‏ Matthew 27

* Christ delivered to Pilate, The despair of Judas. (1-10)

Christ before Pilate. (11-25) Barabbas loosed, Christ mocked.

(26-30) Christ led to be crucified. (31-34) He is crucified.

(35-44) The death of Christ. (45-50) Events at the crucifixion.

(51-56) The burial of Christ. (57-61) The sepulchre secured.

(62-66)1-10 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 but

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 do fools make a mock at 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, #Zec 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. 11-25 Having no malice against Jesus, Pilate urged him to clear

himself, and laboured to get him discharged. The message from

his wife was a warning. God has many ways of giving checks to

sinners, in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great mercy to

have such checks from Providence, from faithful friends, and

from our own consciences. O do not this abominable thing which

the Lord hates! is what we may hear said to us, when we are

entering into temptation, if we will but regard it. Being

overruled by the priests, the people made choice of Barabbas.

Multitudes who choose the world, rather than God, for their

ruler and portion, thus choose their own delusions. The Jews

were so bent upon the death of Christ, that Pilate thought it

would be dangerous to refuse. And this struggle shows the power

of conscience even on the worst men. 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 for Pilate to expect to

free himself from the guilt of the innocent blood of a righteous

person, whom he was by his office bound to protect! The Jews'

curse upon themselves has been awfully answered in the

sufferings of their nation. None could bear the sin of others,

except Him that 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 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 it. O let us flee to it for refuge! 26-30 Crucifixion was a death used only among 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, till the sufferer died in agony. Christ thus answered the

type of the brazen serpent raised on a pole. Christ underwent

all the misery and shame here related, that he might purchase

for us everlasting life, and joy, and glory. 31-34 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 thou hast appointed us,

and daily to take it up with cheerfulness, following thee. Was

ever sorrow like unto his sorrow? And when we behold what manner

of death he died, let us in that behold with what manner of love

he loved us. As if death, so painful a death, were not enough,

they added to its bitterness and terror in several ways. 35-44 It was usual to put shame upon malefactors, by a writing

to notify the crime for which they suffered. So they set up one

over Christ's head. This they designed for his reproach, but God

so overruled it, that even his accusation was to his honour.

There were crucified with him at the same time, two robbers. He

was, at his death, numbered among the transgressors, that we, at

our death, might be numbered among the saints. The taunts and

jeers he received are here recorded. The enemies of Christ

labour to make others believe that of religion and of the people

of God, which they themselves know to be false. The chief

priests and scribes, and the elders, upbraid Jesus with being

the King of Israel. Many people could like the King of Israel

well enough, if he would but come down from the cross; if they

could but have his kingdom without the tribulation through which

they must enter into it. But if no cross, then no Christ, no

crown. Those that would reign with him, must be willing to

suffer with him. Thus our Lord Jesus, having undertaken to

satisfy the justice of God, did it, by submitting to the

punishment of the worst of men. And in every minute particular

recorded about the sufferings of Christ, we find some prediction

in the Prophets or the Psalms fulfilled. 45-50 During the three hours which the darkness continued,

Jesus was in agony, wrestling with the powers of darkness, and

suffering his Father's displeasure against the sin of man, for

which he was now making his soul an offering. Never were there

three such hours since the day God created man upon the earth,

never such a dark and awful scene; it was the turning point of

that great affair, man's redemption and salvation. Jesus uttered

a complaint from #Ps 22:1|. Hereby he teaches of what use the

word of God is to direct us in prayer, and recommends the use of

Scripture expressions in prayer. The believer may have tasted

some drops of bitterness, but he can only form a very feeble

idea of the greatness of Christ's sufferings. Yet, hence he

learns something of the Saviour's love to sinners; hence he gets

deeper conviction of the vileness and evil of sin, and of what

he owes to Christ, who delivers him from the wrath to come. His

enemies wickedly ridiculed his complaint. Many of the reproaches

cast upon the word of God and the people of God, arise, as here,

from gross mistakes. Christ, just before he expired, spake in

his full strength, to show that his life was not forced from

him, but was freely delivered into his Father's hands. He had

strength to bid defiance to the powers of death: and to show

that by the eternal Spirit he offered himself, being the Priest

as well as the Sacrifice, he cried with a loud voice. Then he

yielded up the ghost. The Son of God upon the cross, did die by

the violence of the pain he was put to. His soul was separated

from his body, and so his body was left really and truly dead.

It was certain that Christ did die, for it was needful that he

should die. He had undertaken to make himself an offering for

sin, and he did it when he willingly gave up his life. 51-56 The rending of the veil signified that Christ, by his

death, opened a way to God. We have an open way through Christ

to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat now, and to the throne of

glory hereafter. When we duly consider Christ's death, our hard

and rocky hearts should be rent; the heart, and not the

garments. That heart is harder than a rock that will not yield,

that will not melt, where Jesus Christ is plainly set forth

crucified. The graves were opened, and many bodies of saints

which slept, arose. To whom they appeared, in what manner, and

how they disappeared, we are not told; and we must not desire to

be wise above what is written. The dreadful appearances of God

in his providence, sometimes work strangely for the conviction

and awakening of sinners. This was expressed in the terror that

fell upon the centurion and the Roman soldiers. We may reflect

with comfort on the abundant testimonies given to the character

of Jesus; and, seeking to give no just cause of offence, we may

leave it to the Lord to clear our characters, if we live to Him.

Let us, with an eye of faith, behold Christ and him crucified,

and be affected with that great love wherewith he loved us. But

his friends could give no more than a look; they beheld him, but

could not help him. Never were the horrid nature and effects of

sin so tremendously displayed, as on that day when the beloved

Son of the Father hung upon the cross, suffering for sin, the

Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Let us yield

ourselves willingly to his service. 57-61 In the burial of Christ was nothing of pomp or solemnity.

As Christ had not a house of his own, wherein to lay his head,

while he lived, so he had not a grave of his own, wherein to lay

his body, when he was dead. Our Lord Jesus, who had no sin of

his own, had no grave of his own. The Jews designed that he

should have made his grave with the wicked, should have been

buried with the thieves with whom he was crucified, but God

overruled it, so that he should make it with the rich in his

death, #Isa 53:9|. And although to the eye of man the beholding

a funeral may cause terror, yet if we remember how Christ by his

burial has changed the nature of the grave to believers, it

should make us rejoice. And we are ever to imitate Christ's

burial in being continually occupied in the spiritual burial of

our sins. 62-66 On the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees,

when they should have been at their devotions, were dealing with

Pilate about securing the sepulchre. This was permitted that

there might be certain proof of our Lord's resurrection. Pilate

told them that they might secure the sepulchre as carefully as

they could. They sealed the stone, and set a guard, and were

satisfied that all needful care was taken. But to guard the

sepulchre against the poor weak disciples was folly, because

needless; while to think to guard it against the power of God,

was folly, because fruitless, and to no purpose; yet they

thought they dealt wisely. But the Lord took the wise in their

own craftiness. Thus shall all the rage and the plans of

Christ's enemies be made to promote his glory.