.

11-15. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping, &c.—Brief was the stay of those two men. But Mary, arriving perhaps by another direction after they left, lingers at the spot, weeping for her missing Lord. As she gazes through her tears on the open tomb, she also ventures to stoop down and look into it, when lo! "two angels in white" (as from the world of light, and see on Mt 28:3) appear to her in a "sitting" posture, "as having finished some business, and awaiting some one to impart tidings to" [Bengel].

12. one at the head, and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain—not merely proclaiming silently the entire charge they had had of the body, of Christ [quoted in Luthardt], but rather, possibly, calling mute attention to the narrow space within which the Lord of glory had contracted Himself; as if they would say, Come, see within what limits, marked off by the interval here between us two, the Lord lay! But she is in tears, and these suit not the scene of so glorious an Exit. They are going to point out to her the incongruity.

13. Woman, why weepest thou?—You would think the vision too much for a lone woman. But absorbed in the one Object of her affection and pursuit, she speaks out her grief without fear.

Because, &c.—that is, Can I choose but weep, when "they have taken away," &c., repeating her very words to Peter and John. On this she turned herself and saw Jesus Himself standing beside her, but took Him for the gardener. Clad therefore in some such style He must have been. But if any ask, as too curious interpreters do, whence He got those habiliments, we answer [with Olshausen and Luthardt] where the two angels got theirs. Nor did the voice of His first words disclose Him to Mary—"Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?" He will try her ere he tell her. She answers not the stranger's question, but comes straight to her point with him.

15. Sir, if thou have borne him hence—borne whom? She says not. She can think only of One, and thinks others must understand her. It reminds one of the question of the Spouse, "Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?" (So 3:3).

tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away—Wilt thou, dear fragile woman? But it is the language of sublime affection, that thinks itself fit for anything if once in possession of its Object. It is enough. Like Joseph, He can no longer restrain Himself (Ge 45:1).

16, 17. Jesus saith unto her, Mary—It is not now the distant, though respectful, "Woman." It is the oft-repeated name, uttered, no doubt, with all the wonted manner, and bringing a rush of unutterable and overpowering associations with it.

She turned herself, and saith to him, Rabboni!—But that single word of transported recognition was not enough for woman's full heart. Not knowing the change which had passed upon Him, she hastens to express by her action what words failed to clothe; but she is checked.

17. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father—Old familiarities must now give place to new and more awful yet sweeter approaches; but for these the time has not come yet. This seems the spirit, at least, of these mysterious words, on which much difference of opinion has obtained, and not much that is satisfactory said.

but go to my brethren—(Compare Mt 28:10; Heb 2:11, 17). That He had still our Humanity, and therefore "is not ashamed to call us brethren," is indeed grandly evidenced by these words. But it is worthy of most reverential notice, that we nowhere read of anyone who presumed to call Him Brother. "My brethren: Blessed Jesus, who are these? Were they not Thy followers? yea, Thy forsakers? How dost Thou raise these titles with Thyself! At first they were Thy servants; then disciples; a little before Thy death, they were Thy friends; now, after Thy resurrection, they were Thy brethren. But oh, mercy without measure! how wilt Thou, how canst Thou call them brethren whom, in Thy last parting, Thou foundest fugitives? Did they not run from Thee? Did not one of them rather leave his inmost coat behind him than not be quit of Thee? And yet Thou sayest, 'Go, tell My brethren! It is not in the power of the sins of our infirmity to unbrother us'" [Bishop Hall].

I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God—words of incomparable glory! Jesus had called God habitually His Father, and on one occasion, in His darkest moment, His God. But both are here united, expressing that full-orbed relationship which embraces in its vast sweep at once Himself and His redeemed. Yet, note well, He says not, Our Father and our God. All the deepest of the Church fathers were wont to call attention to this, as expressly designed to distinguish between what God is to Him and to us—His Father essentially, ours not so: our God essentially, His not so: His God only in connection with us: our God only in connection with Him.

18. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her—To a woman was this honor given to be the first that saw the risen R edeemer, and that woman was not His mother. (See on Mr 16:9).

Joh 20:19-23. Jesus Appears to the Assembled Disciples.

