John 20:16

John 20:16-17 . Jesus saith unto her, Mary — Expressing himself with an emphasis, and that air of kindness and freedom, with which he had been wont to speak to her. This one word, Mary, was like that to the disciples, in the storm, It is I. She turned herself directly toward him, and, eagerly fixing her eyes upon him, instantly discovered who it was; and transported with a mixture of unutterable passions, she cried, Rabboni, which is to say, Master — And so much was her heart affected, that she could say no more, but immediately prostrated herself at his feet to embrace them; according to that modesty and reverence with which the women of the East saluted the men, 2 Kings 4:27 ; Luke 7:38 . But Jesus refused this compliment, saying, Touch me not — Do not embrace me, either to pay thine homage to me, or to confirm thy faith; or do not cling to me; for it seems she held him by the feet, Matthew 28:9 . Or, Do not detain me now, or waste time in embracing me; for I am not yet ascended to my Father — I have not yet left, and am not immediately to leave, the world; thou wilt, therefore, have many other opportunities of testifying thy regard to me. “The word απτεσθαι , (says Dr. Campbell, here rendered to touch, ) in the use of the LXX., denotes also to lay hold on, and to cleave to, as in Job 31:7 ; Ezekiel 41:6 , and other places.” The sense here plainly is, “Do not detain me at present. The time is precious.

Lose not a moment, therefore, in carrying the joyful tidings of my resurrection to my disciples.” Accordingly it follows, Go to my brethren, &c. — Thus does he intimate in the strongest manner the forgiveness of their fault, even without ever mentioning it. These exquisite touches, which everywhere abound in the evangelical writings, show how perfectly Christ knew our frame. And say unto them, I ascend — He anticipates his ascension in his thoughts, and so speaks of it as a thing already present; to my Father and your Father; my God and your God — This uncommon expression shows, that the only- begotten Son has every kind of fellowship with his Father. And a fellowship with God, some way resembling his own, he bestows upon his brethren. Yet he does not say our God, (for no creature can be raised to an equality with him,) but my God, and your God: intimating that the Father is his, in a singular and incommunicable manner, and ours through him, in such a kind as a creature is capable of. According to Mr.

John 20:16 . λέγει … Διδάσκαλε . His uttering her name, Μαριάμ , revealed that He was a friend who knew her; and there was also that in the tone which made her instantly turn fully round to search Him with her gaze. Surprise, recognition, relief, joy, utter themselves in her exclamation, Ῥαββουνί , which Buxtorf renders “Domine mi”; but probably the pronominal suffix had ceased to have significance, as in “Monsieur,” etc. Lampe quotes the saying; “Majus est Rabbi quam Rabh, et majus est Rabban quam Rabbi,” cf. Mark 10:51 . With the exclamation Mary made a forward movement as if to embrace Him. But this is forbidden.

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.

16 . Mary ] The term of general address, ‘Woman’ awoke no echo in her heart; the sign of personal knowledge and sympathy comes home to her at once. Thus ‘He calleth His own sheep by name ’ ( John 10:3 ). saith unto him ] We must add with the best authorities, in Hebrew . The insertion is of importance as indicating the language spoken between Christ and His disciples. S. John thinks it well to remind Greek readers that Greek was not the language used. Comp. Acts 22:2 ; Acts 26:14 . The expression here used ( Hebraïsti ) occurs only in this Gospel ( John 5:2 , John 19:13 ; John 19:17 ; John 19:20 ) and in Revelation ( John 9:11 , John 16:16 ). See on John 19:37 Rabboni ] More exactly, Rabbuni . This precise form occurs also in Mark 10:51 , but has been obliterated in the A. V. It is said to be Galilean, and if so natural in a woman of Magdala. Would any but a Jew of Palestine have preserved this detail? Master ] Or, Teacher . Its literal meaning is ‘my Master,’ but the pronominal portion of the word had lost almost all meaning. S. John’s translation shews that as yet her belief is very imperfect: she uses a mere human title.

(16) Jesus saith unto her, Mary. —It is to that devoted love that the first words of the risen Lord are spoken. He who knew her whole past, and knew that her devotion to Him had sprung from the freedom from the thraldom of evil which He had wrought for her, is near to that woman weeping by the grave-side, while Apostles, even the true-hearted Peter and the loving John, have gone to their own homes. The voice of God is always most quickly heard by the hearts that love Him; the presence of God is never so truly felt as in the utter helplessness of human woe. Saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.—The better reading is, saith unto Him in Hebrew, Rabboni . . .—Comp. Notes on John 19:13, and on Mark 10:51, which is the only other passage in the New Testament where “Rabboni” occurs. She had heard in the well-known voice her own name, and it has brought back to her all the old associations. It is the “Master,” or, as the Hebrew word means, “My Master,” and she falls at His feet to embrace Him.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary - This was spoken, doubtless, in a tone of voice that at once recalled him to her recollection. Rabboni - This is a Hebrew word denoting, literally, my great master. If was one of the titles given to Jewish teachers. This title was given under three forms: (a) Rab, or master - the lowest degree of honor. (b) Rabbi, my master - a title of higher dignity. (c) Rabboni, my great master the most honorable of all. This title, among the Jews, was only given to seven persons, all persons of great eminence. As given by Mary to the Saviour, it was at once an expression of her joy, and an acknowledgment of him, as her Lord and Master. It is not improbable that she, filled with joy, was about to cast herself at his feet.