John Gill Commentary Matthew 27:39

"And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads," — Matthew 27:39 (ASV)

And those who passed by In the road to or from Jerusalem; for, it seems, the crosses were placed by the wayside; or they who passed by the cross, the populace that came from Jerusalem, on purpose to see the sight, reviled him, or "blasphemed him": they spoke all manner of evil of him, they could think of, to which he answered nothing; and which may teach us patience under the revilings of men: this was foretold of him, (Psalms 89:51), "they have reproached the footsteps of your anointed", or "Messiah"; and which Jarchi explains by (ypwo) , "the ends of the king Messiah"; his last times, towards the close of his days; and cites that passage in the Misna ^F26, ``in the heels, or, as Buxtorf renders it, in the end of the days of the Messiah impudence shall be multiplied,'' as it now was exceedingly:

wagging their heads; in derision of him, and as exulting in his misery; see (Isaiah 37:22) (Lamentations 2:15) . This also was prophesied of him in (Psalms 22:7) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F26: Sota, c. 9. sect. 15.