JESUS IS BROUGHT BEFORE PILATE - See also Mark 16:1; Luke 23:1; John 18:28. WHEN THE MORNING WAS COME - This was not long after Jesus had been condemned by the Sanhedrin. Peter’s last denial was probably not far from three o’clock a. m., or near the break of day. As soon as it was light, the Jews... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD BOUND HIM - He was “bound” when they took him in the garden, John 18:12. Probably when he was tried before the Sanhedrin in the palace of Caiaphas, he had been loosed from his bonds, being there surrounded by multitudes, and supposed to be safe. As they were about to lead him to an... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JUDAS, WHEN HE SAW THAT HE WAS CONDEMNED, REPENTED HIMSELF - This shows that Judas did not suppose that the affair would have resulted in this calamitous manner. He probably expected that Jesus would work a miracle to deliver himself, and not suffer this condemnation to come upon him. When he s... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE SINNED - I have been guilty. I have done wrong. IN THAT I HAVE BETRAYED THE INNOCENT BLOOD - That is, in betraying an innocent being to death. Blood is put here for “life,” or for the “man.” The meaning is, that he knew and felt that Jesus was innocent. This confession is a remarkable proof t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CAST DOWN ... - This was an evidence of his remorse of conscience for his crime. His ill-gotten gain now did him no good. It would not produce relief to his agonized mind. He “attempted,” therefore, to obtain relief by throwing back the price of treason; but he attempted it in vain. The consc... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT LAWFUL ... - It was forbidden Deuteronomy 23:18 to take what was esteemed as an abomination and to offer it to God. The price of blood - that is, of the life of a man - they justly considered as an improper and unlawful offering. THE TREASURY - The “treasury” was kept in the court of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY TOOK COUNSEL ... - They consulted among themselves about the proper way to dispose of this money. AND BOUGHT WITH THEM - In Acts 1:18, it is said of Judas that “he purchased a field with the reward of his iniquity.” By the passage in the Acts is meant no more than that he “furnished the mea... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIELD OF BLOOD - The field purchased by the price of blood. The name by which this field was called was “Aceldama,” Acts 1:19. It was just without the walls of Jerusalem, on the south of Mount Zion. It is now used as a burying-place by the Armenian Christians in Jerusalem, who have a magnificent... [ Continue Reading ]
SPOKEN BY JEREMY THE PROPHET - The words quoted here are not to be found in the prophecy of Jeremiah. Words similar to these are recorded in Zechariah 11:12, and from that place this quotation has been doubtless made. Much difficulty has been experienced in explaining this quotation. In ancient time... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GAVE THEM - In Zechariah it is, I gave them. Here it is represented as being given by the priests. The meaning is not, however, different. It is, that this price “was given” for the potter’s field. AS THE LORD APPOINTED ME - That is, “commanded” me. The meaning of the place in Zechariah is this:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS STOOD BEFORE THE GOVERNOR - Many things are omitted by Matthew, in the account of this trial, which are recorded by the other evangelists. A much more full account is found in John 18:28. AND THE GOVERNOR ASKED HIM ... - This question was asked On account of the “charge” which the Jews bro... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE WAS ACCUSED ... - To wit, of perverting the nation, and of forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, Luke 23:2, Luke 23:5. Probably this was done in a tumultuous manner and in every variety of form. HE ANSWERED NOTHING - He was conscious of his innocence. He knew that they could not prove these... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WITNESS AGAINST THEE - This means, rather, that they accused him. They were not “witnesses,” but accusers. These accusations were repeated and pressed. They charged him with exciting the people, teaching throughout, all Judea from Galilee to Jerusalem, and exciting the nation to sedition, Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
TO NEVER A WORD - That is, not at all. He said nothing. This is, an emphatic way of saying that he answered nothing. There was no need of his replying. He was innocent, and they offered no proof of guilt. Besides, his appearance was full evidence in his favor. He was poor, unarmed, without powerful... [ Continue Reading ]
See also the parallel places in Mark 15:6; Luke 23:17; John 18:39. Matthew 27:15 AT THAT FEAST - The feast of the Passover. THE GOVERNOR WAS WONT TO RELEASE ... - that is, was “accustomed” to release. From what this custom arose, or by whom it was introduced, is not known. It was probably adopted... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TOOK WATER ... - The Jews were accustomed to wash their hands when they wished to show that they were innocent of a crime committed by others. See Deuteronomy 21:6; Psalms 26:6. Pilate, in doing this, meant to denote that they were guilty of his death, but that he was innocent. But the mere washi... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS BLOOD BE ON US ... - That is, let the guilt of putting him to death, if there be any, be on us and our children. We will be answerable for it, and will consent to bear the punishment for it. It is remarked by writers that, among the Athenians, if anyone accused another of a capital crime, he dev... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD SCOURGED JESUS - See the notes at Matthew 10:17. Among the Romans it was customary to scourge or whip a “slave” before he was crucified. This was done to inflict greater suffering. than crucifixion would be alone, and to add to the horrors of the punishment. Our Lord, being about to... [ Continue Reading ]
