Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 27:34

"they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink." — Matthew 27:34 (ASV)

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

A stupefying drink was given to the condemned; this was the only mercy in the entire affair. The Romans indeed gave those who were crucified a drink of myrrh to lessen some of the agony of crucifixion.

But our Lord did not come to be stupefied; he came to suffer. Therefore, he would not take anything that would at all impair his faculties. He drank even to the dregs the bitter cup of grief and woe.

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall:

A stupefying draught was usually given to the criminals who were crucified, to mitigate their agony; but Christ did not wish for that to be done in his case.

And when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

He came to earth that he might suffer, and he would retain all his faculties while suffering, he would have every nerve made into a straight road for the hot feet of pain to travel over, for he would drink, even to the last dregs, every drop that was in the cup of suffering for his people's sin.