Matthew 28:1-5 - Mary went to look at the tomb

28:1-4

On the Sunday morning Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb. Remember that in the previous chapter Matthew made clear that they knew exactly where the tomb was, this is no matter of them going to the wrong tomb! There was a “violent earthquake”, I guess this was a very localised event as it was due to an angel of the Lord appearing.The angel rolled back the stone from the tomb. The angel appeared as a brilliant white. Verse 4 also makes clear that the guards were still there, so there was no chance of the body having been stolen.  As well as the spiritual lessons, Matthew seems to be making it clear that the empty tomb and the resurrection were real events. The guards became like dead men.

28:5

The angel told the women not to be afraid. This often happens with angelic appearances. It has often been pointed out that the fact the women were the first witnesses was highly significant. For in those days the evidence of women was less important than that of men. So if someone was making this up they would not have put women as the first witnesses. So this all lends to the authenticity of the accounts.