1. Matthew 28 and the Resurrection: Thomistic Exegesis

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Lecture Notes

Main Topics #

The Structure of Matthew 28: Hearing and Seeing #

• Thomas Aquinas divides chapter 28 into two parts based on the distinction between hearing and seeing
• This division mirrors 1 John 1:1-3, which emphasizes sensory testimony: hearing, seeing, and touching
• The principle: belief comes from hearing before vision occurs
• This same order repeats throughout the chapter in progressively smaller units
• The women first hear from the angel what Christ said, then are invited to see the place where He lay

The Significance of Women in the Resurrection #

• The announcement of resurrection comes first to women, then to the apostles
• This represents the restoration of humanity after the Fall
• Just as humanity’s downfall began with woman (Eve), the recuperation begins with woman
• The two Marys (Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary”) may represent the Church of the Jews and Church of the Gentiles, now united as one
• Parallel to Mary (mother of Jesus): As Christ passed through Mary’s womb without violating its integrity, He passes through the sealed tomb without requiring the stone to be moved for His exit

Temporal Symbolism: Late on the Sabbath #

• The transition from evening (Sabbath) to dawn (first day) carries spiritual meaning
• Echoes Genesis 1: “evening and morning were the first day”
• Represents movement from darkness to light, contrasting with humanity’s fall from day into night
• Signifies transition from sin to grace (Ephesians 5:8)
• The Old Testament, previously obscure, becomes illuminated through Christ’s resurrection and fulfillment

The Earthquake #

• Literal sense: Awakens people to an important moment; demonstrates God joining the divine with the human realm
• Parallels the earthquake at Christ’s death, which manifested His divinity while His death manifested His humanity
• Spiritual sense: Signifies the shaking of hearts and liberation from sin
• Foreshadows the final coming of Christ, which will be preceded by earthquakes and cosmic signs

The Angel’s Appearance and Mission #

Why an Angel is Appropriate #

Thomas gives three reasons:

1. God’s agency in resurrection: Angels are God’s messengers; the resurrection is accomplished by God Himself
2. Continuity of angelic ministry: Angels ministered to Christ in His earthly life, so it is fitting they announce His resurrection
3. Union of earthly and heavenly: The angel represents the joining of earthly and heavenly realities

The Significance of the Angel Sitting #

Thomas identifies three meanings:

1. Teaching authority: It is appropriate for a teacher to sit; the angel teaches the resurrection
2. Power and judgment: Sitting signifies authority and power; judges sit when pronouncing sentence
3. Rest and contemplation: Sitting represents the rest that anticipates eternal life and contemplation of God

The Angel’s Appearance: Face and Garments #

• Face like lightning: Represents both the clarity and penetrating vision of the angelic intellect, and the power/authority that inspires fear in the wicked
• Garments white as snow: Signifies innocence of life; comforting to the saved, fearful to the wicked
• Effect on guards: They became as dead from fear, which is appropriate since life itself (the risen Christ) has emerged from the tomb

The Stone and Its Meanings #

• Literal sense: Rolled back so witnesses could see the empty tomb; Christ passes through the stone, not out of it
• Spiritual sense: The stone represents the Law of the Old Testament; the angel rolling it back signifies the opening and fulfillment of the Law in Christ
• Alternative interpretation: The stone represents the devil, now conquered and subdued by Christ’s death and resurrection (the angel sits upon the vanquished devil)

The Angel’s Message: Hearing Precedes Seeing #

• The message follows the established pattern: first hear (what Christ said), then see (the place where He lay)
• The women cannot yet see the risen Christ but can verify the empty tomb
• The command to tell the disciples repeats the order of revelation: hearing precedes seeing

Galilee as Spiritual Transmigration #

• Thomas interprets Galilee (meaning “transmigration”) spiritually in three ways:
  1. Transmigration from sin to grace necessary to see Christ
  2. Transmigration from mortal to immortal life to see Him as He is
  3. Transmigration from Jews to Gentiles - Christ’s message extends to all nations
• Matthew’s reference to the Galilee appearance does not contradict earlier Jerusalem appearances

The Multiple Appearances of Christ on Resurrection Day #

• Christ appeared five times on the day of Resurrection in Jerusalem:
  1. To Mary Magdalene (John’s Gospel)
  2. To the other women (Matthew’s account)
  3. To Peter/Cephas (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5)
  4. To the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke)
  5. To all apostles except Thomas (John 20)
• Thomas clarifies that Matthew’s focus on Galilee does not mean Christ was not seen until then; multiple appearances occurred before travel to Galilee

Key Arguments #

Reconciliation of Gospel Accounts #

• Problem: Matthew’s emphasis on the Galilee appearance might suggest Christ was not seen until then
• Resolution: Thomas and Paul’s epistles (1 Corinthians 15) establish that Christ appeared multiple times on resurrection day in Jerusalem, then later appeared in Galilee
• Significance: Each Gospel emphasizes different appearances according to its theological purpose; all are true and complementary

The Order of Sensory Testimony #

• Faith is built progressively: hearing establishes belief in what Christ said, seeing the empty tomb confirms the resurrection
• This order reflects the theological principle that “belief is from hearing” before vision can verify it
• Multiple senses and multiple witnesses provide epistemic strength

