Matthew 27:57-61

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57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. ~ Matthew 27:57-61

Today, we resume our study of Matthew 27 where the Lord Jesus has just been crucified on the cross. He gave His life as a ransom so that you and I could be made right with Him. After the Lord Jesus breathed His last breath all of His followers fled the scene with the exception of three women: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the Lord Jesus, and Salome the mother of James and John.

In v.57 of today's passage we read, "Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus."

Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin of Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin was the supreme court of ancient Israel, made up of 70 men and the high priest. Joseph of Arimathea is strategically mentioned by all four gospel writers. Matthew calls him a "rich man" while Luke identifies him as a "righteous and just" man. According to today's passage, Joseph of Arimathea was looking for the kingdom of God to arrive on earth. At some point along the way, Joseph believed in the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior. This explains why he was compelled to take the dead body of the Lord Jesus down from the cross. 

The Sabbath began on Friday at 6:00 pm and lasted until Saturday at 6:00 pm. The Bible tells us the Lord Jesus died at 3:00 in the afternoon. This left only three short hours for the Lord Jesus to be buried within the restrictions of the religious laws of Israel. 

In v.58 of today's passage we read, "This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him."

After the death of the Lord Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and requested the body of the Lord Jesus. Normally, the dead bodies of the crucified were buried in mass graves along with the others who were crucified. It is believed that Pilate willingly gave the body of the Lord Jesus to Joseph as a further indication that he believed the Lord Jesus to be innocent. And, Joseph buried the Lord Jesus in his family tomb. Joseph loaned it to the Lord, as was prophesied in Isaiah 53 some 700 years before the Lord Jesus was put to death.

Nicodemus brought one hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes, both of which were used in the embalming of the dead for burial. Along with Joseph of Arimathea, by handling the dead body of the Lord Jesus, Nicodemus lost everything that day. By touching a dead body, both men knowingly made themselves "unclean" according to Numbers 19:11. This, along with helping the cause of the Lord Jesus, resulted in their banishment from the Sanhedrin or the ruling Jewish religious council.

This is the type of thing that happens when we are being defined by God. When the Lord defines us we lose certain things in this world. But, we gain so much more by losing. We do not earn our rightness with God, but once we have come into His way of thinking and choosing, we increasingly view life differently. As we increasingly think His way and obey Him, we will grow in His wisdom. And, as a result of growing in His wisdom, we will value what He values. 

In v.59-60 of today's passage we read, "59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed."

Pilate marveled that the Lord Jesus was already dead because Roman crucifixion was a method of execution designed to prolong suffering. It was not unusual for those who were crucified to hang on for days or even weeks before they died. From John's Gospel, we learn the Lord Jesus "gave up His spirit." The significance of this wording is that it shows that the Lord Jesus was in control of the timing of His death. He did not die because His body could take no more punishment or because of blood loss. He died because He decided it was time for Him to die.

In v.61 of today's passage we read, "And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb."

Although for the disciples of the Lord Jesus His death was earth shattering, His burial was of major importance. There was no doubt that He died and then He was laid in Joseph' borrowed tomb. Underscored for these women who witnessed it all was that the Lord Jesus was really dead. Real death necessitated a grave in which the Lord Jesus was laid. He could never be our Savior had He not died. For these women who looked on, they could later validate not only His death but also His resurrection. For the part of three days His death dealt to them a heavy dose of hopelessness. 

But hope came during that Sunday morning. Unbeknown to all of His followers, the Lord Jesus would be raised by His Father from the dead. Before the light had its greatest entrance onto the stage, the darkness had to be extinguished. This what happened at His cross. He conquered sin and death. It is in John 1:5 that the Lord Jesus reminded us, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it." The Greek word for "overpowered" used here by the Apostle John is actually a combination of kata and lambano. Kata means defeat while lambano means a forceful grasping. Together these two words reveal the light defeated the darkness in a most extraordinary way. The Lord Jesus not only defeated darkness, He ensured the dark forces of sin and evil have been made powerless to ever overpower Him or those who belong to Him.

Matthew 27:55-56

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55 And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. ~ Matthew 27:55-56

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 27 where the Lord Jesus has just died on the cross. It is an established fact that God has a heart for the broken who are viewed by most as the least. A careful study of the Bible reveals that in God's eyes those who are considered to be the least are the most blessed. Our brokenness positions us for great encounters with God only if our hearts are bent toward Him. Broken soil has been known to yield a crop while broken clouds grant rain. Broken grain has been known to be made into bread, and broken bread has been known to yield to us strength. 

What a contrast! I find it greatly instructive that in John 3 and John 4 we find such a contrast between Nicodemus and the woman at the well. Whereas Nicodemus was a man, the woman at the well was a woman. In that day men were favored much more than women. Nicodemus was named but the woman at the well was not. Nicodemus was a Jew while the woman at the well was a hated Samaritan. While Nicodemus was a part of the "right" group, the woman at the well was a part of a despised group. Nicodemus was considered righteous while the woman at the well was considered a rejected sinner. Nicodemus was honored while the woman at the well was an outcast. While Nicodemus was educated, the woman at the well was uneducated. And, while Nicodemus met with the Lord Jesus at night, the woman at the well met with Him in the middle of the day. 

As we redirect back to today's passage God accentuates the women who were at the cross just after the Lord Jesus breathed his last breath. I find it quite instructive that as the hours rolled on there were fewer and fewer of the followers of the Lord Jesus within eyeshot of His cross. These women who had been with the Lord Jesus from the beginning of His ministry were among the very few who lingered. They uttered no words because in that moment after His death they were stunned. They were trapped in arrested silence. These ladies were the faithful ones, even though they struggled immensely to understand what was happening that day. 

The first of these women mentioned in today's passage was Mary Magdalene. She was from the town of Magdala located on the northwestern shores of the Sea of Galilee. The Jewish Talmud informs us Magdala was infamous for its prostitution. We can't be sure, but many scholars believe that Mary from Magdala, before she came to Christ, was a prostitute. This has never been truly proven. Mary's attraction to the Lord Jesus was born out of the forgiveness that He extended to her on that day  when He cast out of her seven demons. Mary was most faithful at following the Lord Jesus, more faithful than any of the disciples. She was one of those who were at His cross last and she was the very first to at be His tomb to witness His resurrection.

The second Mary mentioned in today's passage was the Mother of James the Less and of Joses. A careful study of this Mary renders the discovery that she was Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus. In Mark 6 Mary is mentioned along with her sons and daughters, siblings of the Lord Jesus. When we compare the names mentioned in Mark 6 and today's passage we find that they are the exact same. The fact that "Joses" is another form of "Joseph" allows us to conclude this was a son of Joseph the husband of Mary, the carpenter of Galilee.

The next woman who was there that day but not named by Matthew was Salome. She was the wife of Zebedee, the mother of the disciples James and John, the sons of thunder. This was the same Salome who came to the Lord requesting that her sons sit in places of honor in His kingdom. In all four gospel accounts, there is a record of the presence of these women at the cross. Additionally, in each of the synoptic gospels, the detail of the women watching "from a distance" is noted. These same three women were together on the third day when they brought spices to the tomb of the Lord to anoint Him. When they encountered the angel who told them that the Lord Jesus was risen, they ran to tell the disciples the good news. Mark’s gospel is the only one that mentions Salome by name.

