Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 27:39-40

"And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross." — Matthew 27:39-40 (ASV)

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

This is the cry of the Socinians today, "Come down from the cross. Give up the atoning sacrifice, and we will be Christians." But, by rejecting his vicarious atonement, they practically un-Christ the Christ, as those mockers at Golgotha did.

Nothing torments a man when in pain more than mockery. When Jesus Christ most wanted words of pity and looks of kindness, those who passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads. Perhaps the most painful part of ridicule is to have one's most solemn sayings turned to scorn, as were our Lord's words about the temple of His body, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself.

He might have saved Himself; He might have come down from the cross, but if He had done so, we could never have become the sons of God. It was because He was the Son of God that He did not come down from the cross, but hung there until He had completed the sacrifice for His people's sin. Christ's cross is the Jacob's ladder by which we mount up to heaven.

This is the cry of the Socinians today, “Come down from the cross. Give up the atoning sacrifice and we will be Christians.” Many are willing to believe in Christ, but not in Christ crucified. They admit that He was a good man and a great teacher, but by rejecting His vicarious atonement, they practically un-Christ the Christ, as these mockers at Golgotha did.

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the son of God, come down from the cross.

Nothing torments a man when in pain more than mockery. When Jesus Christ most wanted words of pity and looks of kindness, those who passed by reviled him, wagging their heads. Perhaps the most painful part of ridicule is to have one's most solemn sayings turned to scorn, as were our Lord's words about the temple of his body: Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. He might have saved himself; he might have come down from the cross; but if he had done so, we could never have become the sons of God.

It was because he was the Son of God that he did not come down from the cross, but hung there until he had completed the sacrifice for his people's sin. Christ's cross is the Jacob's ladder by which we ascend to heaven. This is the cry of the Socinians today, "Come down from the cross. Give up the atoning sacrifice, and we will be Christians." Many are willing to believe in Christ, but not in Christ crucified. They admit that he was a good man and a great teacher; but by rejecting his vicarious atonement, they practically un-Christ the Christ, as these mockers at Golgotha did.