19-23. the same day at evening, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus—plainly not by the ordinary way of entrance.

and saith unto them Peace be unto you—not the mere wish that even His own exalted peace might be theirs (Joh 14:27), but conveying it into their hearts, even as He "opened their understandings to understand the scriptures" (Lu 24:45).

20. And when he had so said, he showed them his hands and his side—not only as ocular and tangible evidence of the reality of His resurrection (See on Lu 24:37-43), but as through "the power of that resurrection" dispensing all His peace to men.

Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.

21. Then said Jesus—prepared now to listen to Him in a new character.

Peace be unto you. As my Father hath sent me, so send I you—(See on Joh 17:18).

22. he breathed on them—a symbolical conveyance to them of the Spirit.

and saith, Receive ye the Holy Ghost—an earnest and first-fruits of the more copious Pentecostal effusion.

23. Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, &c.—In any literal and authoritative sense this power was never exercised by one of the apostles, and plainly was never understood by themselves as possessed by them or conveyed to them. (See on Mt 16:19). The power to intrude upon the relation between men and God cannot have been given by Christ to His ministers in any but a ministerial or declarative sense—as the authorized interpreters of His word, while in the actings of His ministers, the real nature of the power committed to them is seen in the exercise of church discipline.

Joh 20:24-29. Jesus Again Appears to the Assembled Disciples.

24, 25. But Thomas—(See on Joh 11:16).

was not with them when Jesus came—why, we know not, though we are loath to think (with Stier, Alford and Luthardt) it was intentional, from sullen despondency. The fact merely is here stated, as a loving apology for his slowness of belief.

25. We have seen the Lord—This way of speaking of Jesus (as Joh 20:20 and Joh 21:7), so suited to His resurrection-state, was soon to become the prevailing style.

Except I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my linger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe—The very form of this speech betokens the strength of the unbelief. "It is not, If I shall see I shall believe, but, Unless I shall see I will not believe; nor does he expect to see, although the others tell him they had" [Bengel]. How Christ Himself viewed this state of mind, we know from Mr 16:14, "He upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen." But whence sprang this pertinacity of resistance in such minds? Not certainly from reluctance to believe, but as in Nathanael (see on Joh 1:46) from mere dread of mistake in so vital a matter.

26-29. And after eight days—that is, on the eighth, or first day of the preceding week. They probably met every day during the preceding week, but their Lord designedly reserved His second appearance among them till the recurrence of His resurrection day, that He might thus inaugurate the delightful sanctities of THE Lord's Day (Re 1:10).

disciples were within, and Thomas with them … Jesus … stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither … behold … put it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing—"There is something rhythmical in these words, and they are purposely couched in the words of Thomas himself, to put him to shame" [Luthardt]. But wish what condescension and gentleness is this done!

28. Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God—That Thomas did not do what Jesus invited him to do, and what he had made the condition of his believing, seems plain from Joh 20:29 ("Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed"). He is overpowered, and the glory of Christ now breaks upon him in a flood. His exclamation surpasses all that had been yet uttered, nor can it be surpassed by anything that ever will be uttered in earth or heaven. On the striking parallel in Nathanael, see on Joh 1:49. The Socinian invasion of the supreme divinity of Christ here manifestly taught—as if it were a mere call upon God in a fit of astonishment—is beneath notice, save for the profanity it charges upon this disciple, and the straits to which it shows themselves reduced.

29. because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed—words of measured commendation, but of indirect and doubtless painfully—felt rebuke: that is, 'Thou hast indeed believed; it is well: it is only on the evidence of thy senses, and after peremptorily refusing all evidence short of that.'

blessed they that have not seen, and yet have believed—"Wonderful indeed and rich in blessing for us who have not seen Him, is this closing word of the Gospel" [Alford].

Joh 20:30, 31. First Close of This Gospel.

The connection of these verses with the last words of Joh 20:29 is beautiful: that is, And indeed, as the Lord pronounced them blessed who not having seen Him have yet believed, so for that one end have the whole contents of this Gospel been recorded, that all who read it may believe on Him, and believing, have life in that blessed name.

30. many other signs—miracles.

31. But these are written—as sufficient specimens.

the Christ, the Son of God—the one His official, the other His personal, title.

believing … may have life—(See on Joh 6:51-54).