Mark 16:4

And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) For it was very great.—The words have been explained as giving the reason for their previous question, but it seems more natural to see in them St. Mark’s explanation of his having used the word “rolled away” instead of saying, simply, “taken away” or “removed.”

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It was very great - These words belong to the third verse: "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?" for, the evangelist adds, it was very great.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3. And they said among themselves—as they were approaching the sacred spot.

Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? … for it was very great—On reaching it they find their difficulty gone—the stone already rolled away by an unseen hand. And are there no others who, when advancing to duty in the face of appalling difficulties, find their stone also rolled away?

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 16:3"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when they looked,.... Towards the sepulchre, as they came near it:

they saw that the stone was rolled away; they perceived it lay at some distance from the door of the sepulchre, which doubtless was very grateful, and matter of rejoicing to them:

for it was very great; these words are to be read, in connection with the preceding verse; for they are not a reason, why when they looked towards the sepulchre, they saw the stone rolled, because it was a very large one, and so easily to be seen at a distance; but a reason why they were so thoughtful and concerned, who should roll it away for them, it being so big, that they could not think that they were able to do it themselves.

Geneva Study Bible

And when they {a} looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

(a) When they cast their eyes toward the sepulchre.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 16:4. ἀναβλέψασαι, looking up, as they approached the tomb; suggestive of heavy hearts and downcast eyes, on the way thither.—ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα: this clause seems out of place here, and it has been suggested that it should be inserted after μνημείου in Mark 16:3, as explaining the women’s solicitude about the removal of the stone. As it stands, the clause explains how the women could see, even at a distance, that the stone had already been removed. It was a sufficiently large object. How the stone was rolled away is not said.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

4. And when they looked] But as they drew nearer amidst the glimmering light, the earth quaked beneath their feet (Matthew 28:2), and looking up they saw that all cause of anxiety was removed, for the stone was already rolled away. Observe the force of the expression “when they looked”. It means when they “looked up;” an accurate and graphic detail.

for it was very great] About this fact there could be no doubt. The stone which had closed the entrance was “very great,” and even at a distance on looking up to the height, on which the rock-tomb lay, they could see it was not in its place, but had changed its position.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 16:4. Γὰρ, for) The particle intimates both the reason why the women were in anxiety [Mark 16:3], and the reason why they perceived that the stone must have been rolled away with an unusually great power.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - And looking up (ἀναβλέψασαι) they see (θεωροῦσιν) that the stone is rolled back (ἀποκεκύλισται): for it was exceeding great (μέγας σφόδρα). At this point we learn from St. John that Mary Magdalene ran away to tell Peter and John (John 20:2). Mark 16:4