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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 27:45 - 27:54
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_27:45-54
45Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" 47And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah." 48Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. 49But the rest of them said, " Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him." 50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
Mat_27:45 "from the sixth hour. . .until the ninth hour" This refers to Roman time (i.e., noon to 3 p.m.). It is often difficult to know, especially in John's gospel, if the time designations are referring to Roman time, which begins at dawn, or Jewish time which begins at evening. Here it is obvious.
▣ "darkness" Darkness was one of the plagues on Egypt which turned into a covenant curse if God's commands were not kept (cf. Exo_10:21 ff; Deu_28:29; Joe_2:10; and Amo_8:9). Theologically, it was a symbol of God's turning away from His Son as He bore the sins of the world. This personal spiritual separation, as well as the burden of all the sins of all mankind, was what Jesus feared most.
Mat_27:46 "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani"Jesus combines Hebrew and Aramaic words from Psa_22:1. Matthew and Mark (Mar_15:34) use slightly different words. Matthew translates them for his readers, who spoke only Aramaic. From Mat_27:47 it is obvious Jesus' words were misunderstood by the crowd gathered to watch the crucifixion.
▣ "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me" These are the first words of Psalms 22. By quoting them Jesus wants to bring to His hearers'minds the complete Psalm. Jesus was experiencing separation from God, the last great experience of sinful mankind (cf. Gal_3:13; 2Co_5:21). However, the Psalm also expresses faith in YHWH's faithfulness!
Mat_27:47 "This man is calling for Elijah" Elijah was to be the precursor of the Messiah (cf. Mal_4:5). It is probable that Jesus' Aramaic "Eloi" (cf. Mar_15:34) or possibly "Eliya" sounded like the name of the prophet.
Mat_27:48
NASB, NKJV,
NRSV "sour wine"
TEV "cheap wine"
NJB "vinegar"
This was the cheap wine that the soldiers drank. Offering this wine was not an act of compassion on the part of the soldiers, but a way to prolong the agony of the crucifixion. Jesus took some because His mouth was so dry that He could not speak (cf. Psa_22:15). This may have fulfilled Psa_69:21
Mat_27:49 At this point there is another added phrase from Joh_19:34. It is absent in the ancient Greek uncial manuscripts A, D, K, and the Greek texts of Origen, Jerome, and Augustine, but present in à , B, C, and L. It is hard to decide on the originality of this passage because (1) it seems to be an assimilation from John; (2) it seems to be out of chronological order; yet (3) it is present in several good manuscripts. Was Jesus pierced before He died? The UBS4 gives the shorter text a "B" rating (almost certain). In the context of Matthew, Jesus had not died yet!
Mat_27:50 "Jesus cried out again with a loud voice" Compare Joh_19:30; Psa_22:15; Luk_23:46; Psa_31:5.
Mat_27:51 "the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" This was the veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, called the inner veil (cf. Exo_26:31-35). This act by God indicated that the way was now open for all to come to God! It was torn from the top, which symbolized God's act of removing barriers to His presence and making Himself accessible to all people.
Mat_27:52 "the tombs were opened" This was caused by the earthquake (cf. Mat_27:54). Exactly when the people came back to life is uncertain. This resuscitation seems linked to Jesus' resurrection (cf. Mat_27:53). But the text seems to place the event at Jesus' death. There is ambiguity here as to who, when, where and why. This information is unique to Matthew.
▣ "saints" See Special Topic below.
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▣ "who had fallen asleep" Sleep is an OT euphemism for death (i.e., used mostly in Kings and Chronicles). This is not a proof-text for the theory of "soul sleep." The Scripture must be interpreted in light of the meaning of the words to the first hearers/readers!
Mat_27:54
NASB, NKJV "Truly this was the Son of God!"
NRSV "Truly the man was God's Son!"
TEV "He really was the Son of God!"
NJB "In truth this was a son of God!"
There is no article with "son." This soldier was surely impressed by all that happened. He asserts Jesus was "a son of God." However, in the parallel in Luk_23:47 he is proclaiming Jesus as " righteous" or "innocent." The irony is that this Roman soldier saw what the Jewish leaders did not (cf. Mat_27:19; Joh_1:11).
This is literally "this man was a son of God." The image of God in mankind has been restored! Intimate fellowship is again possible. However the absence of the article does not automatically mean it is not definite (cf. Mat_4:3; Mat_4:6; Mat_14:33; Mat_27:43; and Luk_4:3; Luk_4:9). This was a hardened Roman soldier. He had seen many men die (cf. Mat_27:54). This may be "the focal passage" of Mark because this Gospel was specifically written to Romans. Mark's Gospel has many Latin words and very few OT quotes. Also Jewish customs and Aramaic phrases are translated and explained. Here is a Roman centurion professing faith in a crucified Jewish insurrectionist!
It is possibly purposeful that passers by, chief priests, and even fellow prisoners mock Jesus, but a Roman centurion responds in affirmation and awe!
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