Matthew 28:3 (ASV)

Passage

His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

Nearby Context

Matthew 28:1 Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Matthew 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.

Matthew 28:3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

Matthew 28:4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.

Matthew 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "light", "appearance", "lightning", "raiment", "white", and "snow". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "light" and "appearance", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "And behold there was a great earthquake..." into verse 4's "and for fear of him the watchers...", so "light" and "appearance" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "light" and "appearance" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.