Matthew 27:29-53

29 See Psa_69:19-20; Isa_53:3.

30 See Isa_50:6.

31 See Isa_53:7-8; Php_2:9-10.

31 In mockery, our Lord went through the mimic ceremony of being invested with imperial dignity. The shining attire with which Herod clothed Him (Luk_23:11) may have been intended to mark Him as a candidate for royal honors. Pilate's soldiers put on Him the scarlet mantle, a sign of His having attained the imperial throne, and add the crown of thorns and the reed for a scepter, and offer Him the homage due to such exalted rank. Little did they dream of His high honors as earth's Suzerain and heaven's supreme Head! And little do His saints discern that this is the essential ceremony of investiture for the King of kings and Lord of lords. He never could assume the place supreme unless He had descended to the depths. Suffering and shame are the divine preliminaries to joy and honor. Those who suffer-they shall reign.

32 Compare Mar_15:21; Luk_23:26-31. See Heb_13:12-13.

33-34 Compare Mar_15:22-23; Luk_23:33-36; Joh_19:17.

34 See 48; Psa_69:21.

35 Compare Psa_22:18.

35 The crucifixion of Christ is a holy of holies, where speech seems sacrilegious, and silence sacred.

38 See Isa_53:12.

39-44 Compare Mar_15:29-32; Luk_23:35-43. See Psa_22:7-8.

39 The whole scene is vibrant with the presence of God, not only in the Victim and the feeble few who followed, but in the very words of those who hated Him. They spoke great truths which they could not comprehend. They were demolishing the true Temple of God. They needed salvation. But it could never come if He saved Himself or descended from the cross. The chief priest could not have uttered a more pregnant or more precious truth. How gladly we echo their words! We only change the note of derision into a song of triumph. “Others He saves: Himself He cannot save!” Surely they were inspired!

40 See Mat_26:61-64; Joh_2:19.

44 There were four others crucified with Christ. Two were malefactors. Two were robbers. One of the malefactors believed on Him. The robbers reproached Him.

45- 53 Compare Mar_15:33-38 Luk_23:44-46; Joh_19:25-30.

45 The dread darkness was but an indication of the withdrawal of the divine Presence from the silent Sufferer. This was incomparably more awful than the opposition of His enemies or the desertion of His friends. Until this darkness enveloped Him, He had always lived in the light of God's smile. Now He was hanging on a tree, and became accursed of God (Gal_3:13). Sinless, He became sin (2Co_5:21). Then it was that fire from above entered into His bones (Lam_1:13). Then the Lord bruised Him (Isa_53:10), It was the travail of His soul in these dark hours which settled the question of sin. It is only as we see God against Him then that we can appreciate how much He is for us now. Crucified by man at the behest of Satan, and abandoned by God, He was the most forlorn and forsaken creature in the universe. Only after it is past and the light returns is He able to cry to God. And then He utters that most incomprehensible of all questions, unless, indeed, He suffered for the sins of others. For His own sake God would never have abandoned Him. For my sake (and yours, beloved reader), He endured, not merely the physical pain, the mental torture, the moral degradation which men inflicted, but the deeper, direr despair of the awful enmity of God.

46 See Psa_22:1.

48 See Psa_69:21.

50 His death was different from all others. He did not linger until life ebbed away, but laid down His soul while still strong by committing His Spirit to God. His body was laid in the tomb. His soul went to the unseen. His work was done, and death was His portion until His resurrection.

51 See 2Ch_3:14.

51 The flesh of Christ was figured by the curtain in the temple which hid the presence of God from the holy place. God was not manifest in His flesh, but in its rending. Our union with Christ does not commence until His crucifixion. We were crucified, entombed, raised, and are ascended and seated in Him.