Matthew 28:8 Commentary: Fear and Great Joy at the Empty Tomb

Matthew 28:8 takes place on the first Easter morning, just after the angel has rolled back the stone and told the women to go quickly and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen (Matt 28:5-7). The women are Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” (v.1), possibly the mother of James and Joses. Tombs in first-century Judea were often cut from rock and sealed with a large rolling stone. The location is near Jerusalem, likely in a garden (John 19:41). The women had come to anoint Jesus’ body with spices, so their original purpose was an act of loving devotion, not expectation of a resurrection.

The adverb ταχύ (tachu) means “quickly, without delay.” The angel’s command to go quickly (v.7) is echoed in the women’s response: they “departed quickly” and “ran.” Running was not common for women in public in that culture, yet their haste signals urgency and obedience. The verb form ἔδραμον (edramon) is an aorist indicative, a simple past action, emphasizing the moment of action. The women’s fear is understandable: they had just seen an angel with an appearance like lightning (v.3) and guards who “became like dead men” (v.4). Mark’s parallel (Mark 16:8) adds that trembling and astonishment had seized them, and that they said nothing to anyone along the way due to fear.

The phrase “with fear and great joy” uses the preposition μετά (meta) plus genitive, indicating accompaniment: both emotions traveled with them. The noun φόβος (phobos) can mean terror or reverent awe; here it likely carries both shades. The joy is “great” (μεγάλης, megalēs), the same adjective used for the angel’s power and the earthquake in v.2. This is no small happiness but an overwhelming, miraculous gladness that coexists with trembling. The women embody a paradox that runs through Scripture: serving the Lord with fear and rejoicing (Psalm 2:11).

The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Matthew 28:8. The verse is stable across the manuscript tradition. There is a minor variation in the verb tense of “they departed” (aorist participle vs. finite verb) in some versions, but it does not affect meaning.

In the early church, this verse was often cited to show the fulfillment of prophecy that the Messiah would die and rise again (e.g., Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 3). Ancient Christian art frequently depicted the women at the tomb with angels, capturing the mixture of awe and joy. During the Reformation, Calvin used the verse to argue that even true faith can be mingled with doubt until Christ personally confirms the promise. In Wesleyan tradition, Adam Clarke highlighted the psychological realism of fear and joy coexisting. Modern hymnody often reflects this paradox, especially in Easter songs about the women running with news too good to be true. The verse continues to comfort believers who feel that their own faith is not yet fully settled.

Three-point outline

1. Obeying even when emotions clash. The women departed quickly and ran, despite feeling both fear and joy. Their obedience did not wait for emotional clarity; it acted on the angel’s command. Faith often moves forward before feelings settle.
2. The honest paradox of early faith. Fear and great joy are not opposites in the Christian life. As Calvin notes, “opposite feelings in the hearts of the godly” can coexist until the Spirit brings settled peace. This verse validates the experience of new or struggling believers: you can rejoice and still tremble.
3. The message that compels action. The women ran to bring word to the disciples. The resurrection is news meant to be shared, even by those still processing it. Their running models evangelism not as perfect confidence but as urgent testimony.

Five-point outline

1. The setting: early morning, an empty tomb, a stunning angelic message.
2. The command: “Go quickly and tell” (v.7). Obedience is immediate.
3. The emotional state: fear (awe/dread) + great joy (unexpected hope).
4. The action: they ran. The aorist verb emphasizes a decisive, swift response.
5. The outcome: their testimony reaches the disciples (v.8 leads into v.9-10, where Christ meets them).

Illustration hooks

• A long-awaited medical report: receiving news that a loved one’s cancer is gone, but being too afraid to fully believe it at first, joy and anxiety swirl together.
• A child running to tell parents about a great grade: excitement mixed with nervousness that the grade might be a mistake. The running itself shows the urgency of the good news.

Questions your congregation is asking

• Is it okay to feel afraid even when I believe in the resurrection?
• How can I share the gospel if I still have doubts or mixed feelings?
• What if my faith doesn’t feel like “great joy” yet, am I doing something wrong?

This verse captures the honest, messy beginning of Easter faith. The women believed enough to obey, but they also shook with fear. In your group, reflect on how joy and fear can coexist in your own walk with Christ.

Discussion questions

1. Read Matthew 28:1-8. What happened just before our verse? What had the women seen and heard?
2. Why do you think the women felt fear even though the angel had told them not to be afraid (v.5)?
3. How is the joy described as “great” (μεγάλης)? Can you think of other times in the Bible when great joy is paired with fear (e.g., Psalm 2:11, Luke 24:41)?
4. Barnes says the news “was too good to be credited at once.” Have you ever felt that way about an answer to prayer or a promise from God?
5. The women ran. What does this urgency tell us about the worth of the message they carried? How does it challenge or encourage you in sharing your faith?
6. Calvin writes that their lack of full faith meant they were “held in suspense between joy and perplexity.” Is this a normal stage of faith? Why or why not?
7. How does Jesus respond to the women in verse 9? What does that tell us about how he meets us in our mixed emotions?