Q: Was it okay to touch the risen Jesus? Matthew 28:9 says that the women came up and took hold of His feet. Luke 24:39 depicts Jesus inviting the incredulous disciples to touch Him. Likewise in John 20:27, Jesus is pictured inviting Thomas to touch the wounds in his hands and his side. But in John 20:17, Jesus tells Mary Magdalene, Touch me not. Whats going on here?
A: An examination of the Greek words employed in each passage may be instructive.
Whats going on is an over-literal translation of the word haptou in John 20:17 in the KJV.
The Greek word used for the womens actions in Matthew 28:9 -- ekrathsan. They quickly held His feet
The Greek word used when Jesus invites the disciples to touch Him in Luke 24:29 is pselafesate.
The Greek words used by Jesus when He speaks to Thomas in John 20:27 are not words which typically mean touch; they are the words for bring and see (fere and ide), employed so as to describe the act of touching Jesus wounds.
The Greek word that Jesus used in John 20:17, though, is not any of those. Its haptou. Its the term used in Matthew 8:3, 8:15, and 9:20 to describe contacts between Jesus and people who came to be healed when a transfer of His healing-power occurred. It doesnt necessarily describe a firm embrace, but it is capable of describing one. And that is, I think, what we have in John 20:17 -- Mary Magdalene is overjoyed to see Jesus and gives Him a hug. And maybe she begins to think that things will be like they were before the crucifixion. Jesus, sensing her thoughts, responds by telling her that she has to let go of Him. Hes going to ascend to God the Father. Its not the act of touching Jesus that He forbade; indeed as other passages mention, Jesus invited the disciples to touch Him. It was the hope that accompanied Mary Magdalenes hug -- that Jesus was back to stay -- that Jesus redirected by His words in John 20:17.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: An examination of the Greek words employed in each passage may be instructive.
Whats going on is an over-literal translation of the word haptou in John 20:17 in the KJV.
The Greek word used for the womens actions in Matthew 28:9 -- ekrathsan. They quickly held His feet
The Greek word used when Jesus invites the disciples to touch Him in Luke 24:29 is pselafesate.
The Greek words used by Jesus when He speaks to Thomas in John 20:27 are not words which typically mean touch; they are the words for bring and see (fere and ide), employed so as to describe the act of touching Jesus wounds.
The Greek word that Jesus used in John 20:17, though, is not any of those. Its haptou. Its the term used in Matthew 8:3, 8:15, and 9:20 to describe contacts between Jesus and people who came to be healed when a transfer of His healing-power occurred. It doesnt necessarily describe a firm embrace, but it is capable of describing one. And that is, I think, what we have in John 20:17 -- Mary Magdalene is overjoyed to see Jesus and gives Him a hug. And maybe she begins to think that things will be like they were before the crucifixion. Jesus, sensing her thoughts, responds by telling her that she has to let go of Him. Hes going to ascend to God the Father. Its not the act of touching Jesus that He forbade; indeed as other passages mention, Jesus invited the disciples to touch Him. It was the hope that accompanied Mary Magdalenes hug -- that Jesus was back to stay -- that Jesus redirected by His words in John 20:17.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
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