All of these women started out at the foot of the cross, hoping for some miracle that would make sense out of it all the events of that day. Then the Lord Jesus died, and they ended up on the fringe, discouraged and devastated. These women were last at the cross and the first at the tomb. The cross always unveils what is going on in our hearts. These women who were gathered at the cross of the Lord Jesus had been with Him during much of His earthly ministry. But, at this point of the narrative, theirs was a picture of hopelessness. As a result of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, they no longer had hope that God really was in control. In that moment of confusion, confusion reigned. Their faith was strong as long as everything went well, but when the bottom dropped out, their faith in Him appeared to disappear.

In the end of it all, we discover that those who are right with God are not right with this world. And, it is in those moments of hopelessness that we discover that at the cross God whispered to us to come closer to the window of our souls, closer to Him. As we respond to Him, we discover a deeper place with Him. The God of the Bible always desires something far more for us, He desires for us intimacy with Himself. Such is the nature of our fellowship with the God of the Bible. It is during these times that we truly get to know Him most intimately. These times when our hearts seem to be too broken that we wonder if we can be filled. It is in these most desperate moments that we struggle with reality only to discover that He is the only real one. All of this is good even though we once thought it to be the worst. It is out of such that we discover the greatest things like the fact that the light shines its brightest through the cracks created by our brokenness.

Matthew 27:51-54

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51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" ~ Matthew 27:51-54

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 27 where we find ourselves observing the events that took place while the Lord Jesus hung on His cross. It was 9:00am on the Friday of Passover week. For the first three hours, the scene was dominated by the lesser characters in the story. At noon the focus changed. The most significant event in the history of this world took place when God entered into time and space and paid the penalty for our sin. It was during those three hours of darkness that the Son of God, the light of the world was made sin for all who believe that His death paid the debt that our sin created. The darkness surrounding His cross was reminiscent of that dark night in Egypt when the angel of death killed the firstborn of those who had not applied the blood of the sacrificial lamb to the doorposts of their homes. 

In v.51-53 of today's passage we read, "51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many."

Once the Lord Jesus breathed His last breath, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. In that moment sinful man was given an option to change the trajectory of his eternity. The tearing of the veil was God's vertical declaration that we could enjoy a personal relationship with Him through the forgiveness earned for us by His Son. And now, there is no longer any need for earthly temples, altars, sacrifices, or priests, because God has fulfilled all righteousness through the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. 

When the Lord Jesus died, not only did the veil experience ripping, there was also a massive earthquake and graves were opened. Since it was 3:00 in the afternoon there were undoubtedly many people in the temple that day engaged in their worship of God. With the earthquake God interrupted worship at the temple with the message found in Jeremiah 31 which reads, "31 Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 

When the Lord Jesus died believers in the God of the Bible who had died before were raised from the dead on that Sunday. There is a reason why Matthew is the only one of the gospel writers who accentuated this resurrection. He wrote his gospel account to a Jewish audience who on the basis of Daniel 12:2 expected their Messiah to be resurrected soon after His arrival to this earth. Matthew wrote to underscore the fact that with Christ's sacrifice came the end of the Jewish Law.  

In v.54 of today's passage we read, "So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, 'Truly this was the Son of God!'"

A Roman centurion was the commander of a hundred men which was called a century. When the earth quaked this centurion saw it and everything associated with it and he concluded along with his men the Lord Jesus to be the Son of God. This particular officer was in charge of the soldiers who were guarding the crucified body of the Lord Jesus. It was these soldiers who mocked the Lord Jesus and gambled for His clothing. Most importantly, they were the ones who witnessed His entire crucifixion from beginning to end. They had seen crucifixions before, yet they had never seen someone respond as the Lord did that day. These were hardened men, yet, they heard the Lord Jesus pray for His murderers. They heard His cries to His Father. They heard Him promise paradise to the repentant thief who had been cursing Him just moments before. 

And then, they experienced the impossible: darkness in the middle of the day. The skies for three hours were dark. It was then that an earthquake violently shook the earth. They could no longer ignore what was happening. The darkness, the earthquake, and then the final breath of the Lord Jesus spoke a different story from all of the other crucifixions they had witnessed. And, it had an impact on this centurion. It was at that moment he said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" 

Matthew 27:45-50

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45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" 47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!" 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. 49 The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him." 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. ~ Matthew 27:45-50

Today, we continue our study of Matthew 27 where we witnessed the miraculous conversion of one of the two thieves who hung on the cross next to the Lord Jesus. What a contrast between those two. The first was hardened by sin while the other had been broken by sin. As the hours passed on the cross, one of the two openly acknowledged his sin. Then, out of his brokenness, he confessed the sinlessness of the Lord Jesus, affirming His claim as the Son of Man. This is one of the greatest scenes ever, demonstrating how a person moves from the dark into the light. It was his brokenness that enabled him to see the Lord Jesus anew and this moment he began to see the light of eternity.

Like the prodigal, this man once ruled by sin came to the end of himself. This is where true repentance begins, when we come to the end of ourselves. The thief on the cross was made aware of his sinfulness, then he confessed it to the only One who could forgive Him. This is the picture of true repentance. He did not blame the evil influences in his life for his sinfulness. He came to the realization that he was standing on the edge of eternity and he needed the mercy and grace of God. Then, he begged for forgiveness from the only One who could give it. Earlier he had heard the Lord Jesus pray, "Father, forgive them." It was then that he saw that as soon as the blood of the Lord Jesus began to flow, he heard Him interceding which is what moved Him to ask for forgiveness. 

In v.45-46 of today's passage we read, "45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'" 

Darkness covered the earth for three hours that afternoon. It was an object lesson as God judged our sin in the body of the Lord Jesus. In the Old Testament the high priest on Yom Kippur, also known as Passover, went into the holiest place through the veil in darkness to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat. In doing so, forgiveness for sin was granted by God for those willing enough to believe. The transaction was made alone, in secrecy and under the cover of darkness. It was a holy transaction between earth and heaven that took place in the dark.

The people lived in the darkness when the Lord Jesus came to this earth. He came to give us light, the light of His salvation. The physical reality of darkness pictured the spiritual reality of the reign of sin and death to that point. Darkness speaks of evil in the Bible and light speaks of all that is right. The cross of the Lord Jesus was the worst crime ever committed by humanity. They tried to extinguish the Light of the World but they failed to do it. "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it." 

Many today don't like the cross because it is a reminder of their sinfulness. But, a gospel that doesn't have at its core the cross is powerless. Its power comes from its message: There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends. This is, of course, what the Lord Jesus did for us on that day so many years ago.

Before the Passover lamb was sacrificed in Egypt, the ninth plague was darkness over all of Egypt for three days. It was a darkness they acutely felt. It was the object lesson spelling out God's judgment on sin. And then, the tenth plague was the death of the firstborn picturing the death of God's firstborn Son. The Lord by this time had already spoken three times while hanging on the cross. This saying from the Lord Jesus, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' was the only saying of the Lord Jesus from the cross that Matthew recorded. It revealed the separation from fellowship with His Father that the Lord experienced. He was not separated from the nature of the Father, He was separated from fellowship with the Father. The Lord Jesus spoke these words as the Father was judging our sin in His body as He hung on that tree. God treated the Lord Jesus like we deserved to be treated, so that He could treat us like the Lord Jesus deserved to be treated. 

