161 When the Sabbath was over , Mary Magdalene , and Mary the mother of James , and Salome , bought spices , so that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early on the first day of the week , they came to the tomb when the sun had risen . 3 They were saying to one another , "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb ?" 4 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away , although it was extremely large . 5 Entering the tomb , they saw a young man sitting at the right , wearing a white robe ; and they were amazed . 6 And he said to them, " Do not be amazed ; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene , who has been crucified . He has risen ; He is not here ; behold , here is the place where they laid Him. 7 "But go , tell His disciples and Peter , ' He is going ahead of you to Galilee ; there you will see Him, just as He told you.' " 8 They went out and fled from the tomb , for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone , for they were afraid .
9 [Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week , He first appeared to Mary Magdalene , from whom He had cast out seven demons . 10 She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping . 11 When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.
12 After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country . 13 They went away and reported it to the others , but they did not believe them either .
14 Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart , because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 16:1-14
Commentary on Mark 16:1-8
(Read Mark 16:1-8)
Nicodemus brought a large quantity of spices, but these good women did not think that enough. The respect others show to Christ, should not hinder us from showing our respect. And those who are carried by holy zeal, to seek Christ diligently, will find the difficulties in their way speedily vanish. When we put ourselves to trouble and expense, from love to Christ, we shall be accepted, though our endeavours are not successful. The sight of the angel might justly have encouraged them, but they were affrighted. Thus many times that which should be matter of comfort to us, through our own mistake, proves a terror to us. He was crucified, but he is glorified. He is risen, he is not here, not dead, but alive again; hereafter you will see him, but you may here see the place where he was laid. Thus seasonable comforts will be sent to those that lament after the Lord Jesus. Peter is particularly named, Tell Peter; it will be most welcome to him, for he is in sorrow for sin. A sight of Christ will be very welcome to a true penitent, and a true penitent is very welcome to a sight of Christ. The men ran with all the haste they could to the disciples; but disquieting fears often hinder us from doing that service to Christ and to the souls of men, which, if faith and the joy of faith were strong, we might do.
Commentary on Mark 16:9-13
(Read Mark 16:9-13)
Better news cannot be brought to disciples in tears, than to tell them of Christ's resurrection. And we should study to comfort disciples that are mourners, by telling them whatever we have seen of Christ. It was a wise providence that the proofs of Christ's resurrection were given gradually, and admitted cautiously, that the assurance with which the apostles preached this doctrine afterwards might the more satisfy. Yet how slowly do we admit the consolations which the word of God holds forth! Therefore while Christ comforts his people, he often sees it needful to rebuke and correct them for hardness of heart in distrusting his promise, as well as in not obeying his holy precepts.
Commentary on Mark 16:14-18
(Read Mark 16:14-18)
The evidences of the truth of the gospel are so full, that those who receive it not, may justly be upbraided with their unbelief. Our blessed Lord renewed his choice of the eleven as his apostles, and commissioned them to go into all the world, to preach his gospel to every creature. Only he that is a true Christian shall be saved through Christ. Simon Magus professed to believe, and was baptized, yet he was declared to be in the bonds of iniquity: see his history in Acts 8:13-25. Doubtless this is a solemn declaration of that true faith which receives Christ in all his characters and offices, and for all the purposes of salvation, and which produces its right effect on the heart and life; not a mere assent, which is a dead faith, and cannot profit. The commission of Christ's ministers extends to every creature throughout the world, and the declarations of the gospel contain not only truths, encouragements, and precepts, but also most awful warnings. Observe what power the apostles should be endued with, for confirming the doctrine they were to preach. These were miracles to confirm the truth of the gospel, and means of spreading the gospel among nations that had not heard it.