Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 27:36

"and they sat and watched him there." — Matthew 27:36 (ASV)

And sitting down they watched him there;

Some watched him from curiosity, some to make sure that he really did die, some even delighted their cruel eyes with his sufferings; and there were some, near the cross, who wept and lamented, a sword passing through their own hearts while the Son of man was agonizing even to death.

And sitting down they watched him there;

Some to gloat, in their fiendish malice, over his sufferings; others, to make sure that he did really die; and, possibly, some few to pity him in his agony: Sitting down they watched him there.

Some watched Him from curiosity, some to make sure that He really did die, some even delighted their cruel eyes with His sufferings, and there were some, near the cross, who wept and bewailed, a sword passing through their own hearts while the Son of Man was agonizing even to death.