‘And when they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put on him his own clothes, and led him away to crucify him.'

Then at last they had had their fill of mocking Him, and duty called. So they took the robe off Him, and clothed Him in His own robe, and led Him away to crucify Him. The devilish mockery was over. The crown may well have been left in place. The soldiers were aware, from Pilate's orders about the placard on the cross, that he was bent on angering the Jews.

Normally prisoners would be led to crucifixion naked, but the clothing was probably a concession to the Jewish hatred of nakedness. It would avoid offending the crowd. It will be noted in all this that no mention is made of how Jesus behaved under this treatment. What Matthew is concerned to bring out here is how the ‘world' treated Him, intending by it a complete contrast with His later genuine coronation (Matthew 28:18; compare also Matthew 25:31)

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising