Matthew 27:49

After this verse the important MSS. אBCL insert these words: ἄλλος δὲ λαβὼν λόγχην ἔνυξεν αὐτοῦ τὴν πλευράν, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὕδωρ καὶ αἷμα. Cp. John 19:34. Evidence from the Fathers points to the very early existence of this important reading, which states that the Saviour was pierced while still living. The words are, however, rightly rejected by the best textual criticism. See Tischendorf and Meyer loc., and Scrivener (, &c. p. 472, 480), who well points out the danger of following without discrimination the reading of even the oldest and most authoritative MSS.

49. ἄφες ἴδωμεν. We must understand this to mean either (1) leave him, do not assist him; or (2) leave it, do not give the draught to him; or (3) ἄφες coalesces with the verb following as in modern Greek, and = ‘let us see.’ For the construction cp. ch. Matthew 7:4 and Luke 6:42. In Mark the words ἄφετε ἴδωμεν are put in the mouth of him who offered the wine to the Saviour. There ἄφετε may mean, ‘let me alone.’