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| 1 Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: |
Morning was come – As early in the morning as possible, before the people would be generally astir. R5570:2, 4712:3
The Sanhedrin having been called together so as to legally confirm the illegal trial of the night previous. R3368:1, 4712:3, 2781:5, 1809:3
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| 2 and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate the governor. |
To Pontius Pilate – Tradition has it that Pilate had heard previously of Jesus, and even met him by appointment privately, making inquiry respecting his teachings. R5570:2
The governor – The Roman Governor of Judea, the representative of Caesar's government. R5570:2
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| 3 Then Judas who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, |
When he saw – Implying that he was surprised when Jesus was condemned. Apparently he surmised that Jesus, brought to the crucial test, would assert himself as the Master and triumph over his enemies. R5552:4
Repented himself – Judas was not without conscience, but lacked the genuine loyalty of heart which, in the Lord's sight, is indispensable; the absence of which, in Judas' case, was inexcusable. R3760:2
Were Judas' tears better than those of Esau (Heb. 12:17)? Did his repentance lead to a renewed and reformed life, or to self-destruction (Heb. 6:6)? R2283:6
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| 4 saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it. |
See thou to that – Greek, optomai, attend thou to that. R140:3
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| 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver into the temple, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. |
And hanged himself – Acts 1:8 says that, falling headlong, he burst asunder. Both are true. If he chose the branch of a tree overhanging a precipice to hang himself, the rope might readily break under the strain and the fall take place. R5552:6
The rewards of unrighteousness never yield the honors and blessings coveted. R2469:4
"Woe to that man by whom the offence cometh." (Matt. 18:7) R3760:3
Every suicide, by his act, confesses his wish that he had never been born. R3364:3, 5552:5, 4907:3
There may be hope for other suicides because of the ignorance and because Christ died for all. R5552:5
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| 6 And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood. |
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| 7 And they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. |
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| 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. |
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| 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price;
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Thirty pieces of silver – The price of a slave. R2745:1
Equivalent to about twenty dollars of our money. R2468:2
Children of Israel – The whole twelve tribes. C293
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| 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. |
Potter's field – Burial place for strangers. R5552:3
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| 11 Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
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Art thou the King – Realizing that Pilate would not recognize blasphemy as a cause for death, the charge against Jesus before Pilate was a totally different one, namely, that Jesus was a seditionist and raiser of disturbance. R4712:3, 5570:3, 2312:6, 1809:6
Thou sayest – He makes no response to the various charges and calumnies which the Jewish elders and priests heaped upon him. R2313:1
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| 12 And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. |
Priests and elders – Having been rejected by them as the king. B251
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| 13 Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? |
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| 14 And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. |
Never a word – Jesus made no defense. He knew that the time had come for him to die. He would not attempt to turn aside that which he knew to be a part of the divine program for him. R5570:3, 2313:1, 575:4
The governor marvelled – Amazed that anyone should be so indifferent to the preservation of his own life. R2313:1, 1810:1
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| 15 Now at a feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would. |
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| 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. |
Barabbas – A highway robber. R5571:2
He evidently thought that, because Barabbas was so undesirable a person to have at liberty, the Jews would finally conclude that of the two they would prefer to have Jesus at liberty rather than Barabbas. R2313:2
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| 17 When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? |
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| 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up. |
For envy – Typified by the envy of Joseph's brethren. R3971:4
Because he and his teachings were having more influence with the common people than could be exercised by the chief priests and scribes. R4712:6, 2316:2
Realizing their own inferiority and unfitness to be the leaders, they could not brook the appearance of a rival of superior talents and ability. R1964:1
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| 19 And while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. |
His wife – Possibly one of the Lord's followers. R3896:4*
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| 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. |
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| 21 But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas. |
They said, Barabbas – The world's natural choice is for one of murderous spirit rather than a saint. R3896:2
Religious fanaticism is the deepest, wickedest and most conscienceless of hatreds. R2313:2
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| 22 Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified. |
