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What the Fathers say

Matthew 27:57

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"But Joseph went, and begged the body." This was Joseph, who was concealing his discipleship of late; now however he had become very bold after the death of Christ. For neither was he an obscure person, nor of the unnoticed; but one of the council, and highly distinguished; from which circumstance especially one may see his courage. For he exposed himself to death, taking upon him enmity with all, by his affection to Jesus, both having dared to beg the body, and not having desisted until he obtained it. …

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 88 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: he went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in pure linen, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

And when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given. The mention of Joseph being rich is not to boast of the writer, but to show why he was able to obtain Jesus' body from Pilate. It would not have been possible for a poor and unknown person to approach Pilate, the governor of Roman authority, and obtain the body of someone who had been crucified. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Hilary of Poitiers

Joseph of Arimathea, having asked Pilate to return Jesus' body, wrapped it in a shroud, placed it in a new tomb carved out from a rock and rolled a stone in front of the entrance to the tomb. Although this may indeed be the order of events and although it was necessary to bury him who would rise from the dead, these deeds are nevertheless recounted individually because each of them is not without some importance. …

Commentary on Matthew 33.8 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"When it was evening etc." In this part, first the burial is treated; second, the veneration; third, the guarding. The second is at "having taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth"; the third is at "and the next day etc." Concerning the first, first the condition of the one burying is set forth; second, his petition. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