Matthew 27

Notes

Crucifixion was the most cruel, shameful, and cursed death that could be devised: was not at all used by the Jews; and by the Romans inflicted only upon slaves, and the basest of the people, who were capital offenders. The person was nailed to the cross as it lay upon the ground, through each hand, extended to its utmost stretch, and through both the feet together; then the cross was erected, and the foot of it, with a violent thrust which disjointed the whole body of the sufferer, placed into a hole in the ground prepared to receive it. The whole weight of the body thus hung upon the nails, which went through the hands and feet till the person expired by mere dint of terrible pain.

Ver. 9. By Jeremy. This prophecy is not found in Jeremiah but in Zechariah, ch. 11. 12, 13. This substitution has therefore been pronounced the error of a transcriber, or a lapse of memory in the writer. But the first of these opinions is contrary to the best MS. authority; the second, to the whole idea of inspiration. That Zechariah may also have been called Jeremiah, or that Jeremiah may actually have written part of the prophecy emitted by Zechariah, affords a ready and sufficient solution of the whole difficulty. C. Ver. 11. Thou sayest. The words may be translated, 'Sayest thou that I am?' see Jn. 18. 34. But the affirmation of his being a king (see Jn. 18. 36, 37) seems as necessary for a witness to the Gentiles as it was to the Jews. C.

Ver. 25. This imprecation, dictated by a ferocious cruelty that would satiate its appetite for blood at any price, has been, alas! most literally fulfilled. After the reduction of Jerusalem by Titus, more than 500 Jews were sometimes crucified in a single day, until, in the words of their own historian, 'there was wanting room for crosses, and crosses for bodies.' And many of these were no doubt the children of those who had uttered this unmerciful imprecation. C.

Ver. 32. Cyrene—the capital of a province in Libya, now part of the kingdom or desert called Barca. It stands in a plain about eleven miles south of the Mediterranean, and was one of the cities called Pentapolis. It was founded by Battus, 630 B.C., and was peopled by a Grecian colony. It was long governed by its own kings; but was finally bequeathed to the Romans. During the prevalence of Christianity in north Africa, it was a place of importance; but was conquered by the Saracens, A.D. 640. Christianity has nearly disappeared, and Mahometanism reigns amidst ruins and barrenness. C.

Ver. 34. Gall. That this was some bitter infusion is all that is precisely known. It is probable, however, that it was a narcotic, employed, in 'cruel mercy,' to stupify the sufferers; or perhaps even poisonous, and used to hasten dissolution. Wherefore our Lord, who was resigned to suffer, as appointed to save, 'to the uttermost,' would not drink. C.

Ver. 46. Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? These are not the precise Hebrew words of Ps. 22. 1, but a translation into the Syro-Chaldaic. Why hast thou forsaken me? This is neither the language of expostulation nor impatience; for he came to do, and therefore to suffer, the will of the Father. It is merely a believing recitation of the words of the Spirit (Ps. 22. 1), adduced to show that, in obedience to the Father's will, Messiah behoved to be 'cut off,' and left for a time to the triumphant malice of Satan and of wicked men. C.

Ver. 51. Vail. There were two vails, the one at the entrance of the holy place, the other between the holy place and the sanctuary. This was called 'the inner,' and, in He. 9. 3, 'the second vail.' The vail was the emblem of the flesh of Christ, He. 10. 20, which being rent by death, made patent the way into 'the holiest of all,' He. 9. 8. C.

Ver. 60. He rolled a great stone, &c. It is not likely that Joseph, who had hewn a sepulchre out of a rock, would have a door so inartificial as this is sometimes represented—a mere round stone to be rolled up against the entrance., It is much more probable that it was, what may still be seen in the East, a flat circular stone that was rolled in a groove. C.

Ver. 66. Sealing the stone. How this sealing was effected cannot be precisely ascertained. But tombs are still found in the East in which a hole in the circular stone described in the foregoing note (ver. 60) corresponds to one in the rock when the stone is rolled into its place. This hole, it would appear, was intended for a piece of wood or iron, the head of which, if pushed a little within the outer surface of the stone, could easily be so sealed as to render opening without detection quite impossible. C.

Reflections.—Men, especially wicked rulers, are awfully set upon mischief. Not only commanded devotion, but even necessary sleep, must give way to it. But dreadful is the reward of treachery to Christ. And the price of blood, the horrors of conscience, and the sorrows of hell, are closely linked together. Yet no alarming convictions, no pretences to piety, can restrain men abandoned to wickedness. —Dreadful from earth, from hell, from heaven, were the sufferings of our Redeemer. Hypocritical rulers, the lately extolling mob, the inwardly convinced heathen governor, the profane soldiers, concur to abuse and murder him. But, alas! at what expense of misery to themselves and posterity, for many ages, do 'the hardened Jews, who had witnessed his benevolent miracles and heard his saving doctrines, cry for his blood! In the most dreadful manner they tempt him to abandon his work of redemption. But willingly and steadily he persevered in his saving of sinful men! Yea, the malice of the priests and elders, the treachery of Judas, the insolence and imprecations of the mob, the indulgence and obstinacy of Pilate, the insults of the soldiers, the attempt to imprison him in his grave, were all marvellously overruled to accomplish the oracles of God, and for the honour of Jesus and redemption of his church. With pleasure and triumph he therefore breathed out his last. And the most honourable attestations were given to his death. Thrice happy are they who sleep in Jesus!—Them will God, through his death, bring with him, that they may be glorified together.—Stand in awe, then, my soul! avoid sin, lest it bring thee to a miserable end, and entail a curse on my seed. Never value thyself on popular applause, which may so quickly be turned into contempt, malice, and murder. Let me never account anything too much to be given, or to be suffered, for the sake of my dying Redeemer. While others prefer Barabbas, let me adhere to look on and weep with him in every difficulty and danger. Let me never come down from my cross till I can say, It is finished. And let neither death nor the grave terrify me, since Jesus the forerunner hath for me passed through and entered into his glory.— See now, my soul, the dreadful punishment, and in that the nature, of my sin! What is a drowned world, a burning Sodom, a plagued Egypt, an opened hell, in comparison of the Son of God suffering—troubled in spirit, till he knew not what to say—amazed and very heavy—sorrowful, even unto death—in an agony, sweating great drops of blood—tormented and insulted by men—harassed by devils—deserted by God—groaning and giving up the ghost, under the weight of infinite wrath!—Listen, O my soul, how, by every debasement, every strait, every labour, every reproach, every wound, every groan, every tear, every drop of blood, Jesus charges me to come to him, that I may have life! Behold how my debt is paid, my happiness secured, my peace with God procured and confirmed, and my comfort enhanced! There divine righteousness is honored, transgression finished, the curse exhausted, the law magnified, God reconciled, death vanquished, and hell extinguished—and all for me!