Gender and Redemptive Reversal #

• Argument: The restoration of humanity mirrors and reverses the Fall
• The Fall: Humanity’s downfall began with woman (Eve and the serpent)
• The Restoration: The announcement of redemption begins with women
• The Good Order: Just as Christ redeems man by becoming a man, the restoration of womankind occurs through women bearing witness to the resurrection

Spiritual Illumination Through Resurrection #

• The transition from night to day at the resurrection symbolizes the illumination of Scripture
• The Old Testament, which was dark or obscure, becomes clear in light of Christ’s resurrection and fulfillment
• As Christ explained to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, all the passages referring to Him in Scripture are now made manifest

Important Definitions #

• Sensus literalis (literal sense): The direct, historical meaning of the text
• Sensus spiritualis (spiritual sense): The deeper, mystical meaning that points to spiritual truths beyond the literal narrative
• Transmigration: Movement or passage from one state to another; used spiritually to mean transformation or transition
• Apocryphes (Greek): “Answering” - responding not merely to words spoken but to the desire, intention, or even unspoken prayer of the person

Examples & Illustrations #

The Passion Play Misrepresentation #

Berquist recalls a passion play (possibly a Flemish or German production) where a large stone was physically pushed out by Christ’s body, giving the false impression that He needed the stone moved to escape the tomb. This misrepresents the resurrection: Christ passes through the sealed tomb; the stone is rolled back by the angel only to demonstrate the tomb is empty, not to allow Christ’s exit.

The Annunciation in Art #

Berquist describes seeing hundreds of Annunciation paintings in European churches. He notes one unique depiction where a servant girl in an adjacent room has dropped her implements (likely sewing or household items) and is listening in on the angel’s message to Mary. This artistic choice suggests the far-reaching significance of the Annunciation—its importance is so great that even servants are drawn to listen, though they are not directly addressed.

The Teacher Sitting #

Berquist references his own experience with Professor Charles DeConnick, a great teacher who always sat while lecturing, even when addressing thousands in a large venue like Quebec. He notes that sitting creates a more relaxed atmosphere and is the appropriate posture for a teacher conveying truth.

Notable Quotes #

“Belief is from hearing, before you can see. The vision is to be more than for me.”

“Just as our downfall began with the woman, so to speak, the recuperation begins with the woman. The same order, but now for the good, rather than the bad.”

“Christ is not coming out this time. He comes through the stone. But we have to be able to see inside the tomb, so he rolls back the stone.”

“The man sitting becomes wise, and the man running around does things. The man standing upright is about to do something. But the man sitting becomes wise, and in the next life will be contemplated with God.”

Questions Addressed #

Why is an angel appropriate for announcing the resurrection? #

Resolution: Three theological reasons: (1) angels are God’s messengers and the resurrection is God’s work; (2) angels ministered to Christ in His earthly life, so fittingly announce His resurrection; (3) the angel bridges earthly and heavenly realities.

Why does the angel sit? #

Resolution: Sitting signifies three things: teaching authority (appropriate for one who teaches), power and judgment (as judges sit to pronounce sentence), and rest/contemplation (anticipating eternal life with God).

How can Matthew’s account mention Galilee when Christ appeared in Jerusalem? #

Resolution: Matthew focuses on the Galilee appearance for theological reasons but does not exclude earlier Jerusalem appearances. The five appearances on resurrection day in Jerusalem are consistent with Matthew’s narrative; the Galilee appearance comes later.

What is the spiritual significance of the stone being rolled back? #

Resolution: The stone represents the Law of the Old Testament, which is “opened” or “fulfilled” by Christ. The angel rolling it back signifies the revelation that Christ is the fulfillment of the Law. Alternatively, the stone represents the devil, now conquered and subdued by Christ’s resurrection.

Why do the women come to the tomb if they cannot see Christ? #

Resolution: They come with devotion to Christ. Though they cannot yet see Him, they can see the grave and verify the empty place where He lay. The angel’s message directs them to this verification and promises that they will see Him in Galilee.

What is the significance of the earthquake? #

Resolution: The earthquake awakens people to an important moment and demonstrates God’s power joining the divine with the human. Spiritually, it signifies the shaking of hearts and freedom from sin. It also foreshadows the final coming of Christ, which will be preceded by cosmic disturbances.

Connections #

To Sacred Scripture #

• 1 John 1:1-3: Establishes the pattern of sensory testimony (hearing, seeing, touching) that Thomas uses as the basis for dividing Matthew 28
• Genesis 1: “Evening and morning were the first day” - echoed in the temporal structure of the resurrection narrative
• Ephesians 5:8: “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord” - cited to explain the spiritual meaning of the night-to-day transition
• Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5: Establish additional resurrection appearances to reconcile Gospel accounts

To Thomistic Theology and Method #

• Demonstrates Thomas Aquinas’s integration of literal and spiritual interpretation of Scripture
• Shows how Thomas reconciles apparent Gospel discrepancies through careful exegetical analysis
• Illustrates Thomas’s use of symbolic or mystical meanings without abandoning historical truth
• Reflects Thomas’s understanding of how Old Testament shadows are fulfilled in Christ