Matthew 27:31-56

Scripture Reading: Psalm 22

Introduction

Including this One, We have 3 Sundays Left in 2023

As We Bring this Year to a Close…

We’re Going to Bring Our Series on Matthew to a Close

With Our Last 3 Sundays…

We’re Going to Do Our Last 3 Lessons in Matthew:

The Death of Jesus

The Burial of Jesus

The Resurrection of Jesus

Like Last Week, Instead of Staying Only in Matthew…

We’re Going to Do a Harmony of the 4 Gospel Accounts…

In Order to Get a Fuller Picture…

Of the Death of Our King

That will Span the Text of:

Matthew 27:31-56

Last Week, We Left Off with Pilate Handing Jesus Over to Be Crucified

Before We Jump into Our First Text…

Let’s Talk about Crucifixion for a Second:

Crucifixion was a Form of Execution…

In Which a Person was Nailed or Bound to a Cross & Left to Die

If Nailed, the Nails were Probably Through the Wrist or Forearm

And Their Legs Possibly Straddled the Vertical Pole…

And Their Heels Nailed in from the Side

But, the 1st Century Jewish Historian, Josephus Tells Us:

“So the soldiers out of the wrath and hatred they bore the Jews, nailed those they caught, one after one way, and another after another, to the crosses, by way of jest…”

In Other Words, to have a Little Fun & Keep Themselves from Getting Bored…

Roman Soldiers would Often Crucify People…

In Unique & Humiliating Ways

Not Every Crucifixion would Look the Same

Crucifixion had Several Purposes:

It wasn’t Just to Kill the Individual

It was to Torture Them

Often Death Didn’t Come Quickly

Sometimes it would Take Days

Another Purpose of Crucifixion…

Was to Humiliate & Shame the Victim as Well

The Romans Crucified Their Victims Naked…

And They would have Little to No Control Over Bodily Functions

All of this was to Bring the Most Possible Shame & Humiliation…

That a Person could Ever Experience

The Cross is Often Depicted as Being High Up in the Air…

But Most Crosses were Likely Just Slightly Above Eye-Level

Those Who Mocked Jesus Probably weren’t Mocking Him from a Distance…

They were Likely Able to Get Right in His Face

Another Important Purpose of Crucifixion…

Was to Discourage Onlookers from Committing Such Crimes

The Romans would Crucify Criminals in Public Places…

Where Many People would Be Able to See

A Roman Teacher Who Lived in the 1st Century Named Quintilian Wrote:

“Whenever we crucify the guilty, the most crowded roads are chosen, where the most people can see and be moved by this fear.”

Often the Crime Committed would Be Written on a Plank…

And Hung Around Their Necks or Nailed to the Cross Above Their Head

This was the Roman Empire’s Way of Saying:

“If You Want to Commit this Same Crime…”

“You’ll Meet this Same Fate”

Crucifixion was a Horrifying, Torturous, & Shameful Death

But that’s the Death Our Loving Lord was Willing to Die for Us

Mark 15:21 (NASB95)

21 They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.

Maybe Because Jesus was Unable to Carry the Crossbeam Himself…

The Soldiers Forced a Man from Northern Africa to Carry it for Him

So He Took Up His Cross & Followed Jesus

Possibly in More Ways than One

Mark Tells His Roman Audience that Simon is:

“The Father of Alexander & Rufus”

The Fact that Mark Mentions Them Tells Us:

The Christians in Rome Knew Them

And Paul Mentions a Brother in Christ Named Rufus…

In His Letter to the Romans

It’s Very Possible that He’s Referring to the Same Rufus

It’s Likely that After Simon was Forced to Carry Jesus’ Cross…

That He & His Family Became Disciples of Jesus

Matthew 27:33–34 (NASB95)

33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.

Once They Reach the Place of Execution…

“They” Offer Jesus Some Wine Mixed with Gall to Drink

We Don’t Know Who “They” are

Keeping with the Context of the Last Few Verses…

Matthew would Be Referring to the Soldiers

This could Mean that the Drink was Made Intentionally Bitter…

In Order to Mock Further

But, According to a Known Custom…

Some Think it Might have Been Some Women from Jerusalem

They would Give a Wine Concoction to the Prisoner…

In Order to Numb His Senses & Kill Some of the Pain

If Given By the Soldiers it was an Act of Mockery

If Given By the Women it was an Act of Mercy

Either Way, He Refused to Drink it

John 19:18–27 (NASB95)

18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20 Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’ ” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

The Jews Didn’t Like it, But Pilate Didn’t Care

He Wanted Jesus’ Title to Be “King of the Jews”

He Wrote it in 3 Languages:

Jews could Read the Hebrew

Romans could Read the Latin

Everyone could Read the Greek

Pilate Meant for Jesus’ Title to Mock the Jews:

“This Beaten & Bloody Mess of a Man is the King of the Jews”

“This is the Best You have to Offer…”

“And Look at What Rome can Do to Your Best!”

Pilate Meant it for Evil, But God Meant it for Good

Pilate was Unwittingly Proclaiming the Gospel to Everyone in Jerusalem

“Jesus is the King of the Jews”

It’s Amazing How God can Even Use His Enemies to Bring about His Will

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things.

But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.

