John Chrysostom

"And many women were there beholding afar off, which had followed Him, ministering unto Him, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons." These things the women see done, these who were most inclined to feel for Him, who were most of all bewailing Him. And mark how great their assiduity. They had followed Him ministering to Him, and were present even unto the time of the dangers. …

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 88 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

And many women were there beholding afar off, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him. The women who beheld these events, who were the most tender of all in their compassion [and so ought to have been less able to endure the sight of the Lord's suffering], and were of the gender that was condemned [because of the sin of Eve], were the first to enjoy this vision of good things. The disciples fled while the women were stalwart.

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Augustine of Hippo

We might have supposed that some of the women stood afar off, as three Evangelists say, and others near the cross, as John says, had not Matthew and Mark reckoned Mary Magdalen among those that stood afar off, while John puts her among those that stood near. This is reconciled if we understand the distance at which they were to be such that they might be said to be near, because they were in His sight; but far off in comparison of the crowd who stood nearer with the centurion and soldiers. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Jerome

And there were many women there from afar who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Joseph's mother, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. It was a Jewish custom, and it was not considered wrong according to the ancient customs of the gentiles, for women to provide food and clothing to their teachers out of their own means. Paul mentioned that he had rejected this because it could cause scandal among the nations. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Thomas Aquinas

There follows the devotion of the women: "and there were there many women etc." And first, they are described as to the past, and as to the present. In which it should be considered that when the people withdrew, the women remained, so that what is said in Isaiah 50:2 was fulfilled: "there was not a man with me." But it should be considered that here it says they stood afar off. But John 19:25 says that they stood by the cross etc. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