See also Mark 15:15; John 19:1. Matthew 27:27 INTO THE COMMON HALL - The original word here means, rather, the governor’s palace or dwelling. The trial of Jesus had taken place outside of the palace. The Jews would not enter in John 18:28, and it is probable that courts were held often in a large... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THEY CAME OUT - That is, either out of the governor’s palace where he had been treated with such cruelty and contempt, or out of the gates of the city, to crucify him. A MAN OF CYRENE - Cyrene was a city of Libya, in Africa, lying west of Egypt. There were many Jews there, and they were in the h... [ Continue Reading ]
GOLGOTHA - This is a Hebrew word, signifying the place of a skull. This is the word which in Luke is called “Calvary.” The original Greek, there, also means a skull. The word “calvary” is a Latin word meaning “skull,” or place of “skulls.” It is not known certainly why this name was given to this pl... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GAVE HIM VINEGAR ... - Mark says that, “they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh.” The two evangelists mean the same thing. Vinegar was made of light wine rendered acid, and was the common drink of the Roman soldiers, and this might be called either vinegar or wine in common language. “My... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CRUCIFIED HIM - To “crucify” means to put to death on a cross. The “cross” has been described at Matthew 27:32. The usual manner of the crucifixion was as follows: After the criminal had carried the cross, attended with every possible gibe and insult, to the place of execution, a hole was d... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WATCHED HIM THERE - That is, the four soldiers who had crucified him. They watched him lest his friends should come and release him.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SET UP OVER HIS HEAD - John says John 19:19 that Pilate wrote the title and put it upon the cross. Probably Pilate wrote it or caused it to be written, and directed the soldiers to set it up. A man is often said to do what he directs others to do. It was customary to set up over the heads of per... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO THIEVES CRUCIFIED ... - Rather two “robbers.” Pilate did not reside in Jerusalem. When he came there on the great feasts, or at other times, it was, in part, to hold courts for the trial of criminals. These robbers had been probably condemned at that time; and to show greater contempt for Jesus,... [ Continue Reading ]
WAGGING THEIR HEADS - In token of derision and insult. See Job 16:4; Psalms 109:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU THAT DESTROYEST THE TEMPLE ... - Meaning, Thou that didst boast that thou couldst do it. This was one of the things that had been falsely charged on him. It was intended for painful sarcasm and derision. If he could destroy the “temple,” they thought he might easily come down from the cross.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAVED OTHERS - It does not seem probable that they meant to admit that he had actually saved others, but only that he “pretended” to save them from death by miracles, or that he claimed to be the Messiah, and thus affirmed that he “could” save them. This is, therefore, cutting irony. IF HE BE THE... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THIEVES ALSO - The robbers, or highwaymen. Luke says Luke 23:39 that one of them did it, and that the other reproved him and was penitent. The account in Luke may, however, easily be reconciled with that in Matthew by supposing that “at first both” of them reviled the Saviour, and that it is of... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW FROM THE SIXTH HOUR - That is, from our twelve o’clock. The Jews divided their day into twelve hours, beginning to count at sunrise. THERE WAS DARKNESS - This could not have been an eclipse of the sun, for the Passover was celebrated at the time of the full moon, when the moon is opposite to the... [ Continue Reading ]
ELI, ELI ... - This language is not pure Hebrew nor Syriac, but a mixture of both, called commonly “Syro-Chaldaic.” This was probably the language which the Saviour commonly spoke. The words are taken from Psalms 22:1. MY GOD, MY GOD ... - This expression is one denoting intense suffering. It has b... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MAN CALLETH FOR ELIAS - This was done purposely to deride him and his pretensions to be the Messiah. The words “Eli, Eli,” they might easily pretend that they understood to mean Elias, or so pervert them. The taunt would be more cutting, because it was the universal belief of the Jews, as well... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF THEM RAN - John John 19:28 says that this was in consequence of Jesus’ saying “I thirst.” One of the effects of crucifixion was excessive thirst. TOOK A SPONGE - A sponge is a well-known porous substance that easily absorbs water. It was used in this case because, Jesus being elevated, it wa... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REST SAID ... - Still deriding his sufferings, and refusing to allow even the poor consolation of a drink, to assuage the thirst of the Saviour of the world in his dying agonies.... [ Continue Reading ]