In v.47 of today's passage we read, "Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, 'This Man is calling for Elijah!'"

When the Lord Jesus said, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?,' the people thought He was calling for Elijah because it was their practice that if they were in a time of great distress, they could pray to Elijah and he would deliver them. They also knew that the Old Testament promised Elijah would also come before the Messiah, according to Malachi 4. So, when they said "This man is calling for Elijah," they were mocking Him on the notion of the joke that the Lord Jesus thought He was the Messiah. But, God the Father poured out His wrath on His Son that day, so that He would not have to pour it out upon us. The Lord Jesus was damned, so that you and I would not be damned. He was excluded so that we could be included.

In v.48-49 of today's passage we read, "48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. 49 The rest said, 'Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.'"

This scene was the fulfillment of Psalm 69:21 when they offered the Lord Jesus this sour wine. The promise of the Old Testament was that this would occur at the death of the Messiah. Earlier He had been offered gall, the Lord Jesus didn’t drink it, because gall was a pain killer to try to lessen the pain. The Lord Jesus refused the gall because he wanted the full impact of the suffering. The sour wine was a cheap wine that was there for the soldiers to quench their thirst. The soldiers offered it to the Lord Jesus because they wanted to prolong the life of the Lord Jesus. 

In Exodus 12, during the Passover night in Egypt when the death angel came, if he saw the blood of the sacrificed lamb applied on the door posts, he would not kill the firstborn therein. In obedience to God, the believing Jews applied to the doorpost the blood of the lamb using hyssop. Reminiscent of those Passover Lambs who shed their blood and secured the firstborn therein, the Lord Jesus is our Passover Lamb. 

In v.50 of today's passage we read, "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit." 

Just before the Lord Jesus died, John tells us He cried out "Tetelestai" which means "It is finished." Tetelestai is a financial term used when a debt is paid in full. The death of the Lord Jesus on the cross was more than enough to pay the debt that our sin had created. And, in the end, God won the battle between good and evil, the war between life and death.  

The Lord Jesus bore the wrath of God for every sin ever committed. It means that the work for our salvation is fully complete. There is nothing left to do other than to receive the benefits of His work, to put our faith in the One who offered his life as a sacrifice for sin. It means His work on the cross plus nothing equals His perfection applied to us who believe in Him. The Lord Jesus came to secure for us what we could never secure for ourselves. He finished the work that God sent Him to do. The irony of it all is that a dead man overcame sin and death. While being killed as a blasphemer, the Lord Jesus made it possible for the very people who blasphemed Him to be pronounced the children of God.

Matthew 27:35-44

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35 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." 36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. 39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 42 "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. 43 He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'" 44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. ~ Matthew 27:35-44

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 27 where we have just witnessed the Roman soldiers volunteer Simon of Cyrene to help the Lord Jesus get to Golgotha with His crossbeam. As we learned last time, what started out as something very unwanted by Simon ended up being the greatest blessing ever. Such is the case with the ways of God. If we give Him enough time, He will work miracles in and through our lives.

In v.35 of today's passage we read, "Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: 'They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.'"

At nine in the morning the Lord Jesus was nailed to the cross. He was there for six hours, from 9am until 3pm. All four gospel writers found it most difficult to go into the details of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. None of them described the driving of the nails into His hands and feet. They all four just wrote four words to describe it: "Then they crucified him."

In this first verse of today's passage Matthew quotes Psalm 22:18, "They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." All of the four Gospels offer complementary perspectives on the crucifixion rather than providing a purely chronological report. They all confirm the central event while highlighted unique details. Matthew’s focus is on the prophecy while Mark is on the suffering of the Lord Jesus. Luke focuses on the compassion shown by the Lord Jesus towards others, while John focuses us on God's sovereignty over the whole event.

The prediction written here was made hundreds of years before this event was fulfilled by the Romans. According to Roman law, the property of the victim became the property of the executioners. The Roman soldiers "cast lots" to see which of them would get the clothing of the Lord Jesus. Their hardened hearts prevented them from seeing the real narrative which was unfolding before their eyes. They had long been trained by this world's values so much so they could not see from an eternal point of view. Because of this they had no interest in the greatest story ever told.

In v.36-37 of today's passage we read, "36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

In those days the Romans included a sign above the criminal who was being crucified to explain why He was there on His cross. The sign above the Lord Jesus was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek due to where He died. Since the Lord Jesus was not guilty of any crime, Pilate simply had written above Him, "THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS." Matthew's gospel records it this way. Mark, Luke, and John record part of the saying. Pilate knew that the Lord Jesus was innocent. He knew that out of envy the religious leaders had conjured up lies about Him. This explains the sign above Him that day. I find it interesting that only non-Jews ever used the title "King of the Jews" to describe the Lord Jesus. This seemingly insignificant observation magnifies the truth found in John 1:11, which reads, "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." The Apostle John used the word "own" twice. The first time it is used, it is written in the neuter. The second, it is written in the masculine. The first "own" refers to created things, whereas the second refers to the people. His creation received Him, whereas His people didn't.  

This underscores the fact that faith is not a result of being provided more miracles or more truth. No, faith is about the informed bowing of our will to the One who created us. When we place our faith in the Lord Jesus, He will go from being our Creator to being our Re-Creator. He recreates us through His choice to bow His will to the plan of the Father. At the place of the skull, He paid the penalty that separated us from God. And, it is our faith that activates His work to begin in our souls.

In v.38-40 of today's passage we read, "38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. 39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, 'You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.'"

The word translated "robbers" can also be translated "rebels." These guys who were crucified next to the Lord Jesus were friends of Barabbas, who was himself a rebel. The Lord Jesus Christ died the death of a rebel on behalf of rebels. These criminals were equally close to the Lord Jesus. One was saved and the other was lost; one went to heaven while the other went to hell. Both just as close, same opportunity, forever separated; one in glory and the other in eternal punishment. 

The Lord Jesus is the dividing line between death and life. What makes the difference is the choice we make regarding Him. One choice results in a hard heart and the other results in a soft heart. The Lord Jesus did everything for both of these men but only one received the free gift of eternal life. That's the whole idea of Christianity; we do not get into heaven by being reformed. We get into heaven through the death of the Lord Jesus who paid the price required by God in order to make it possible for us to enter into heaven.

The prophecy found in Isaiah 53:12, "And He was numbered with the transgressors" was fulfilled as the Lord Jesus hung on His cross. Think of the possibilities of arranging this. It is simply humanly impossible. The Lord Jesus fulfilled over one hundred Old Testament prophecies when He was crucified. Had He not died the way He did, we would have no hope for eternity. The Romans and the Jews hurled their abuses at Him, but He never once defended Himself. 