They all say – At the close of Jesus' ministry only about 500 worthy ones had been found. Most Israelites were not ready to be used of God in the blessing of the other nations. R4593:5
Three classes of criminals come to view: the Pharisaical class, who for envy delivered him up; the Judas class, hirelings, ready to sell their services for bribes; and the cold-blooded menials, who watch on with complacency and indifference. R1964:1-4
Let him be crucified – The most ignominious and cruel method of death, so that his memory should be ever covered with infamy. R1810:4
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| 23 And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, Let him be crucified. |
What evil – Answering "No" to their cry. R2313:2
But they cried – Judas loved money, and these loved the approval of the priests and rulers and wanted to be on the popular side. R1964:2
Let him be crucified – The Jewish aristocracy and democracy united in demonstration of untruth that "The voice of the people is the voice of God." R3369:5
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| 24 So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it. |
A tumult was made – As a representative and mouthpiece for the Roman empire, Pilate was required to preserve peace at any cost. R2313:2
And washed his hands – As a symbol of his own disagreement with the death-decree which they were compelling him to render. R2786:3
To indicate his dissent and clearing himself from responsibility. R3896:5
I am innocent – Manifesting far greater concern than the Papacy would have done under similar circumstances. B330, B331
Remembering that Pilate was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but a heathen man, we cannot condemn him as others have done, but commend him as a man who loved justice. R2786:4
This just person – While the world blamed Jesus, yet in the private counsels they recognized the fact that he was harmless. R4797:1
See ye to it – Greek, optomai, attend ye to it. R140:6
It was policy that he rule justly, but justice was to be sacrificed at any time in the interests of the Roman Empire. R5570:2
Look to yourselves, that you are likewise free from blood-guiltiness. R2313:4
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| 25 And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. |
His blood be on us – The full responsibility of what followed was left with the Jews. R3896:6, 5721:1; Q356:1
The curse of blindness came as requested. D571
The Lord took them at their word. OV77:T
Alas! poor Jews! With what judgment you judge, you have been judged. R2313:4
The curse which they brought upon their own heads remains with them. They can only escape the curse of the Law and this additional curse by having the merit of Christ's blood implied to them. R3062:3
There is no way to escape from your self- pronounced curse of his blood, except by accepting his blood. R2313:4
The better educated Pharisees and Priests who incited the multitude had more responsibility, and Judas was the real crucifier because of his knowledge and willfulness. R4909:2
And on our children – And they also expressed the desire that their posterity should bear it. Q356:1; R5721:1
It has been so! They have since suffered as aliens from God, without prophet, priest, sin- offerings or Atonement Days. R5571:4
The turning point of Israel's history. OV77:T
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| 26 Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified. |
Scourged Jesus – Possibly hoping that the scourging would satisfy his adversaries' thirst for blood. R3369:1
He delivered him – Influenced more by considerations of policy than of principle, and willing to satisfy the people. R1810:4
The Roman government expected their governors to be absolutely just in respect to Roman citizens; dealings with others were to be conciliatory. PD69/83
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| 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered unto him the whole band. |
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| 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. |
They stripped him – "He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied." (Isa. 53:11) E52
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| 29 And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! |
Mocked him – The trials, sufferings and contradictions which our Lord endured, while no part of our ransom-price, were expedient in the Father's judgment as being a part of his testing. R2316:3
Crown of thorns – They jeered him upon his claim to kingship. R2786:5
Reed in his right hand – Without a surmise that he really was the one to whose scepter every knee shall bow. (Phil. 2:10) R2786:5
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| 30 And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. |
They spit upon him – "I hid not my face from shame and spitting." (Isa. 50:6) E52
And smote him – "I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair." (Isa. 50:6) E52
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| 31 And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him. |
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| 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go with them, that he might bear his cross. |
A man of Cyrene – Where now were Peter, James and John! R3369:6
To bear his cross – The portion of it which dragged. R3369:6
Because, according to tradition, our Lord had been compelled to carry the cross and fainted under it. E123
The opportunity to bear the cross for the members of the Lord's body is still with us. R2787:1, 3370:1
The Lord will send the aid necessary, even though, as in this case, it be impressed. R3370:1
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| 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull, |
Golgotha – In Latin, Calvary. R3900:6, 3370:2
Place of a skull – Here, in the perpendicular face of a limestone knoll, is the most remarkable likeness to a skull. R3900:6, 3370:2, 1394:6
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| 34 they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink. |
Mingled with gall – To deaden the pain. R3370:2, 3901:1
Not as an injury, but as a kindness. It is supposed that the mixture would assuage thirst to some degree. R3562:6
