Matthew says that the risen Jesus meets the women as they leave the tomb. They take hold of His feet and worship Him. Jesus then tells them not to fear and commissions them to tell His brothers to go to Galilee.
Jesus in Context
The Women Worship Jesus and He Calls the Disciples His Brothers
The women grasp the risen Jesus' feet and worship Him, after which He refers to His disciples as His brothers.
Introduction
Historical and Cultural Context
Grasping another person's feet could express humility, supplication, submission, or profound reverence. Matthew combines the physical gesture with the explicit statement that the women worship Jesus.
The designation 'my brothers' is also striking within the narrative. Jesus' disciples had abandoned Him during His arrest, yet after the resurrection He speaks of them using familial language and summons them to meet Him.
Why It Matters
The scene combines physical recognition, worship, reconciliation, and commission. The women encounter Jesus as a tangible risen person, while the failed disciples are not discarded but called His brothers and gathered again.