Everything that day screamed for the Lord Jesus to come down from the cross. His friends had abandoned Him, the Romans were killing Him, and his countrymen were mocking Him. And, in the middle of all of this, we learn a valuable lesson from the Lord Jesus who was led by His Father to that God-forsaken place. The other voices told Him to "come down." Those voices threatened His identity. We must resist those voices for ourselves because those voices demand that we must prove our value. This is what the Lord Jesus was dealing with while on the cross. His identity was firmly rooted in His Father's love for Him so that we could know His love for us. 

In v.41-44 of today's passage we read, "41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 42 '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. 43 He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' 44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing."

The religious leaders wanted the Lord Jesus to come down from the cross so that they, allegedly, might believe in Him. What they didn't understand, if He had come down, their faith in Him would have been meaningless. Of course, it is very questionable that their statement about believing in Him was authentic. After all He had given them so much truth and so many miracles, had He performed one more miracle would not have made a difference. The Lord Jesus resisted the temptation to come down from that cross, so that you and I would not be resisted by God. He hung there suspended between heaven and earth, so that you and I could transcend to heaven. He was abandoned so that we would not be abandoned.

Matthew 27:32-34

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32 Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. 33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. ~ Matthew 27:32-34

Today, we continue our study of Matthew 27 where the Lord Jesus Christ has just endured a horrible beating at the hands of Pontius Pilate's soldiers. The earthly journey of the Lord to the cross did not begin 33 years earlier, it began in eternity past. This was no surprise to God, it was a part of His plan to redeem rebellious mankind. C.S. Lewis once said, "It costs God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things: but to convert rebellious wills cost Him crucifixion." As we enter back into the narrative, we discover the Lord Jesus so weak from loss of blood that He was physically unable to carry His cross. This set the stage for today's sub-story which is where God is most acutely found.

In v.32 of today's passage we read, "Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross."

From Pilate’s residence to Golgotha, the place where the Lord Jesus was crucified, was only a few hundred yards. These would be the final steps of the Lord Jesus on this earth until He returns at His Second Coming. His walk to the place of His crucifixion was a display of humiliation highlighted by Him carrying His crossbeam which was tied to Him. The cross weighed between 75 and 100 pounds. Since the Lord Jesus struggled so to carry His cross, the Roman soldiers forced a man named Simon from Cyrene to carry it for Him. 

Simon was an African from Cyrene or as we know it today, Libya. He was an African Jew who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and he just so happened to be walking by as the Lord Jesus was struggling to carry His cross. The moment Simon was ordered to carry the Lord's cross, I am sure he thought, "I am in the wrong place at the wrong time." However, things were not as they first appeared. As is always the case, in God’s providence Simon was at "the right place at the right time." There are no coincidences with God. In Mark's gospel we are given the names of Simon's two sons, Alexander and Rufus. When Mark wrote his gospel these two were still alive. As a result of today's story, Simon and his two sons came to faith in the Lord Jesus as their Savior. In addition, today's story has long been corroborated.

In Romans 16:13 we read, "Greet Rufus chosen in the Lord and his mother." This Rufus was the son of Simon from Cyrene. Also, in Acts 13:1, we read, "In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul." Simeon is a variant name for Simon who became a leader of the church in Antioch with other Christians from Cyrene.

On that day that the Roman soldier seized Simon to carry the cross for the Lord, he was ordered to do something he did want to do. In that moment, Simon could not possibly see what the Lord had in mind for him. God used the crucifixion of His Son to get to the heart of Simon the father of Alexander and Rufus. Simon thought he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but, in time the whole scenario changed. I find that to be the case in my life. If I just give God enough time, He has always been known to make sense even out of my most unwanted of moments.

In addition, it just so happened that a certain man was being crucified next to the Lord Jesus that day in Jerusalem. Perhaps for the first time in his life, this unnamed criminal had the time to talk to and to listen to God. At one point he asked the Lord Jesus to remember him when He entered into His kingdom. To that random man that awful day, the Lord Jesus gave assurance of salvation and eternal life. Again, there are no coincidences with God. That day the sovereignty of God slayed the idea of coincidences for the thief on the cross as it did for Simon.

Citing coincidence is how we humans explain unexpected events and surprise meetings. But, just because we are taken by surprise does not mean that God is shocked. Scripture is clear that God allows sinful humans to make mistakes and reap the consequences of those mistakes, but only a sovereign God could also promise that He will make "All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose." In ways known only to God, He takes even our mistakes and weaves them together to fulfill His purposes which always render the best results for us. Just like Simon of Cyrene, the criminal that hung next to the Lord Jesus was not at all in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was exactly where he should have been. In response faith in the God of the Bible was born in that man that day. With our sovereign God, there are no coincidences. 

In v.33-34 of today's passage we read, "33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink."

Golgotha means "the place of the skull" and it is located just outside the Damascus gate in the northern wall of Jerusalem. It is called the place of the skull because it looks like a human skull. This is where the Roman soldiers led the Lord Jesus to be crucified. I find it most striking that God allowed little ole man to order Him around. In doing so, the Lord Jesus illustrated the greatest display of strength for He gave up the right and the ability to exact His power on the lesser. 

The Lord Jesus was offered wine at two separate times while He hung on the cross. The first wine was mixed with myrrh. It was designed to dull His pain, to keep him from having to endure the cross with full consciousness. He refused the first wine because He knew He had to endure the full wrath of God for you and me. For our sake, the Lord Jesus died the most painful of deaths, out of love for us. He drank the second wine which was given to keep Him conscious for as long as possible, and thus it prolonged His pain. Though it was a sinister attempt by the Romans to be entertained by His suffering for longer, He yielded His will yet again. When we look at the Cross we see God’s incredible faithfulness to the promises He has given. There is nothing, not even the instinct to spare His own Son, that would have turned God from keeping His word.

Matthew 27:27-31

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27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. ~ Matthew 27:27-31

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 27 where the Lord Jesus has been beaten to a pulp and Pilate has now issued a decree to have Him crucified. Unbeknown to him, Pilate was a major actor in the struggle between good and evil that day. Coming into view was the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the events of today's passage merely led up to that most crucial moment of all of human history.

In v.27 of today's passage we read, "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him."

The term "Praetorium" refers to the official residence or headquarters of a Roman governor. In this case, Pontius Pilate, the prefect of Judea during the time of Jesus' trial. Pilate's praetorium was the setting for the trial and sentencing of the Lord Jesus. It was there that Pilate turned the Lord over to his soldiers who were nothing short of brutal. There was an ancient Roman game that was played in those days, and it is alluded to here. This game was called "hot hand" which was when the guards took a prisoner and blindfolded him. Then they formed a circle around the prisoner, and they placed him in the center of the circle. Then, all but one of the soldiers would take turns at hitting the prisoner. Then, they took the blindfold off him, and they asked, "Which one of us didn't hit you?" If the prisoner guessed incorrectly, they'd do it all over again until he got it right.

In v.28-29 of today's passage we read, "28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'"

The Roman soldiers mockingly placed a scarlet robe on the Lord Jesus. Then, they placed a crown of thorns on His head. This crown was the product of the Fall of rebellious man. This crown included the curse and the honor. It has always been impossible for any human to earn the honor of a personal relationship with God by atoning for our sin. This is why the Lord Jesus came. He came to atone for our sin. And, as a result, we have the chance of being made right in God's eyes simply by believing in His sacrifice on our behalf. Only the Lord Jesus could resolve our sin and curse problem.