Tasted thereof – As a token of his appreciation for the kindness expressed by it. R3370:2, 3901:1
He would not drink – Preferring to experience the full measure of the pain and suffering which the Father's wisdom and love and justice had prepared for him. R3370:2, 3901:1, 2473:3
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| 35 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots; |
Parted his garments – The clothing in which Jesus appeared after his resurrection was as specially created for the occasion as was the body in which he appeared. B128
The usual dress of a Jew consisted of five parts: the head dress, the shoes, the outer garment or toga, the girdle (one part for each of the soldiers) and the tunic. R3562:4
Some in Christendom are willing to divide among themselves day by day the blessings and advantages which have come through his death, but without appreciation or gratitude. R3562:4
Upon my vesture – His seamless robe, beautifully representing his own personal perfection; probably a gift from one of the noble women mentioned as being among his friends. R2316:1
Cast lots – For the "chilton," the tunic or coat; a kind of shirt fitting somewhat loosely and reaching from the neck to the ankles. R3562:4
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| 36 and they sat and watched him there. |
And sitting down – Presuming to have no responsibility in the matter, caring nothing for the honor of justice or the vindication of right. R1964:2
They watched him there – Depravity of fallen human nature was strikingly illustrated in those who witnessed the Lord's many wonderful works, and then his unresisting sacrifice for our sins--they were cold, without appreciation. R2315:6
Resembling, to a considerable degree, the whole of Christendom who have heard of Jesus and are still totally unmoved, unconcerned, without thankfulness or appreciation. R3562:4, 2316:2
There are still the cruel cold-blooded menials who, with complacency and indifference, and yet with curiosity, sit down and watch the sufferings of the body, and wonder what will happen next. R1964:6
God of Heaven! forbid that I should gaze with pitiless eye on a suffering child of thine. R5837:6*
Instead of falling at his feet and exclaiming, "My Lord and my Redeemer." Many in our day similarly view the Lord's sufferings with calm indifference. R2316:1
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| 37 And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. |
Set up over his head – The crime of each culprit was, by law, inscribed over his head. R4713:5
His accusation written – In three languages--Hebrew, Greek and Latin. R3562:2
KING OF THE JEWS – Little did Pilate think that this was the true title of the wonderful man Christ Jesus whom they caused to be put to death. R2316:2
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| 38 Then are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand and one on the left. |
Two thieves – Crucified as an evildoer. R2316:2
From the standpoint of the priests and Pharisees, the Lord's crucifixion with the two thieves was specially desirable; it would help to keep the people from thinking of him as a martyr. R3561:6
Every noble or pure man or woman, prizing purity in his own heart, would find it specially detestable to be so misunderstood as to be numbered with transgressors. R3561:5
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| 39 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, |
They that passed by – Some of them had probably seen his "many wonderful works"; yet when they saw the tide turn against him, they seem to have been easily swayed. R2316:3
Reviled him – "As he was so are are we in this world." (1 John 4:17) R2316:5
Wagging their heads – "We did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." (Isa. 53:4) R2316:5
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| 40 and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross. |
The temple – The true Church. T70
In three days – The fifth, sixth and seventh thousand-year days. R3375:2
Come down – Weakened by his sufferings, tortured by his merciless enemies, hanging helpless between heaven and earth, Satan challenged him to demonstrate his deity by descend- ing from the cross. R5848:2*
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| 41 In like manner also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, |
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| 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. |
He cannot save – He could have saved himself. (Matt. 26:53) R5195:4
How little they knew that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer these things to enter into his glory. R2316:4
If Jesus had saved himself, he could not have been the Savior of the world. R5578:1
King of Israel – Synonymous with the term "King of the Jews" (verse 37). R2085:1
The whole twelve tribes of Israel. C293
Come down – We are so glad he did not come down and leave us in our sins. R3370:6
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| 43 He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God. |
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| 44 And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach. |
The thieves also – The only little word of sympathy, however, that he received on this occasion, so far as the record goes, came later from one of these thieves. R2316:6
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| 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. |
From the sixth hour – Nine o'clock in the morning, the hour of the morning daily sacrifice. R2316:6
There was darkness – It was fitting that nature should veil her glories before such a scene. There was darkness, not dense darkness, but, simply, darkness. R2316:6
It must have been supernaturally dark for, as it was the full moon, a solar eclipse could have lasted but a few minutes at the most. R2316:6, 1816:4
Picturing the temporary triumph of the power of darkness over him who was the light of the world. R3902:6
Typifying the alienation from God which came upon the Jewish people as a result of crucifying the Lord. R1816:4
Unto the ninth hour – Three o'clock in the afternoon, the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, the time when Christ died. R2316:6
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| 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?
