Matthew
27:27-44
Lesson 60
27:27-44
Lesson 60
Matthew 27:27-44
Nailed down 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. |
Margin notes:
"The soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall." (27:27) - Pontius Pilate had his own personal military detachment. The "common hall" was called the Praetorium (Mark 15:16). "Gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers." (27:27) - "The whole company of soldiers gathered around Jesus." "Platted a crown of thorns." (27:29) - Means, "twisted together a crown of thorns." "A reed in his right hand." (27:29) - "A scepter in his right hand." "Mocked him." (27:29) - "Made fun of Him." "Smote him on the head." (27:30) - "Hit him on the head." "Put his own raiment on him." (27:31) - "Put his own clothes on him." "As they came out." (27:32) - They left Jerusalem and headed for the crucifixion site. "A man of Cyrene, Simon by name." (27:32) - Cyrene was the capital of Cyrenaica (present-day Libya) in North Africa. Cyrene was founded by the Greeks in B.C. 630 and boasted a large Jewish population. Simon was either visiting the Holy City during the Passover holiday or had moved there and was part of the synagogue of the Cyrenians. Cyrenian Jews living in Jerusalem had their own synagogue (Acts 6:9). It was eventually destroyed in the 4th century. Simon's son Rufus (Mark 15:21) later became a prominent member of the early Christian church (Romans 16:13). "Him they compelled to bear his cross." (27:32) - "They forced him to carry Jesus' cross." Remember, Jesus was weakened by being scourged. "Golgotha." (27:33) - Golgotha is Aramaic for "the place of the skull" (Mark 15:22; John 19:17), also called Calvary (Luke 23:33). Golgotha was a small hill, used to execute criminals, located northwest of Jerusalem just outside the gates of the city (Hebrews 13:12). It was commonplace to hold crucifixions on hilltops so people could easily see the execution and be warned. The main road into Jerusalem ran past Golgotha giving travelers a good view of Jesus' crucifixion (Mark 15:29). There was also a garden nearby and a fresh grave where Jesus was buried (John 19:41). "They gave him vinegar to drink." (27:34) - As prophesied centuries earlier in Psalm 69:21. Vinegar was a cheap, sour wine (Numbers 6:3) popular with Roman soldiers. "They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots." (27:35) - Four soldiers (John 19:23-24) divided up Jesus' clothes as prophesized in Psalms 22:18 hundreds of years earlier. "They that passed by reviled him." (27:39) - Travelers coming from or going to Jerusalem insulted him, just as prophesied in Psalm 22:7-8. "The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth." (27:44) - "The thieves crucified with him, insulted him, too." Fortunately, one thief repented, asked Jesus to remember him in heaven and was quickly forgiven (Luke 23:39-43). |