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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 27:35 - 27:37
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_27:35-37
35And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. 36And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. 37And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
Mat_27:35 "they crucified Him" The Gospels do not dwell on the physical aspect of Jesus' death (cf. Psa_22:16). This form of death was developed in Mesopotamia and was taken over by the Greeks and Romans. It was meant to be an extended, excruciating death taking several days. Its purpose was to humiliate and cause fear as a deterrent to rebellion against Rome. A thorough article is in the Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, pp. 1040-42.
▣ "they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots" This is an allusion to Psa_22:18. Jesus was possibly naked or, more probably, clothed in just His loin cloth.
The Textus Receptus manuscripts add to the text several phrases that come from Joh_19:24, which quoted Psa_22:18; these however are not original in Matthew. These additions are not in the Greek uncial manuscripts à , A, B, D, L, or W, nor in the Latin or Syriac translations.
"Casting lots" is used in the NT both as a game of chance, as here, and a way of knowing God's will as in Act_1:26. This followed the OT precedent of the Urim and Thummim. This mechanical means of knowing God's will has passed away. This shows that the Bible records things that it does not necessarily advocate. Another good example of this same idea would be Gideon's fleece (cf. Jdg_6:36-40).
Mat_27:37 "the charge against Him" From Joh_19:20 we learn the charge was written in three languages (Aramaic, Latin and Greek). Pilate worded it on purpose in such a way so as to anger the Jewish leaders. The charge is given differently in the four Gospels:
Matthew: "This is Jesus the King of the Jews"
Mark: "The King of the Jews" (cf. Mar_15:26)
Luke: "This is the King of the Jews" (cf. Luk_23:38)
John: "Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews" (cf. Joh_19:19)