that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? |
My God, my God – Jesus did not claim to be the Father, but the Son of God. R5578:5
The wail of a breaking heart. R84:2*
It is claimed that he died of a literally broken heart, evidenced by the fact that both blood and water proceeded from the spear-wound inflicted shortly after his death. R2316:6; E123
Why – What have I done that I should be denied fellowship with thee? R4683:5
Hast thou forsaken me – An actual withdrawal of the Father's favor and communion, a necessary part of the Lord's suffering as a sin-bearer. The penalty of Adam's transgression was not only death, but additionally separation or alienation from God. R2317:1
He had borne the contradiction of sinners, Peter's denial, and the fact that all his disciples fled; but the Father's spirit of fellowship withdrawn was more than he could bear. R2316:6
He bore the sinner's penalty in all particulars. CR392:5; E128
It was necessary that the Father should hide himself from him as though he had been the sinner. R4713:5, 5578:5, 4683:5, 3903:1
That was the most terrible moment of all his experiences. CR392:5; R4713:5
Such a dark moment might be permitted to even the most worthy follower of the Lamb. F143
The language of real, not pro forma, agony. E94
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| 47 And some of them that stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth Elijah. |
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| 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. |
Gave him to drink – Doubtless with a fever raging, such as would be induced by the crucifixion, he had been thirsting for quite a while. R3562:6
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| 49 And the rest said, Let him be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to save him. |
Let be – It is evident, from these words, that Christ's last prayer was heard even by his enemies. R2252:1
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| 50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and gave up his breath. |
When he had cried – Matthew does not record the words, but we have them from Luke and John, "It is finished! Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." R2317:2
Yielded up the ghost – Literally, dismissed his spirit; that is, drew his last breath, or ceased to live; expired. R700:4, 3903:4
That is, the spirit. Not his spirit body, for at this time he had no spirit body. R2317:4
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| 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent; |
Veil of the temple – 60 feet long, 30 feet wide and about four inches thick. R3371:2, 2788:4
Was rent in twain – Representing the opening of the way between the spirit-begotten condition and heaven itself. R3371:2
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Earth .. quake .. rocks rent – These are exactly the kinds of events we may expect when there is a major turning point in the plan of God. At the death of Jesus these were literal events. At the end of the Gospel age these are symbolic - but still real. |
| 52 and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were awakened; |
And the graves – There are serious reasons for doubting the genuineness of this verse and the following; but a portion of it, at least, appears in the oldest Greek manuscripts yet discovered. R1509:3, 2811:6
Of the saints – Not the ancient worthies or the saints of the Gospel church. R2811:5, 833:2
Which slept arose – The very most that could have taken place at that time would have been that some might have been awakened in just the same sense that Lazarus was awakened. Q289:2; R2811:5, 1509:6, 833:2
The word "sleep" used instead of the word "death." R2197:6
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| 53 and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many. |
Came out of the graves – The narrative does not call it a resurrection; it merely says that they came out of their graves, as Lazarus did. R833:2
His resurrection – The Greek word is not anastasis, but egersis, an unusual word for resurrection, signifying resurgence or re-animation. R1509:3; F703
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| 54 Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was a son of God. |
The centurion – All three centurions mentioned in the New Testament (Luke 7:2; Acts 10:1) were reverential. R3755:4
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The Centurian – Possibly Cornelius. |
| 55 And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: |
Ministering unto him – Providing for the physical wants of Jesus and the twelve. Christ never solicited alms. F286
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| 56 among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. |
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| 57 And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: |
A rich man – "He made his grave with the wicked [the sinful human race] and with the rich [in the tomb of the rich man, Joseph of Arimathea] in his death." (Isa. 53:7,9) R1394:4, 1360:1
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| 58 this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up. |
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| 59 And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, |
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| 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. |
His own new tomb – Which contained no other corpses; hence, there could be no question respecting the body of Christ and its burial. R2476:2, 3903:3
A great stone – This was not a large boulder, but was shaped like a wheel, like a large grindstone rolling in a groove. R4713:6
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| 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. |
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| 62 Now on the morrow, which is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate, |
The next day – Saturday morning. R4212:5*
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| 63 saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again. |
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| 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first. |
Be made sure – The evil suspicions of the religious leaders were overruled by the Lord for good, and became a testimony of the truth and an assistance to faith on the part of believers. R2318:1
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| 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go, make it as sure as ye can. |
Ye have a watch – Giving the chief priests the privilege of hiring some of the soldiers as watchmen, much the same as anyone today can employ and pay a policeman for extra service as a watchman. R2476:3
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| 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them. |
Sealing the stone – Rendering it secure against intrusion. E246
Setting a watch – Saturday night. R4212:5*
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