Bowing before the Lord Jesus, the Roman soldiers mockingly hailed Him as a king. They also beat and spat on Him. Then they mockingly placed a crown of thorns on Him. They couldn't see the irony therein because they lacked a biblical theology. It was man's sin that brought thorns into existence in the first place and in just a few hours the Lord Jesus would reverse the curse that had been illustrated by those thorns. The mistreatment of the Lord Jesus Christ was for all who would believe, because all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This means that we are all guilty of rebellion against God which has caused us to not be able to dwell in His presence.

One sign that we have come into right relationship with God is that we no longer blame someone else for our sinfulness. Personal responsibility for our sin aligns with what the Bible calls confession. Agreeing with God's assessment in all areas of our lives is a possible sign that we have been born again. And, if we do not see ourselves standing there with the fickle crowd and the cruel soldiers, full of hostility and hatred for the Lord Jesus, we really do not understand the nature and the depth of our sinfulness or the necessity of the cross. Sin was not something created or authored by God. Rather, God created a good universe and good human beings. Sin is the product of man thinking he could make it through life on his own without God.

When the soldiers took the robe off of the Lord Jesus, it was quite painful for Him. When blood coagulates it acts like glue. Once they placed that robe on His bloodied body and the blood dried, the garment adhered to His body. And, when they took the robe off, they ripped the freshly mended scabs off of His body with it. That pain only added to the misery He was going through that day. But, it would get worse when they led Him to be crucified.

In v.30-31 of today's passage we read, "30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified."

The reed with which they struck the Lord Jesus served as a symbol of mockery and humiliation. This reed was a flimsy narrow stick used symbolically by the Roman soldiers in order to belittle the Lord Jesus. In v.29 the reed was even placed in the right hand of the Lord Jesus. Inadvertently, the placing of that reed in the right hand of the Lord Jesus fulfilled a prophetic imagery given by Isaiah of the suffering servant. In Isaiah 42:3 we read, "A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice." 

Crucifixion was not invented by the Romans, the Persians invented it, but the Romans perfected it. The Persians originally invented crucifixion because they thought the earth was holy and sacred, and, they did not want to taint the earth. So, the Persians elevated the guilty ones off the sacred earth for their death. Crucifixion disappeared from man's purview until the Romans rediscovered it and when they perfected it, the Romans crucified thousands upon thousands. 

I find it most instructive that among so many crucified only One is remembered as such. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ was made of two parts: the vertical stake and the horizontal crossbeam. The cross is the greatest axis ever known to man. It is the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ that made it possible for all of mankind to pass out of the darkness of death into the light of His everlasting life. This is done only by coming into a personal relationship with God by believing in the work of His Son on the cross. While this world grades according to the curve, God grades according to the cross. The Bible is clear that the only passage way into this personal relationship with God is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 27:20-26

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20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”They said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” 23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” 25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. ~ Matthew 27:20-26

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 27 where we have witnessed the trials of the Lord Jesus before He was required to carry His cross to the Place of the Skull. As we have seen, the six trials the Lord Jesus endured that early morning in Jerusalem were divided into two parts, the first three were before the Jewish religious leaders, and the second set of three before two Roman governors, Pilate and Herod.

In v.20-21 of today's passage we read, "20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release to you?' They said, 'Barabbas!'"

Barabbas was an insurrectionist who wanted to overthrow the Roman government. Pilate wrongly believed that if he allowed the Jews to choose between the most despicable prisoner and the Lord Jesus, they would pick the Lord Jesus to be set free. And as we have seen before, such great irony is discovered in the name of Barabbas which means "son of the father." It was the Lord Jesus, the true Son of the Father, who was bound to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

Up to this point in the narrative, the crowds in Jerusalem had responded favorably to the Lord Jesus, but that changed as the deceit of the religious leaders began to spread. To the religious leaders and the people, Barabbas was the savior they chose that day. The Lord Jesus was there to give life, while Barabbas was the one who had taken life. The Lord Jesus was there to save the people from sin, while Barabbas was there to save the people from Rome. The people chose the fake over the real, and in so doing the crowd fell to the deceptive powers of darkness. The crowd didn’t free Barabbas because they liked him, they freed him because they disliked the Lord Jesus. They had taken up the offense of the religious leaders of Israel.

In v.22 of today's passage we read, "Pilate said to them, 'What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said to him, 'Let Him be crucified!'"

It was disappointment that drove the Jews to reject the Lord Jesus. They expected Him to fulfill their plans but He came with a much higher calling. It is really unwise to be defined by something like disappointment. In the economy of God, disappointment is necessary for the development of our faith in Him. Patience is a must when we are disappointed and we are making a very important decision. Change one little letter and our disappointments turn out to be His appointments. As Philip Yancey says in his book, Disappointment with God, "Where there is no longer any opportunity for doubt, there is no opportunity for faith either."

In v.23-25 of today's passage we read, "23 Then the governor said, 'Why, what evil has He done?' But they cried out all the more, saying, 'Let Him be crucified!' 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, 'I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.' 25 And all the people answered and said, 'His blood be on us and on our children.'"

When Pilate asked the crowd about any evil the Lord Jesus had done there was nothing but chaotic words proving the point that the Lord Jesus was as a sheep led to slaughter. It wasn't that the Lord Jesus was so easy to hate. After all, He had done nothing but good for the people. All of this just underscores the incredible deceptive powers of Satan. Having said that, these things had to happen so that mankind could be redeemed back to God. It is not that God made the people choose Barabbas that day, but He allowed the deception of Satan to manipulate the outcome. 

In v.26 of today's passage we read, "Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified."

Pilate released Barabbas and he had the Lord Jesus beaten. He didn't mean for it to go as far as it did but Pilate's men nearly beat the Lord Jesus to death. The flogging the Lord Jesus endured was bloody. Long leather cords were imbedded with bits of metal and bone, so that as the thongs whipped around the body of the Lord Jesus, the skin on His back and on His sides was cut and flayed open, until He was a bloody mess. Pilate ordered the flogging, thinking he would not have to crucify the Lord Jesus. He had hoped to awaken the sympathy of the crowd but to no avail. As a result, the Lord Jesus died a relatively quick death. Those who had been crucified before had hung on their cross for weeks at a time before they died. 

It was love that sent the Lord Jesus to the cross. Love naturally flows fully out of a heart that is itself conscious of being loved. In Gethsemane that night, the Lord Jesus communed with His Father who completely loved Him. As a result, having been strengthened and steadied, the Lord Jesus availed Himself to the cruelest form of human death, the cross. One cannot show His love further than laying down His life for another, especially when He has the power to wipe those who mean Him harm off the face of the earth in the twinkling of the eye. The Lord Jesus did not wait for us to earn His love to die for us. He knew that we were incapable of such, so, when He died on the cross, He spelled out the fact that God loves us. The cross has one horizontal beam along with another that was vertical. One represents the width of God's love and the other reflects the height of His holiness. As Max Lucado once said, "The cross is where God forgave His children without lowering His standards."

