MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:1 WHEN MORNING CAME on Friday, ALL THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE assembled a quorum so they could formally approve their verdict against Jesus during the early morning hours (Matthew 26:57). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (va... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:2 THEY... DELIVERED HIM OVER TO PILATE, the governor of Judea and the Roman prefect under Emperor Tiberius (see note on Luke 3:1). To maintain control, the Romans kept the death penalty under their own jurisdiction and reserved the right to intervene in any case. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ va... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:3 Only Matthew records Judas’s feelings of remorse and his attempt to return the blood money. CHANGED HIS MIND. Judas experienced feelings of regret. This is less than “repentance,” which involves a change of action and attitude. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByT... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:5 Judas HANGED HIMSELF rather than face his crushing guilt. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:6 BLOOD MONEY. Based on Deuteronomy 23:18. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:7 The name FIELD OF BLOOD arose from its association with Judas’s violent death (see Acts 1:18) and perhaps also with the “blood money” (Matthew 27:6) paid for his betrayal of Jesus. Most church traditions place this location in the Hinnom Valley south of Jerusalem (see no... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:9 Matthew draws on a combination of phrases from Jeremiah 19:1 and Zechariah 11:11, but attributes the prophecy to JEREMIAH 1:1 as the more prominent of the two (compare Mark 1:2; see Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:11 GOVERNOR. Pontius Pilate (see note on v. 2). KING OF THE JEWS. Since blasphemy is not a charge worthy of the death penalty under Roman rule, the Jewish leaders restate the charges when they hand Jesus over to Pilate (compare Luke 23:2). A claim to kingship would be a di... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:15 RELEASE FOR THE CROWD. Pilate had apparently begun this custom to win favor with the people. BARABBAS. A notorious criminal who had committed robbery (see note on John 18:40), treason, and murder (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:18). He may have belonged to one of the rural guerilla... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:19 DREAM. Romans often viewed dreams as omens. God probably gave the dream as a sign of Jesus’ innocence. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:24 WASHED HIS HANDS. A public demonstration that he finds no grounds for giving Jesus the death penalty. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:25 HIS BLOOD BE ON US (see Acts 18:6) was a common phrase accepting responsibility for someone’s death. Subsequent generations of Jews should not be held responsible for the sins of their ancestors, however, for that would be unjust (see Deuteronomy 24:16). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var im [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:26 SCOURGED. Roman beatings were a terribly cruel punishment. Those condemned were tied to a post and beaten with a leather whip interwoven with pieces of bone and metal, which tore through skin and tissue, often exposing bones and intestines. In many cases, the beating it... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:27 As he tells of the crucifixion, Matthew focuses on the fulfillment of OT prophecies about the suffering servant (Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 52:13) as well as Jesus’ own predictions of his death (Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22; Matthew 20:17; Matth [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:28 PUT A SCARLET ROBE ON HIM. Roman soldiers in Jerusalem often played cruel games with condemned prisoners, particularly traitors. Mark and John describe the cloak as “purple,” but dyes varied, so a violet-red cloak might be called scarlet by some and purple by others. ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:32 CYRENE was a region in North Africa (see note on Acts 13:1) with a large Jewish population. SIMON was likely a Jew who had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover. CARRY HIS CROSS. Jesus was severely weakened from the beating and loss of blood (see note on Matt. 27:26).... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:33 GOLGOTHA. Aramaic for “skull.” It may have had this name because it was a place of execution, because the area had a number of tombs, or possibly because the site in some way resembled a skull (see Mark 15:22). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); f... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:34 This was one more mockery. The WINE they offered was MIXED WITH GALL, a bitter herb that could even be poisonous. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:35 CRUCIFIED HIM. The Jewish historian Josephus mentions thousands of people crucified in first-century Palestine, mostly during rebellions against Rome. Crucifixion was considered the worst form of execution, due to the excruciating pain and public shame. Hanging suspende... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:37 The CHARGE was written “in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek” (John 19:20) as a warning to any who would dare rebel against Rome. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:38 ROBBERS. Nothing more is known about the background of these men. Jesus’ crucifixion with criminals fulfills Isaiah 53:12. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:39 Since Hebrews 13:12 says that Jesus was crucified “outside the [city] gate,” THOSE WHO PASSED BY probably included many pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover. WAGGING THEIR HEADS. An allusion to Psalms 22:7; see note on Ps. 22:6–8. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:41 CHIEF PRIESTS, WITH THE SCRIBES AND ELDERS, MOCKED HIM. The religious leaders do not address Jesus directly. They turn to one another as they mock him. LET GOD DELIVER HIM. An allusion to Psalms 22:8. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:45 After being on the cross for about six hours (compare v. Matthew 27:45 with Mark 15:25), Jesus dies. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:46 ELI, ELI, LEMA SABACHTHANI? Jesus quotes Psalms 22:1, speaking in Aramaic, the everyday language of his time. MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? In some sense Jesus had to be cut off from the favor of and fellowship with the Father that had been his eternally. He... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:47 In Aramaic, Jesus’ call to God (“Eli, Eli”) sounds similar to the Hebrew name for ELIJAH. Bystanders misunderstand him as calling for the prophet. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:48 SOUR WINE. Used as a daily drink with meals by common people and soldiers. It was cheaper than regular wine and effectively quenched thirst. See Psalms 69:21. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:50 YIELDED UP HIS SPIRIT. Even in death, Jesus maintains authority over his destiny (see John 10:17). While Jesus’ body remained on the cross and was then put in the tomb, his spirit went into the presence of God his Father (see Luke 23:43, Luke 23:46; also Ecclesiastes 12... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:51 The CURTAIN between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was an elaborately woven fabric 60 feet (18 m) high and 30 feet (9 m) wide. No one was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place except the high priest, once a year on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:2). TORN IN TWO... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:52 SAINTS WHO HAD FALLEN ASLEEP. This shows that the resurrection of people who died looking forward to the Messiah depended on Christ’s actual death and resurrection, as does the future resurrection of Jesus’ disciples today. COMING OUT OF THE TOMBS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:55 These WOMEN accompanied Jesus as his disciples (see Mark 15:41; Luke 8:1; Luke 23:49), witnessed the crucifixion, and will be the first witnesses to his resurrection. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = docume [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:57 JOSEPH was a member of the Sanhedrin who did not consent to the actions against Jesus (Luke 23:50). His high standing within the Jewish community gave him access to PILATE. The location of ARIMATHEA is uncertain—perhaps Ramathaim in the hill country of Ephraim, 20 miles... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:61 THE OTHER MARY (compare Matthew 28:1). Most likely the mother of Joses (see Mark 15:40, Mark 15:47; he was probably the same person as “Joseph,” Matthew 27:56). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:62 THE NEXT DAY,... AFTER THE DAY OF PREPARATION is the Sabbath. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 27:65 GUARD. The same Roman military guard assigned to temple security. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]