Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 19:23-24

"The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore one to another, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my garments among them, And upon my vesture did they cast lots." — John 19:23-24 (ASV)

And made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, They knew nothing about that ancient prophecy, yet God ordained that they should act in this way, that the Scripture might be fulfilled,.

And made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which says, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Quite unaware of the ancient prophecy, yet in complete accord with divine predestination, these soldiers did exactly according to the eternal purposes of God. It is very wonderful how, in practice, the free agency of man tallies exactly with the predestination of God.

We need not inquire how it is, but we may admire that it is so.

These things therefore the soldiers did, yet the motive that swayed them was not the fulfillment of the divine will. Instead, it was simply the commonsense thought that it would be a pity to spoil such a garment by rending it apart, and they were also influenced by that innate love of gambling which is found everywhere, in every age. This love of gambling often leads people to rather risk winning all than take the safe one-fourth which might fall to their lot. Let us reverently adore the whole scheme of providence by which God's determinate purpose is carried out in every jot and little, while the free agency of man is left unfettered.