Chapter 27:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Malachi Mark
Matthew 27
Concise Complete
Christ delivered to Pilate, The despair of Judas.
(1-10) Christ before Pilate. (11-25) Barabbas loosed, Christ mocked. (26-30)
Christ led to be crucified. (31-34) He is crucified. (35-44) The death of
Christ. (45-50) Events at the crucifixion. (51-56) The burial of Christ. (57-61)
The sepulchre secured. (62-66)
Verses 1-10
Wicked men see little of the consequences of their crimes when they commit them,
but they must answer for them all. In the fullest manner Judas acknowledged to
the chief priests that he had sinned, and betrayed an innocent person. This was
full testimony to the character of Christ; but the rulers were hardened. Casting
down the money, Judas departed, and went and hanged himself, not being able to
bear the terror of Divine wrath, and the anguish of despair. There is little
doubt but that the death of Judas was before that of our blessed Lord. But was
it nothing to them that they had thirsted after this blood, and hired Judas to
betray it, and had condemned it to be shed unjustly? Thus do fools make a mock
at sin. Thus many make light of Christ crucified. And it is a common instance of
the deceitfulness of our hearts, to make light of our own sin by dwelling upon
other people's sins. But the judgment of God is according to truth. Many apply
this passage of the buying the piece of ground, with the money Judas brought
back, to signify the favour intended by the blood of Christ to strangers, and
sinners of the Gentiles. It fulfilled a prophecy,
zechariah 11:12 .
Judas went far toward repentance, yet it was not to salvation. He confessed, but
not to God; he did not go to him, and say, I have sinned, Father, against
heaven. Let none be satisfied with such partial convictions as a man may have,
and yet remain full of pride, enmity, and rebellion.
Verses 11-25
Having no malice against Jesus, Pilate urged him to clear himself, and laboured
to get him discharged. The message from his wife was a warning. God has many
ways of giving checks to sinners, in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great
mercy to have such checks from Providence, from faithful friends, and from our
own consciences. O do not this abominable thing which the Lord hates! is what we
may hear said to us, when we are entering into temptation, if we will but regard
it. Being overruled by the priests, the people made choice of Barabbas.
Multitudes who choose the world, rather than God, for their ruler and portion,
thus choose their own delusions. The Jews were so bent upon the death of Christ,
that Pilate thought it would be dangerous to refuse. And this struggle shows the
power of conscience even on the worst men. Yet all was so ordered to make it
evident that Christ suffered for no fault of his own, but for the sins of his
people. How vain for Pilate to expect to free himself from the guilt of the
innocent blood of a righteous person, whom he was by his office bound to
protect! The Jews' curse upon themselves has been awfully answered in the
sufferings of their nation. None could bear the sin of others, except Him that
had no sin of his own to answer for. And are we not all concerned? Is not
Barabbas preferred to Jesus, when sinners reject salvation that they may retain
their darling sins, which rob God of his glory, and murder their souls? The
blood of Christ is now upon us for good, through mercy, by the Jews' rejection
of it. O let us flee to it for refuge!
Verses 26-30
Crucifixion was a death used only among the Romans; it was very terrible and
miserable. A cross was laid on the ground, to which the hands and feet were
nailed, it was then lifted up and fixed upright, so that the weight of the body
hung on the nails, till the sufferer died in agony. Christ thus answered the
type of the brazen serpent raised on a pole. Christ underwent all the misery and
shame here related, that he might purchase for us everlasting life, and joy, and
glory.
Verses 31-34
Christ was led as a Lamb to the slaughter, as a Sacrifice to the altar. Even the
mercies of the wicked are really cruel. Taking the cross from him, they
compelled one Simon to bear it. Make us ready, O Lord, to bear the cross thou
hast appointed us, and daily to take it up with cheerfulness, following thee.
Was ever sorrow like unto his sorrow? And when we behold what manner of death he
died, let us in that behold with what manner of love he loved us. As if death,
so painful a death, were not enough, they added to its bitterness and terror in
several ways.
Verses 35-44 It
was usual to put shame upon malefactors, by a writing to notify the crime for
which they suffered. So they set up one over Christ's head. This they designed
for his reproach, but God so overruled it, that even his accusation was to his
honour. There were crucified with him at the same time, two robbers. He was, at
his death, numbered among the transgressors, that we, at our death, might be
numbered among the saints. The taunts and jeers he received are here recorded.