CRIED AGAIN WITH A LOUD VOICE - He cried, “It is finished,” John 19:30. It was in the height of his agony, probably attended with deep groaning, and uttered amid sorrows which were never else experienced in our world. It finished the work of atonement, made the way of salvation possible, rolled away... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VAIL OF THE TEMPLE - This was doubtless the veil, curiously performed, which separated the holy from the most holy place, dividing the temple into two apartments, Exodus 26:31. IN TWAIN - In two pieces or parts. This was the time of day when the priest was burning incense in the holy place, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE GRAVES WERE OPENED - “Graves” or sepulchres were most commonly made, among the Jews, in solid rocks or in caves of rocks. The rending of the rocks, therefore, would lay them open. The graves were opened by this earthquake, but the dead in them did not rise until after his resurrection. AND... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CAME OUT OF THE GRAVES AFTER HIS RESURRECTION - The narrative of Matthew does not determine whether they came to life before Jesus rose, and remained in the tombs, or came to life after he died. The latter is probably the correct opinion. There is nothing said of the reason why they were raised.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN THE CENTURION ... - Centurion, a captain of a hundred soldiers. He was here placed over the band that attended the crucifixion. THEY FEARED GREATLY - They regarded these things as proof that God was angry, and they were terrified at the prospect that vengeance was coming on them. TRULY THI... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLDING AFAR OFF - These women were probably not suffered to come near the cross because it was surrounded by soldiers. They witnessed with intense feelings his sufferings from some convenient place as near as they could approach. MINISTERING UNTO HIM - Attending him and providing for his wants.... [ Continue Reading ]
MARY MAGDALENE - Mary of Magdala. She had a special cause of attachment to the Saviour, having been relieved by him of a most dreadful calamity and restored to her right mind, after being possessed by seven devils. See the notes at Luke 8:2. AND THE MOTHER OF ZEBEDEE’S CHILDREN - That is, of James... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE EVEN WAS COME - That is, some time after three o’clock in the afternoon. Before this, the Jews had besought Pilate that the legs of those who were crucified might be broken and the bodies be taken down, that they might not remain on the cross during the Sabbath. The soldiers, coming to Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WENT TO PILATE - Because no one had a right to remove the body but by authority of the magistrate. Jesus was condemned to be crucified, usually a long and most bitter death, and in common cases it would have been unlawful to have removed the body so soon.... [ Continue Reading ]
“He wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.” John adds that this was done “with spices” John 19:40. The Jews were accustomed to use myrrh, aloes, and other aromatics in large quantities when they buried their dead. When they were not regularly embalmed, which was a long and tedious process, they enclosed... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIS OWN NEW TOMB - John says John 19:41 that this was in a garden that was “in” or “near” the place where he was crucified. This tomb Joseph had prepared for himself, as was not uncommon among the Jews. Compare the notes at Isaiah 22:16. In this tomb Luke and John inform us that no man had been l... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE NEXT DAY, THAT FOLLOWED THE DAYS OF THE PREPARATION - The first day of the feast of the Passover was called the day of “preparation,” because all things were on that day got in readiness for the observances of the paschal week. The Jewish day closed at sunset, and the Sabbath at that time co... [ Continue Reading ]
WE REMEMBER - They had either heard him say this, or, more probably, had understood that this was one of his doctrines. THAT DECEIVER - One of the charges against him was that he deceived the people, John 7:12. By this title they still chose to designate him, thinking that his death had fully confi... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE THIRD DAY - That is, during two nights and the intervening day. This proves that when the Jews spoke of “three days,” they did not of necessity mean three “whole days,” but parts of three days, as was the case in our Saviour’s lying in the grave. See the notes at Matthew 12:40. THE LAST E... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE A WATCH - The Jews had a guard of Roman soldiers, who kept watch in the tower of Antonia, on the northwest of the temple. Pilate either referred to these, or to the “watch” that attended the crucifixion - the whole “band” that had been appointed for that. As the torments of crucifixion somet... [ Continue Reading ]
SEALING THE STONE - The sepulchre was made sure by affixing the large stone to the entrance in such a way that it could not be removed without detection. It was sealed. In what way this was done cannot now be certainly told. The cave in which Daniel was cast was fastened in the same manner, and seal... [ Continue Reading ]