Matthew 27:15-19

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15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” ~ Matthew 27:15-19

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 27 which chronicles the trials of the Lord Jesus at the hands of the religious leaders of Israel and of Pontius Pilate governor of Judea. By now it was early Friday morning and the Lord Jesus was clearly on His way to being punished by Pilate so that the false charges against Him by the Jews would be satisfied. As we will see, there are many ironies to be found in today's narrative. An irony is a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects. Once we begin to see irony in the Bible, we will increasingly see the glory and the sovereignty of God.

In v.15 of today's passage we read, "Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished."

Somewhere just after midnight the religious leaders arrested the Lord Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and then they put Him through a series of three trials throughout the early morning. All three of these so-called trials were unlawful according to the law of Moses and they lasted about an hour all together. After the initial three trials, the Lord Jesus endured three more trials at the hands of Pilate and Herod. According to John 19:14, when Pilate rendered his final verdict, it was 6:00 a.m.  

All of this took place at the time of the Passover which commemorated the release of an entire nation from Egypt. During the Passover, Pilate had created a tradition of releasing a prisoner. He fully expected the crowd that had gathered there to choose the Lord Jesus to be released but it didn't happen as he anticipated. According to Luke's gospel, Pilate made a noble effort at being a just judge. Three times he declared the Lord Jesus "not guilty." Pilate tried to do the right thing, but he was under tremendous pressure to be bring justice upon the One who had committed no crime. Nothing worked. Since the religious leaders of Israel led the people to be against the Lord Jesus everything Pilate tried only mounted the hostility of the masses. The crowd became more bloodthirsty and more infuriated as the minutes advanced.

In v.16-18 of today's passage we read, "16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, 'Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?' 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy."

Barabbas, having unsuccessfully plotted an insurrection against Rome, languished in Pilate's prison. Such great irony is discovered in the name of Barabbas which means "son of the father." In Exodus, God identified Israel as "the son of the Father." In Barabbas, Israel saw itself. Yet, both Barabbas and the nation of Israel were very far from being sons of the Father. Ironically, the Son of the Father in heaven took Barabbas' place so that the sons of men could become sons of the Father who in heaven.

We are always at our worst when we are defining ourselves. We have been duped by the enemy to follow him by indirectly putting ourselves on the throne of our lives. As a result, we think that we know what is best for us. Not so! We often choose the kingdoms of this world, and we reject the Father and His Son and their values. If we could only understand that even the unwanted things and events that enter into our lives on a given day, they are all part of His divine will for us for that day. And, it is through such that God defines us.

In v.19 of today's passage we read, "While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, 'Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.'"

Pontius Pilate was the fifth governor of Judea. He was given the post in 26 A.D. by Tiberius Caesar and he occupied that post for 10 years. Pilate was not a Roman. He was Spanish. He was born in Seville, Spain. Due to the fact that he loved war, when the Roman legions came to his area of the world, he decided to join the Roman army and fight for Rome. He got the position of governor over Judea by marrying a young lady by the name of Claudia Procula, the granddaughter of Augustus Caesar. 

When Pontius Pilate was sitting on his judgment throne, his wife warned him to do nothing wrong to the Lord Jesus. But, as we will later learn, the Jewish religious leaders had persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas to be released by Pilate and that the Lord Jesus should be killed. In the end, the Lord Jesus willingly gave up His power while Pilate held on to his. This narrative drips with irony. The Son of the Father laid down His life for a man whose name means "son of the father." And, the ultimate Judge/King yielded Himself to be judged by a man whom He had put into his position as king. But, the greatest irony of them all is that the wrong thing was being done at just the right moment in time.

Matthew 27:11-14

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11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus said to him, "It is as you say." 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" 14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly. ~ Matthew 27:11-14

Today, we continue our study of Matthew 27 where the Lord Jesus has endured three trials before the religious leaders of first century Israel and now he is before Pontius Pilate for the first time. When this is over, the Lord Jesus will have endured six trials, three at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders and three at the hands of Pilate and Herod. These trials reveal mankind's wicked heart and God's gracious heart. The Lord Jesus was not crucified because evil men decided to murder Him, He was crucified in accordance with God's plan. 

In v.11 of today's text we read, "Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, 'Are You the King of the Jews?' Jesus said to him, 'It is as you say.'" 

The entire religious ruling body of Israel, all 70 of them, escorted the Lord Jesus to Pilate's palace. They did this after they had bound Him, ridiculed Him, spit on Him, and beaten Him. The Lord Jesus was never the victim of human cruelty, though. He wasn’t the victim of the Jewish Supreme Court who condemned Him. And, as we will see, the Lord Jesus was not the victim of Pilate and Herod, who ultimately executed Him. He was God’s chosen Lamb whom God had predetermined that He would procure forgiveness for all who would believe in the kindness of the God of the Bible.  

In v.12 of today's passage we read, "And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing."

In Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 we are given the description of the crucified Son of God long before crucifixion was even known to be a mode of death. Before His accusers He was silent just like a sheep is before its shearers. Just days before, it was the Lord Jesus who had silenced the religious leaders as He taught in the temple. He had communicated the truth with such authority that many feared confronting Him, and those who did were silenced. Yet, at this moment before Pilate He was silent because He was defined by the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus never contradicted the Word of God. Any kind of defense would have prevented the crucifixion and would have prevented our salvation. So, the Lord Jesus remained silent through it all so that He would fulfill His calling as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "Then Pilate said to Him, 'Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?'"

Pilate privately interrogated the Lord Jesus about His kingship because, for him, that was the crucial issue, and he concluded that the Lord Jesus was guilty of no crime. Three times Pilate clearly affirmed Him innocent before His accusers. In fact, Pilate publicly washed his hands as a sign that he believed in the innocence of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus wasn't a criminal but you and I are and we could not handle the weight of the penalty for our criminal status before God. It was not only the religious leaders of Israel who testified against the Lord Jesus, it was our sin.

In v.14 of today's passage we read, "But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly."

As Pilate looked down upon the Lord Jesus who was in peasant clothes spattered with blood, he concluded that He didn't look like someone who was a threat to his kingdom. Pilate marveled greatly which means he was absolutely amazed. Pilate was taken aback that the Lord Jesus didn't even try to defend Himself. Pilate had long seem criminals who were quick to save themselves by accusing others. But, the Lord Jesus remained silent and He didn't even cry out for mercy. Amazingly, the Lord Jesus never offered a single word of defense.

His mercy and grace had to precede the Lord Jesus. He came as the gracious king who suffered the punishment that mankind rightfully deserved. And, in order to accomplish this Herculean task, He had to conquer not only sin and death, He had to conquer the stubborn and fearful human heart. It is only through His grace and mercy that the stubborn human heart is changed. He did this through His cross and His resurrection. It was through His cross that He drove a nail into sin and death, and, it was through His resurrection that He brought life to those made dead to God by their sin.

Standing before Pilate was the only One who could die for the sin of mankind because He was the only sinless One. The Lord Jesus was not a political king, He is a spiritual king. The Lord Jesus is the type king men and women invite to rule and reign in our hearts. He died the cruelest of death so that we would trust in Him enough to allow His kingdom to come into our hearts. We who have come to the end of ourselves and our own resources have turned to the Lord Jesus and we have invited Him to call the shots in our lives. The Lord Jesus is no King of any country in this world, He is the King over the hearts of humbled men and women, boys and girls. It was Martin Luther who once asked, "Is it not wonderful news to know that salvation lies outside ourselves?"

