Matthew 27, Part Two

Jesus is beaten and abused (vs. 26-31)—Weakening the condemned was all part of the pre-crucifixion ritual, though probably worse in this case given Jesus claimed to be king of the Jews, which the Romans probably found riotous. He was scourged (v. 25), something that was incredibly painful and often not survived. They put a scarlet robe on Him (v. 28), a crown of thorns on His head and a reed in His right hand (v. 29). They mocked Him (v. 29), they spat on Him (v. 30), hit him in the head with the reed, ripped the scarlet robe off of him (which may have been soaked with His blood, v. 31), and they “led Him away to be crucified” (v. 31). Don’t forget that they are doing all of this to God in the flesh. Jesus didn’t have to put up with a moment of it; but He did. For you and me. And, for those who were so mistreating Him.

Jesus’ crucifixion and death (vs. 32-50)—Jesus was so weak that He couldn’t carry His own cross, so the Romans found a man, Simon of Cyrene, and “compelled [him] to bear His cross” (v. 33). They took Jesus to a hill called Golgotha, or “Place of a Skull,” because it looked like one (v. 33). He was offered sour wine mixed with gall to drink, which was supposed to alleviate the pain at least somewhat, but Jesus wouldn’t drink it (v. 34). Once they had Him on the cross, the soldiers divided up his garments—a fulfillment of prophecy, Matthew tells us (v. 35). Two robbers were crucified on either side of him; initially, both of them reviled Him (vs. 38, 44), but eventually we know that one of them had a sincere change of heart and asked for Jesus’ forgiveness. We’ll discuss that in Luke, where it’s found. And there were other people around, chiding Him: “Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him’” (vs. 41-42). That last statement was a bald-face lie. They wouldn’t have believed in Him, regardless of what He had done. The problem with the Jewish leaders was not a lack of evidence; Jesus had given them plenty of proof that He was the Son of God. The problem was an impure heart (Matt. 5:8). In the parable of the sower, Jesus had made it plain that it is the “honest and good heart” (Luke 8:15) who will receive the Word and bear fruit. The evidence is there if we have the right kind of heart to accept it. Those leaders did not.

At about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Jesus died. Matthew says, He “yielded up His spirit” (v. 50). Nobody took it from Him, He freely offered it for our sins.

Strange happenings (vs. 51-54)—This is a once-in-history event, the death of God in the flesh, and it was surrounded by awesome events. Matthew had already said that “from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land” (v. 45). When Jesus died, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;” this perhaps represents the ending of the separation between Jews and Gentiles in the gospel age (v. 51). There was an earthquake, and graves were opened (v. 52). Some of the dead were raised “after His resurrection”, and “went into the holy city and appeared to many” (v. 53). The whole circumstance caused great fear and consternation among the superstitious Romans who were guarding Him (v. 54). It’s a little shocking to learn that these powerful, manly Romans were among the most credulous people who ever walked the earth.

His friends take care of His body (vs. 55-61)—He hadn’t died completely alone. John tells us that His mother was there (John 19:26), and Matthew tells us that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and “the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (her name was Salome) were also present, though “looking on from afar” (vs. 55-56). A rich disciple named Joseph, from the city of Aramathea, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate consents, and Joseph lays the body in his own tomb (v. 60). It was getting late on Friday, and the Sabbath began at 6 PM. No work could be done on the Sabbath, so the preparations for the burial were not complete. Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” (v. 61) saw where He was laid, intending to return on Sunday morning to finish the burial process. They did return, of course, and received quite a surprise.

The Jews ask for a guard (vs. 62-66)—Some of the chief priests and Pharisees asked Pilate to “command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the latter deception will be worse than the first” (v. 64). Pilate is a little brusque with them: “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how” (v. 65). The Jews had a corps of Roman soldiers they could use for occasions such as this; Pilate told them to use that guard. And that’s what the Jewish leaders did (v. 66).