Knowing The Word in Matthew 27:32-44

The Crucifixion

[Although not sanctioned under Jewish law, crucifixion was a common sight in Palestine from the first century BC on, a Roman punishment used especially for political rebels and violent criminals, carried out with maximum publicity to deter others.]

32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name [See Mark 15:21 and Romans 16:13]. They compelled this man to carry his cross. [The vertical piece was already in place, so all that was carried was the cross-beam, which was heavy by itself, especially for a man who had been scourged and beaten.] 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. [It was a narcotic to reduce the pain of crucifixion. See Psalm 69:21.] 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. [See Psalm 22:18.] 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. [The importance of the soldiers is the response after Jesus died.] 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” [Such irony that the charge against Jesus on the cross proclaims the truth and his kingship achieved through his death. To be above his head hints at the traditional +-shape rather than T-shape.] 38 Then two robbers [common thieves or political insurgents as was meant when Josephus used this word] were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. [It appears Jesus had Zealot-type political insurgents on either side of him, the kind of political Messiah he had worked so hard from which to disassociate himself. Matthew probably sees Isaiah 53:12 being fulfilled.] 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads [Psalm 22:7 echo and Lamentations 2:15] 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days [have the people heard the charge against Jesus?], save yourself! If you are the Son of God [echo of Satan from 4:3 and 6], come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders [the total rejection of Jesus by official Judaism], mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” [Another echo of Psalm 22, now verse 8.] 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. [Jesus is rejected by everyone.]