Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 27
Matthew Henry Commentary
Matthew 27
Matthew Henry Commentary
Matthew 27
"Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate the governor. Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou [to it]. And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter`s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, the field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom [certain] of the children of Israel did price; and they gave them for the potter`s field, as the Lord appointed me." — Matthew 27:1-10 (ASV)
Wicked men see little of the consequences of their crimes when they commit them, but they must answer for them all. In the fullest manner Judas acknowledged to the chief priests that he had sinned, and betrayed an innocent person. This was full testimony to the character of Christ; but the rulers were hardened. Casting down the money, Judas departed, and went and hanged himself, not being able to bear the terror of Divine wrath, and the anguish of despair.
There is little doubt that the death of Judas was before that of our blessed Lord. But was it nothing to them that they had thirsted after this blood, and hired Judas to betray it, and had condemned it to be shed unjustly? Thus, fools mock sin. Thus many make light of Christ crucified.
And it is a common instance of the deceitfulness of our hearts, to make light of our own sin by dwelling upon other people's sins. But the judgment of God is according to truth. Many apply this passage of the buying the piece of ground, with the money Judas brought back, to signify the favour intended by the blood of Christ to strangers, and sinners of the Gentiles. It fulfilled a prophecy (Zechariah 11:12). Judas went far toward repentance, yet it was not to salvation.
He confessed, but not to God; he did not go to him, and say, I have sinned, Father, against heaven. Let none be satisfied with such partial convictions as a man may have, and yet remain full of pride, enmity, and rebellion.
"Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up. And while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified. And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, Let him be crucified. So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye [to it]. And all the people answered and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children." — Matthew 27:11-25 (ASV)
Having no malice against Jesus, Pilate urged Him to clear Himself and labored to get Him discharged. The message from his wife was a warning. God has many ways of giving warnings to sinners in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great mercy to have such warnings from Providence, from faithful friends, and from our own consciences. O do not do this abominable thing which the Lord hates! is what we may hear said to us when we are entering into temptation, if we will only heed it.
Being overruled by the priests, the people chose Barabbas. Multitudes who choose the world, rather than God, for their ruler and portion, thus choose their own delusions. The Jews were so intent on the death of Christ that Pilate thought it would be dangerous to refuse. And this struggle shows the power of conscience even in the worst of people.
Yet all was so ordered to make it evident that Christ suffered for no fault of His own, but for the sins of His people. How vain it was for Pilate to expect to free himself from the guilt of the innocent blood of a righteous person, whom he was bound by his office to protect! The Jews' curse upon themselves has been terribly answered in the sufferings of their nation.
None could bear the sin of others, except Him who had no sin of His own to answer for. And are we not all concerned? Is not Barabbas preferred to Jesus when sinners reject salvation so that they may retain their darling sins, which rob God of His glory and murder their souls? The blood of Christ is now upon us for good, through mercy, by the Jews' rejection of Him.
O let us flee to it for refuge!
"Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered unto him the whole band. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head." — Matthew 27:26-30 (ASV)
Crucifixion was a death penalty used only by the Romans; it was very terrible and miserable. A cross was laid on the ground, to which the hands and feet were nailed. It was then lifted up and fixed upright, so that the weight of the body hung on the nails until the sufferer died in agony. Christ thus fulfilled the type of the brazen serpent raised on a pole. Christ underwent all the misery and shame described here, so that he might purchase for us everlasting life, and joy, and glory.
"And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go [with them], that he might bear his cross. And they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull, they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink." — Matthew 27:31-34 (ASV)
Christ was led as a Lamb to the slaughter, as a Sacrifice to the altar. Even the mercies of the wicked are really cruel. Taking the cross from him, they compelled one Simon to bear it.
Make us ready, O Lord, to bear the cross you have appointed us, and daily to take it up with cheerfulness, following you. Was ever sorrow like his sorrow? And when we behold the manner of death he died, let us in that behold the manner of love with which he loved us.
As if death, so painful a death, were not enough, they added to its bitterness and terror in several ways.
"And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots; and they sat and watched him there. And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand and one on the left. 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. In like manner also the chief priests mocking [him], with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God. And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach." — Matthew 27:35-44 (ASV)
It was customary to shame criminals by posting a written notice of the crime for which they suffered. So they placed such a notice over Christ's head. They intended this for His disgrace, but God overruled it so that even His accusation brought Him honor. At the same time, two robbers were crucified with Him.
At His death, He was numbered among the transgressors, so that at our death, we might be numbered among the saints. The taunts and jeers He received are recorded here. Christ's enemies work hard to make others believe things about religion and God's people that they themselves know to be false. The chief priests, scribes, and elders reproached Jesus for being the King of Israel.
Many people would like the King of Israel well enough, if He would only come down from the cross; if they could only have His kingdom without the tribulation through which they must enter it. But if no cross, then no Christ, no crown. Those who would reign with Him must be willing to suffer with Him.
Thus our Lord Jesus, having undertaken to satisfy God's justice, did so by submitting to the punishment of the worst of men. And in every minute detail recorded about Christ's sufferings, we find some prediction in the Prophets or the Psalms fulfilled.
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