The enemies of Christ labour to make others believe that of religion and of the
people of God, which they themselves know to be false. The chief priests and
scribes, and the elders, upbraid Jesus with being the King of Israel. Many
people could like the King of Israel well enough, if he would but come down from
the cross; if they could but have his kingdom without the tribulation through
which they must enter into it. But if no cross, then no Christ, no crown. Those
that would reign with him, must be willing to suffer with him. Thus our Lord
Jesus, having undertaken to satisfy the justice of God, did it, by submitting to
the punishment of the worst of men. And in every minute particular recorded
about the sufferings of Christ, we find some prediction in the Prophets or the
Psalms fulfilled.
Verses 45-50
During the three hours which the darkness continued, Jesus was in agony,
wrestling with the powers of darkness, and suffering his Father's displeasure
against the sin of man, for which he was now making his soul an offering. Never
were there three such hours since the day God created man upon the earth, never
such a dark and awful scene; it was the turning point of that great affair,
man's redemption and salvation. Jesus uttered a complaint from
psalms 22:1 . Hereby he
teaches of what use the word of God is to direct us in prayer, and recommends
the use of Scripture expressions in prayer. The believer may have tasted some
drops of bitterness, but he can only form a very feeble idea of the greatness of
Christ's sufferings. Yet, hence he learns something of the Saviour's love to
sinners; hence he gets deeper conviction of the vileness and evil of sin, and of
what he owes to Christ, who delivers him from the wrath to come. His enemies
wickedly ridiculed his complaint. Many of the reproaches cast upon the word of
God and the people of God, arise, as here, from gross mistakes. Christ, just
before he expired, spake in his full strength, to show that his life was not
forced from him, but was freely delivered into his Father's hands. He had
strength to bid defiance to the powers of death: and to show that by the eternal
Spirit he offered himself, being the Priest as well as the Sacrifice, he cried
with a loud voice. Then he yielded up the ghost. The Son of God upon the cross,
did die by the violence of the pain he was put to. His soul was separated from
his body, and so his body was left really and truly dead. It was certain that
Christ did die, for it was needful that he should die. He had undertaken to make
himself an offering for sin, and he did it when he willingly gave up his life.
Verses 51-56
The rending of the veil signified that Christ, by his death, opened a way to
God. We have an open way through Christ to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat
now, and to the throne of glory hereafter. When we duly consider Christ's death,
our hard and rocky hearts should be rent; the heart, and not the garments. That
heart is harder than a rock that will not yield, that will not melt, where Jesus
Christ is plainly set forth crucified. The graves were opened, and many bodies
of saints which slept, arose. To whom they appeared, in what manner, and how
they disappeared, we are not told; and we must not desire to be wise above what
is written. The dreadful appearances of God in his providence, sometimes work
strangely for the conviction and awakening of sinners. This was expressed in the
terror that fell upon the centurion and the Roman soldiers. We may reflect with
comfort on the abundant testimonies given to the character of Jesus; and,
seeking to give no just cause of offence, we may leave it to the Lord to clear
our characters, if we live to Him. Let us, with an eye of faith, behold Christ
and him crucified, and be affected with that great love wherewith he loved us.
But his friends could give no more than a look; they beheld him, but could not
help him. Never were the horrid nature and effects of sin so tremendously
displayed, as on that day when the beloved Son of the Father hung upon the
cross, suffering for sin, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to
God. Let us yield ourselves willingly to his service.
Verses 57-61 In
the burial of Christ was nothing of pomp or solemnity. As Christ had not a house
of his own, wherein to lay his head, while he lived, so he had not a grave of
his own, wherein to lay his body, when he was dead. Our Lord Jesus, who had no
sin of his own, had no grave of his own. The Jews designed that he should have
made his grave with the wicked, should have been buried with the thieves with
whom he was crucified, but God overruled it, so that he should make it with the
rich in his death,
isaiah
53:9 . And although to the eye of man the beholding a funeral may cause
terror, yet if we remember how Christ by his burial has changed the nature of
the grave to believers, it should make us rejoice. And we are ever to imitate
Christ's burial in being continually occupied in the spiritual burial of our
sins.
Verses 62-66 On
the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees, when they should have been
at their devotions, were dealing with Pilate about securing the sepulchre. This
was permitted that there might be certain proof of our Lord's resurrection.
Pilate told them that they might secure the sepulchre as carefully as they
could. They sealed the stone, and set a guard, and were satisfied that all
needful care was taken. But to guard the sepulchre against the poor weak
disciples was folly, because needless; while to think to guard it against the
power of God, was folly, because fruitless, and to no purpose; yet they thought
they dealt wisely. But the Lord took the wise in their own craftiness. Thus
shall all the rage and the plans of Christ's enemies be made to promote his
glory.
Chapter 27:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Malachi Mark
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