Here We See a Contrast Between the Soldiers…

Heartlessly Dividing His Clothes Among Themselves…

And Jesus’ Mother & the Other Women Standing Nearby…

Obviously Mourning His Suffering & Eventual Death

And Then We See Such a Beautiful Scene:

Even in the Midst of Such Pain & Agony…

Jesus Still Wants to Take Care of Momma

Her Oldest Son wouldn’t Be Around Anymore to Take Care of Her…

So He Asks His Apostle John to Take Care of Her from that Day Forward

And that’s Exactly What He Does

Matthew 27:39–43 (NASB95)

39 And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads 40 and 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.” 41 In 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. 43 “He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

Can You Imagine How Much You’d have to Hate Someone…

To Watch Them Being Tortured to Death…

And Mock Them to Their Face?

They Don’t Even Realize that Their Mocking Actions/Words…

Are Coming Straight from Psalm 22:7-8

They Don’t Realize that They’re the Bad Guys in this Story

These are the Spiritual Leaders of Israel

They’re Supposed to Be the Ones Who are Closest to God

But Did You Notice How Familiar Their Words Sound:

“If You are the Son of God…”

Those are the Exact Same Words the Devil Used…

When He Tempted Jesus in the Wilderness

These Men aren’t Spokesman of God

They’re Spokesman of Satan

Despite Their Mocking for Him to Come Down…

And His Ability to Do So…

Jesus isn’t Going to Let Satan Win

Luke 23:39–43 (NASB95)

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

These 2 Criminals Beside Jesus…

Were Likely Insurrectionists/Revolutionaries Like Barabbas

In Fact, it’s Very Possible that They were His Partners

One of Them has Learned Nothing

“Come On Messiah!”

“You’re Supposed to Save Us from Rome, Not Die at Their Hands!”

“Come On King! Set Up Your Kingdom!”

“Let’s Take Down These Unclean Heathen Together!”

But the Other Seems to have a Completely New Outlook on the Kingdom

He Defends Jesus as Being Innocent

Then He Says One of the Most Remarkable Things:

“Jesus, Remember Me When You Come in Your Kingdom”

“Jesus, Remember Me When You Take Your Seat on the Throne”

“Jesus, Remember Me When You Begin Your Reign”

“Jesus , Remember Me When You Become King”

What in the World is He Talking about?

On the One Hand…

He Knows Full & Well that Jesus isn’t Coming Off that Cross Alive

Yet on the Other Hand…

He Believes Jesus is Still Going to Reign as King

That Right There is Incredible Faith

And God Always Responds to Incredible Faith…

With Amazing Grace:

“What I’m about to Say to You is the Absolute Truth…”

“Today You will Be with Me in Paradise”

In Other Words:

“I’m Not Going to have to Remember You”

“You’re Going to Be with Me in God’s Paradise Garden”

This is the Amazing Grace of Our King

The Moment a Wicked & Violent Man Confesses His Guilt…

And His Faith in King Jesus…

He is Immediately Welcomed into the Kingdom

That is the Gospel of Jesus the Christ

That is the Good News the World Needs to Hear

Matthew 27:45–56 (NASB95)

45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 About 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?”

Did God Really Forsake Jesus on the Cross?

It’s Important to Recognize that Jesus is Quoting Psalm 22:1 Verbatim

The Psalmist is Lamenting His Own Suffering…

And Feels as if God has Forsaken Him

But By the End of the Psalm…

The Psalmist is Praising God for His Salvation

The Only Way in Which God had Forsaken Jesus…

Is that He Did Not Rescue Him from the Cross

God Left Him on the Cross in His Suffering & Shame

But in 3 Days, God’s Salvation will Show itself in an Empty Tomb

47 And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately 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. 49 But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.”

50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

54 Now 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!” 55 Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. 56 Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

There have Only Been 2 Times in All of History…

When God’s Wrath Against the All the Sins Humanity…

Was Poured Out on the Earth:

The Destruction of the World in the Days of the Flood

The Day Jesus was Crucified

God’s Wrathful Punishment Against Humanity’s Sins…

Was Willingly Taken By Jesus

Darkness Covered the Land & the Earth Quaked

The Veil in the Temple Ripped in Half

The Old System of Atonement is Gone

No More Need for a Levitical Priesthood…

To Approach God on Your Behalf

No More Separation Between God & Humanity

Jesus is Our New High Priest…

Who has Inaugurated a New System of Atonement…

Through the Sacrifice of Himself

Believers Who had Already Died were Resurrected from Their Graves…

As a Foretaste of What’s Going to Come When Our King Returns

And All of this Leading Even the Roman Soldiers at the Cross…

To Confess that Jesus Truly is the Son of God

Application

1 Corinthians 1:22–25 (NASB95)

22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The Jews Wanted a Powerful, Miracle-Working Messiah…

Who would Lead Israel to Victory & Glory

But No One has Ever Looked Powerful…

Beaten to a Bloody Pulp & Nailed to a Cross

That’s Not Power, that’s Weakness

The Greeks/Gentiles were Lovers of Wisdom & Philosophical Reasoning

The Thought of a God Choosing to Suffer & Die on a Cross…

To Save the World from Sin & Death…

Is Just about the Most Foolish Thing They could Imagine

Crucifixion is the Picture of Weakness & Foolishness

But that’s Not What We See When We Look at Jesus on the Cross, is it?

We See Power Beyond Imagination

We See Wisdom Beyond Comprehension

We See the Royal Coronation…

Of a King Who Payed the Debt of Our Sin…

And Entered into Death to Defeat it on Our Behalf