Matthew 27:3-10

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3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” ~ Matthew 27:3-10

Today, we return to our study of Matthew 27 where the Lord Jesus has just been taken by the religious leaders of Israel to the governor of the region, Pontius Pilate. This chapter is full of contrast. All of these contrasts point to the ultimate contrast between the God of the Bible and the god of this world, the God of truth and of purpose and of sacrifice, and, the god of lies and of chaos and of suicide.

In v.3-5 of today's passage we read, "3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' And they said, 'What is that to us? You see to it!' 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself."

Here, we are provided another contrast between guilt and innocence. When Judas saw the Lord Jesus taken to the place of Pilate and condemned, his tears flowed from the deepest part of his being. He felt deep and severe pain. His pain was so agonizing and excruciating, he no longer was driven by greed. Much like Peter, Judas was devastated deeply. His choice to betray the Lord Jesus made him aware of the essential wrongness of what he had done. God has built into all of us this sense of wrong that sets off an alarm system that alerts us of the uncharted water we have entered. This is a gift from God to man in order to hold us back from evil and its ultimate end, eternal hell. 

The Greek word translated "remorseful" means to wish it had never happened. The depth of Judas' remorse was an indication that he had failed to love the Lord Jesus. Perhaps, Judas didn't experience the godly kind of sorrow that according to 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 leads to repentance. The only thing Judas knew to do was to undo what he had done. So, he went to the chief priests and the elders and threw his 30 pieces of silver at their feet. Where he failed was not seeking the Savior. In so doing, Judas sought relief within himself. He was anxious to rid himself of his pain. He knew he had betrayed the innocent Savior of sinful man. This is why he returned the money which he had before pursued. This only underscores the fact that money will never satisfy us. This is true of all sin. That which we think will satisfy us and is not allowed by God will only lead us down the rabbit hole to greater dissatisfaction. This is the narrative of sin. It looks good and then we take it and it stings us with a poison that only brings death to us.

Judas knew, according to Deuteronomy 16, that a false witness who witnesses against a person unto death is required to pay for his sin with his own life. This explains why he took his life. Most people believe Judas went to Hell and he very well may have. I only know that the difference between Judas and me is the grace of God. It is clear that Judas, just like all the other disciples, expected the Lord Jesus to set up His political kingdom. And, just like the other disciples, Judas identified the Lord Jesus as an innocent man. Could it be that he from his heart felt guilt and remorse turned back to the Lord? Maybe we will be shocked to see Judas in heaven. I hope so. I'm sure many will be surprised that I will get there.

In response to Judas' remorse the Jewish religious leaders showed no guilt or any remorse. They were hard hearted and indifferent toward Judas when they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" They were indifferent toward Judas which is a clear sign that they knew not for themselves the heart of the Father who is in heaven. Loved people love people.

In v.6-10 of today's passage we read, "6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me."

The chief priests took the money which had come from the temple treasury and concluded it was not lawful to put it back into the treasury because it had become "blood money." Blood money was money illegitimately paid to someone to get someone else killed. Here we have the testimony for all time and for all the world to see right out of the mouths of the chief priests themselves that the money they gave to Judas was "blood money." These sanctimonious hypocrites didn’t mind taking it out of the treasury to be used illegally, but they were too pious to put it back where it came from, because they didn't want anyone to know that they were just as guilty a Judas. Out of their own mouths, they confirmed their guilt.

So, the religious leaders of Israel took the 30 pieces of silver to purchase the potter’s field which was a place where you pick up clay. Potters mold clay. So, the potter’s field was the place that potters collected clay. The religious leaders purchased the field so that they would have a place to bury the strangers. They used polluted money to buy a polluted field to bury polluted people. It was sort of a good will gesture toward those who didn’t have enough money to pay for their own burial. 

In v.8 we are given another contrast: The hypocrisy of men and the prophecy of God. Thirty years later Matthew wrote of this field as "the field of blood to this day." It went from the Potter's field to the field of blood because it was bought with blood money. The people of Jerusalem nicknamed this field "the field of blood." This means their testimony was that the money Judas received and gave back was "blood money" underscoring the veracity of this story. The testimony of the whole population of Jerusalem 30 years later was that the field was "the field of blood" because of bribery. The religious leaders thought they were doing their work but all the while they were fulfilling God’s plan. This was the fulfillment of prophecy found in the Old Testament.

Matthew 27:1-2

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1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. ~ Matthew 27:1-2

Today, we transition into Matthew 27 where the Lord Jesus is being taken by the Jewish religious leaders to Pilate the Roman governor. He is about to endure yet another set of three trials before Pilate and Herod. Even though these trials lacked any credibility, they were necessary. They were necessary because they facilitated a much larger purpose and that is to provide forgiveness of sin for all who are willing of heart to admit their sin and their need of a savior.

In addition to the previous three trials before the Jewish religious leaders, all six of these trials led to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. No one but the Lord Jesus knew that His death was imminent and necessary. It was necessary for the forgiveness of our sin. He died in our place as our substitute. This is the heart of the gospel, the greatest news ever delivered to the ears of man.

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death."

The contrast between good and evil is the background to today's narrative. In context we have the godless religious leaders of Israel and the sinless Lord Jesus Christ. In the first three trials at the hands of the religious leaders of Israel there is not one legitimate accusation provided against the Lord Jesus. And, a false witness was called who betrayed Him for a bribe. The first three trials were held in the middle of the night, which were all unlawful. Several of the laws which accommodated their justice system were violated. And in the midst of it all, the Lord Jesus stood before them innocent. In the final analysis, they came up with absolutely nothing to render Him guilty of anything. Rather than valuing and advancing righteousness, the religious leaders of Israel "justified" their evil motivations by presenting accusations which were laughable.

In John 18:28 we read, "Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover."

When we truly do not know what the answer is, we will inevitably make it about stupid things. The Jewish leaders had no idea that the Lord Jesus was the Son of God. And, since He was a threat to their comfort, they wanted Him dead. So, they escorted Him to Pilate to try to get Him to do their dirty deed. When the religious leaders arrived at the palace of Pilate, they avoided entering the palace because they were worried about being unclean for the Passover. They were so blind to the truth they didn't recognize they were fulfilling the plan of God. From before time began it was the plan of God that the Lord Jesus would be the ultimate Passover Lamb, sacrificed on the behalf of all mankind. Evil lurks in the hearts of all mankind. The most alarming evil is seen when we seek to justify our evil actions through our religious routines. The theology of the Jewish religious leaders was suspected to be the best in the land but it was closest to the will of the evil one himself.

Anselm of Canterbury once said, "Theology is faith seeking under­standing." Biblical theology is much more than reading the Word of God. It is much more than going deeper in our understanding of the person and nature of God. It is much more than producing outwardly some kind of likeness to God. Biblical theology will always lead us to "more of Him and less of me." We must be careful that we are digging in the right direction. God is the Lord Jesus Christ in every way and the Lord Jesus is God. He is the fullness of deity, bearing the stamp of the character of God. He is the visible image of the Father and the Spirit. We discover this most valuable truth throughout the Bible which is the very source from which we gain a proper theology. When this correct theology is arrived upon, He will always be the One who is adored.

