SEV Biblia, Chapter 27:55
Y estaban allí muchas mujeres mirando de lejos, las cuales habían seguido de Galilea a Jess, sirvindole,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:55
Verse 55. Many women] To their everlasting honour, these women evidenced more courage, and affectionate attachment to their Lord and Master, than the disciples did, who had promised to die with him rather than forsake him. Beholding afar off] At a distance-apo makroqen. Though this expression may be understood to refer, rather to the distance from which they came, (viz. from Galilee,) than the distance they stood from the cross; yet, as all malefactors were crucified naked, perhaps this may account for the distance at which these modest women stood.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 55. And many women were there , etc.] At the cross of Christ, at some little distance from it; but where was Peter, who had declared he would never be offended, though all men were; and would die with Christ, rather than deny him? and where were the rest of the disciples, who said the same things? None were present excepting John, as can be learnt from the evangelists; but many women, those of the weaker sex, were there, which was a rebuke of the former vanity and confidence of the disciples, and of their present pusillanimity and cowardice: beholding afar off ; Christ upon the cross, in all his agonies, the chief priests and people mocking him, the darkness upon the earth, the quaking of it, and the rending of the rocks: they were witnesses of all this, being at some little distance, by reason of the crowd of people and soldiers about the cross; and they beheld with an eye of faith, their bleeding, dying Lord, as crucified for them, and as bearing and taking away their sins: a sight which at once stirred up their affection and love to Christ, their concern for him, and sorrow for sin; and yet joy and peace, in believing in him: which followed Jesus from Galilee : where they had seen his miracles, heard his doctrines, and had been savingly converted by him; and therefore followed him wherever he went, though an hundred miles or more, and through many difficulties and discouragements: they attended him in his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and now at his cross; nor did they leave him when dead, and in his grave: ministering unto him : not now, for he stood in no need of their assistance, nor could they give him any; but this respects what they had done heretofore, in their journey with him from Galilee to Jerusalem; when they ministered to him of their worldly substance, as a token of their affection for him; and which expresses the low estate and mean condition he was in, and is an instruction to his followers, how to behave towards the faithful preachers of his Gospel; (see Luke 8:3).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 51-56 - The rending of the veil signified that Christ, by his death, opened way to God. We have an open way through Christ to the throne of grace or mercy-seat now, and to the throne of glory hereafter. When we dul consider Christ's death, our hard and rocky hearts should be rent; the heart, and not the garments. That heart is harder than a rock that wil not yield, that will not melt, where Jesus Christ is plainly set fort crucified. The graves were opened, and many bodies of saints whic slept, arose. To whom they appeared, in what manner, and how the disappeared, we are not told; and we must not desire to be wise abov what is written. The dreadful appearances of God in his providence sometimes work strangely for the conviction and awakening of sinners This was expressed in the terror that fell upon the centurion and the Roman soldiers. We may reflect with comfort on the abundant testimonie given to the character of Jesus; and, seeking to give no just cause of offence, we may leave it to the Lord to clear our characters, if we live to Him. Let us, with an eye of faith, behold Christ and his crucified, and be affected with that great love wherewith he loved us But his friends could give no more than a look; they beheld him, but could not help him. Never were the horrid nature and effects of sin s tremendously displayed, as on that day when the beloved Son of the Father hung upon the cross, suffering for sin, the Just for the unjust that he might bring us to God. Let us yield ourselves willingly to his service.
Greek Textus Receptus
ησαν 2258 5713 V-IXI-3P δε 1161 CONJ εκει 1563 ADV γυναικες 1135 N-NPF πολλαι 4183 A-NPF απο 575 PREP μακροθεν 3113 ADV θεωρουσαι 2334 5723 V-PAP-NPF αιτινες 3748 R-NPF ηκολουθησαν 190 5656 V-AAI-3P τω 3588 T-DSM ιησου 2424 N-DSM απο 575 PREP της 3588 T-GSF γαλιλαιας 1056 N-GSF διακονουσαι 1247 5723 V-PAP-NPF αυτω 846 P-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
55. Which had followed (aitinev). Denoting a class: who were of the body of women that had followed him.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
27:55 {Many women} (gunaikes pollai). We have come to expect the women from Galilee to be faithful, last at the Cross and first at the tomb. Luke (#Lu 23:49) says that "all his acquaintance" (pantes hoi gn"stoi autwi) stood at a distance and saw the end. One may hope that the apostles were in that sad group. But certainly many women were there. The Mother of Jesus had been taken away from the side of the Cross by the Beloved Disciple to his own home (#Joh 19:27). Matthew names three of the group by name. Mary Magdalene is mentioned as a well-known person though not previously named in Matthew's Gospel. Certainly she is not the sinful woman of #Lu 7 nor Mary of Bethany. There is another Mary, the mother of James and Joseph (Joses) not otherwise known to us. And qen there is the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John), usually identified with Salome (#Mr 15:40). These noble and faithful women were "beholding from afar" (apo makroqen the"rousai). These three women may have drawn nearer to the Cross for Mary the Mother of Jesus stood beside the Cross (para t"i staurwi) with Mary of Clopas and Mary Magdalene (#Joh 19:25) before she left. They had once ministered unto Jesus (diakonousai autwi) and now he is dead. Matthew does not try to picture the anguish of heart of these noble women nor does he say as Luke (#Lu 23:48) does that "they returned smiting their breasts." He drops the curtain on that saddest of all tragedies as the loyal band stood and looked at the dead Christ on Golgotha. What hope did life now hold for them?
