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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 27:38 - 27:44
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_27:38-44
38At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. 39And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads 40and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42"He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'" 44The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.
Mat_27:38 "two robbers were crucified with Him" This is an allusion to Isa_53:12. Josephus'use of this term "robbers" suggests these may have been "zealots," like Barabbas.
Mat_27:39 "those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads" This is an allusion to Psa_22:7. Golgotha must have been near a main roadway into Jerusalem. The purpose of crucifixion was to deter crime and revolt.
Mat_27:40 "If You are the Son of God" This is a first class conditional sentence, which the speaker assumes to be true for the purpose of making a point (cf. Mat_4:3). These leaders had no doubt who Jesus claimed to be!
Mat_27:41 "chief priest. . .scribes. . .elders" This was the full designation of the Sanhedrin.
Mat_27:43 "He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him" This is a quote from Psa_22:8. This psalm of David describes Jesus' crucifixion in amazing detail.
Mat_27:44 Matthew states that both of the zealots crucified with Jesus insulted Him at first, but Luk_23:39 says only one of the criminals hurled abuses at Him. Again this is not contradictory but complementary. They were both angry and insolent at first, but one mellowed and repented.