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| 1 And morning having come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, so as 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 having bound him, they did lead away, and delivered him up to Pontius 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 he who delivered him up having seen that he was condemned, having repented, brought back the thirty silverlings to the chief priests, and to the elders, saying, |
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 'I did sin, having delivered up innocent blood;' and they said, 'What to us thou shalt see!' |
See thou to that – Greek, optomai, attend thou to that. R140:3
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| 5 and having cast down the silverlings in the sanctuary, he departed, and having gone away, he did strangle 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 having taken the silverlings, said, 'It is not lawful to put them to the treasury, seeing it is the price of blood;' |
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| 7 and having taken counsel, they bought with them the field of the potter, for the burial of strangers; |
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| 8 therefore was that field called, 'Field of blood,' unto this day. |
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| 9 Then was fulfilled that spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 'And I took the thirty silverlings, the price of him who hath been priced, whom they of the sons of Israel did price, |
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 gave them for the field of the potter, as the Lord did appoint to me.' |
Potter's field – Burial place for strangers. R5552:3
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| 11 And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor did question him, saying, 'Art thou the king of the Jews!' And Jesus said to 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 in his being accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not answer any thing, |
Priests and elders – Having been rejected by them as the king. B251
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| 13 then saith Pilate to him, 'Dost thou not hear how many things they witness against thee ' |
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| 14 And he did not answer him, not even to one word, so that the governor did wonder 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 And at the feast the governor had been accustomed to release one to the multitude, a prisoner, whom they willed, |
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| 16 and they had then a noted 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 they therefore having been gathered together, Pilate said to them, 'Whom will ye I shall release to you Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ ' |
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| 18 for he had known that because of 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 as he is sitting on the tribunal, his wife sent unto him, saying, 'Nothing to thee and to that righteous one, for many things did I suffer to-day in a dream because of him.' |
His wife – Possibly one of the Lord's followers. R3896:4*
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| 20 And the chief priests and the elders did persuade the multitudes that they might ask for themselves Barabbas, and might destroy Jesus; |
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| 21 and the governor answering said to them, 'Which of the two will ye [that] I shall release to 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 to them, 'What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ ' They all say to him, 'Let 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 the governor said, 'Why, what evil did he ' and they were crying out the more, saying, 'Let 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 And Pilate having seen that it profiteth nothing, but rather a tumult is made, having taken water, he did wash the hands before the multitude, saying, 'I am innocent from the blood of this righteous one; ye ye shall see;' |
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 answering said, 'His blood [is] upon us, and upon 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 did he release to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered [him] up that he may 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 having taken Jesus to the Praetorium, did gather to him all the band; |
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| 28 and having unclothed him, they put around him a crimson cloak, |
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 having plaited him a crown out of thorns they put [it] on his head, and a reed in his right hand, and having kneeled before him, they were mocking him, saying, 'Hail, the 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 having spit on him, they took the reed, and were smiting on his 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 cloak, and put on him his own garments, and led him away to crucify [him]. |
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| 32 And coming forth, they found a man, a Cyrenian, by name Simon: him they impressed 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 having come to a place called Golgotha, that is called 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 to drink vinegar mixed with gall, and having tasted, he would not drink.
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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 having crucified him, they divided his garments, casting a lot, that it might be fulfilled that was spoken by the prophet, 'They divided my garments to themselves, and over my vesture they cast a lot;' |
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 sitting down, they were watching 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 put 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 crucified with him are 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 those passing by were speaking evil of 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 art throwing down the sanctuary, and in three days building [it], save thyself; if Son thou art 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 And in like manner also the chief priests mocking, with the scribes and elders, said, |
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| 42 'Others he saved; himself he is not able to save! If he be King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe 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 hath trusted on God, let Him now deliver him, if He wish him, because he said Son of God I am;' |
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| 44 with the same also the robbers, who were crucified with him, were reproaching him. |
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 And from the sixth hour darkness came over all the land unto 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 out with a great voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani '
that is, 'My God, my God, why didst Thou forsake 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 certain of those standing there having heard, said 'Elijah he doth call;' |
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| 48 and immediately, one of them having run, and having taken a spunge, having filled [it] with vinegar, and having put [it] on a reed, was giving 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 but the rest said, 'Let alone, let us see if Elijah doth come about 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 having again cried with a great voice, yielded the spirit; |
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 lo, the vail of the sanctuary was rent in two from top unto 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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| 52 and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who have fallen asleep, arose, |
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 having come forth out of the tombs after his rising, they went into the holy city, and appeared to 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 And the centurion, and those with him watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake, and the things that were done, were exceedingly afraid, saying, 'Truly this was God's Son.' |
The centurion – All three centurions mentioned in the New Testament (Luke 7:2; Acts 10:1) were reverential. R3755:4
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| 55 And there were there many women beholding from afar, who did follow Jesus from Galilee, ministering to 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 the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and of Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. |
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| 57 And evening having come, there came a rich man, from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was discipled to Jesus, |
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 he having gone near to Pilate, asked for himself the body of Jesus; then Pilate commanded the body to be given back. |
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| 59 And having taken the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen, |
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| 60 and laid it in his new tomb, that he hewed in the rock, and having rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, he went away; |
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 there were there Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over-against the sepulchre. |
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| 62 And on the morrow that is after the preparation, were gathered together the chief priests, and the Pharisees, unto Pilate, |
The next day – Saturday morning. R4212:5*
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| 63 saying, 'Sir, we have remembered that that deceiver said while yet living, After three days I do rise; |
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| 64 command, then, the sepulchre to be made secure till the third day, lest his disciples, having come by night, may steal him away, and may say to the people, He rose from the dead, and the last deceit shall 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 And Pilate said to them, 'Ye have a watch, go away, make secure as ye have known;' |
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 and they, having gone, did make the sepulchre secure, having sealed the stone, together with the watch. |
Sealing the stone – Rendering it secure against intrusion. E246
Setting a watch – Saturday night. R4212:5*
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