In v.2 of today's passage we read, "And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor."

To think that sinful man could bind the God of the universe, and yet, we are told it happened. It happened this way because it was the plan of God from before the beginning of time. God didn't make these men do this dastardly deed but He knew they would make this choice. Their problem was they were their own gods. Their theology was so bad that they had fashioned God into their own image. Their real motivation was their fear of losing their status, influence and power. They had replaced their worship of the one true God with worship of themselves.

The disciples, in their fallen condition, struggled to understand this plan of God. Like the first disciples, we fail to see His purposes behind our troubles. We fail to see that our troubles all have a design which is to cause us to entertain certain undesirable questions and to take those questions to the Lord for His answers. But, His plan includes much more than just answers to our befuddlements. Our questions are designed to help us to seek Him for ourselves and to know Him accordingly.

The theology of these so-called leaders of Israel did not have room for the beautiful design that God had for us behind our gropes through our trials. Their posh lifestyles prevented them from having to endure trials. This is partly why their theology was so bad. They were more in love with their comfort and their status than they were the lover of their souls. They were so desperate to have their will, they eliminated the One who came to give to them the best they could ever have. And when they arrived at Pilate's palace, they realized they had a problem. They realized if they were to enter Pilate's palace they would become defiled. Following the self life always distorts our understanding of reality and what is best for us.

For us, every day the unwanted moments arrive in our lives. What we choose to do with those moments determines a lot. If we have learned the ways and the culture of God, we will recognize the value in the unwanted. Needless to say, we all struggle at finding purpose in our pain. We are wise to recognize that we serve a God who is daily delivering His unfolding redemption story in our lives. If we fail to see life through the lens of God's Word, we will not see the value of our trials. The beauty of it all is that God can even use our resistance and even our failure to hone our faith in Him. As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must value the culture of the God of the Bible more than we do our own. We are wise to understand that it is in those moments that we struggle the most that we are being positioned to see the God of the Bible best and most deeply with our hearts.

Matthew 26:69-75

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69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. "I don’t know what you’re talking about," he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." 72 He denied it again, with an oath: "I don’t know the man!" 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away." 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don’t know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. ~ Matthew 26:69-75

Today, we complete our study of Matthew 26 where right in the middle of the sixfold trial the Lord Jesus was enduring, Matthew turns the spotlight on Peter. It is through Peter's miserable failure that we are presented one of the most important lessons in our walk with the Lord. This is one of those lessons that stretches across the whole terrain of our relationship with Him. And, that lesson is that our spirituality is never about us, it is always about Him. Our spiritual growth does not always occur at a constant speed. The Scriptures indicate that, as with a child, it is discernible in stages. And, God is never in a hurry.

In v.69-70 of today's passage we read, "69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. 'You also were with Jesus of Galilee,' she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. 'I don’t know what you’re talking about,' he said."

Peter had earlier vowed to never ever deny knowing the Lord Jesus. But, his determination to show himself faithful to Christ failed greatly. While gathered around a fire with those who arrested the Lord Jesus, a young woman who was a servant of the high priest, recognized Peter and identified him as a follower of the Lord Jesus. The servant girl of the high priest identified Peter as a Galilean, as one who followed the Lord Jesus. Of course, it was Peter's first denial of the Lord Jesus.

In v.71-72 of today's passage we read, "71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, 'This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.' 72 He denied it again, with an oath: 'I don’t know the man!'"

Immediately, Peter's defenses sprung forward and he hurried outside to the gateway so he would be less visible. Peter’s denial of the Lord Jesus was a profound moment in human history. The lessons we learn from Peter's failure are innumerable because ultimately his failure was eclipsed by God's grace and wisdom. This was also a defining moment for Peter. Perhaps it was then that he gave up on the idea of earning or maintaining God's love. In Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus prayed to the Father three times, receiving strength from those prayers. In that very same garden Peter didn’t pray and he failed. When faced by his accusers, Peter lied three times.  

Like Peter, we often believe we need to be our own saviors. This is our default mode given us by our fallen nature. Often, there are times when we think we are being champions for the Lord, but in those moments we are really denying His lordship in our lives. Never will we be anyone's savior, especially our own. Only the Lord Jesus is qualified!

Peter distanced himself from the Lord Jesus because, he didn’t share His worldview. After Peter came to believe that the Lord Jesus was the Christ, the Lord Jesus told Peter and the other disciples that He would be rejected and He would be killed. Peter and the other disciples expected a Christ that would triumph over His enemies, not understanding that at His first coming the Lord Jesus came to destroy a much more sinister enemy, sin and death.

Peter did not understand his real enemy which was sin and death. The Lord Jesus came to deal a death blow to both. Peter, in some sense, speaks the truth when he said, "I don’t know this man you’re talking about." Peter knew the Lord Jesus, but he didn’t really know Him. But, after all, it really isn't how much we know the Lord that saves us; it is that we are known by Him, that is what saves us. The key is that we are increasing in our understanding and interaction with the words of John the Baptist: "More of Him and less of me."

In v.73-74 of today's passage we read, "73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, 'Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.' 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, 'I don’t know the man!' Immediately a rooster crowed."

Galileans had discernibly different accents than the Judeans which caused those who lived in Jerusalem to immediately recognize the one speaking was Galilean. Similar to the accents we find in the south in the USA and the accent of those who live in the north. This was the case here for Peter. His accent gave him away and the people noticed. This caused Peter to employ a tactic that was not known for a disciple of Christ. He cursed and swore in his response. As the truth closed in on Peter, he disassociated himself from it. I have often wondered what curse words Peter used that day. I'm sure they were the worst. As a former fisherman, Peter undoubtedly had quite an exhaustive list to choose from that evening. The Apostle Peter dropped a bomb of some sort in order to save himself.

We are just like Peter! We do not really know the ways of God. We do not understand the way of self-giving love. When the rooster crowed, a higher court rendered its verdict. Peter failed at something he had no business succeeding at: Following the Lord Jesus with a seriously flawed understanding of Him and His ways. Peter failed because his vision of God and of reality failed.

In v.75 of today's passage we read, "Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly."

Since the Lord Jesus had previously predicted Peter would deny Him, He knew Peter would do this. God is never surprised by our failure. He expects more failure out of us than we do ourselves. But, the beauty of all of this is Peter's darkest night was eclipsed by his brightest day when the Lord Jesus rose from the grave. You see, it was after the resurrection that the Lord Jesus met Peter on that Galilean beach. And, it was on that Galilean beach that Peter began to truly know the love of the Lord Jesus for him. It was then that Peter began to understand what it meant for him to love the Lord.

Peter's failure was integral to his later success. We, like Peter, have a hard time with our failure. We fail to see its role in deepening us in our dependency of the Lord. That is the key to any of our successes that we are dependent upon the Lord. Peter went on to preach the first sermon of the church. On the day of Pentecost, he was privileged to present the gospel to the thousands gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost. And, thousands believed!