Matthew Chapter 27

Matthew Chapter 27

1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

1. How did the events of that last night develop?  

Matthew does not include many of the detail that the other gospel writers do. Also Matthew is not so concerned with presenting things in a strict chronological order. Many times Jewish writers of that era would present events in order of importance instead of maintaining a timeline.

We can piece together how things proceeded that night from looking at all the different gospel versions.

 First about 1:00 am Jesus is arrested in the garden. About 1:30 am he is taken to the house of the former high priest Annas, the father in law of Caiaphas the present high priest, for interrogation.   Next He is taken to the Palace of Caiaphas for more questioning by the present high priest. About 3:00 am He is imprisoned until the Sanhedrin can assemble.  At approximately 5:00 am the entire Sanhedrin puts Jesus and on trial. At 6:00 am Jesus is declared guilty and sentenced to death. Since capital punishment was forbidden to the Jews by the Roman government, at that point Jesus is taken to Pilate who must also declare Jesus guilty of breaking Roman law so that He can be executed. For about an hour Pilate questions Jesus and then since Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate tries to push this whole thing off on Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, who had jurisdiction over Galilee. Jesus refused to answer any questions so Herod returned him quickly to Pilate.

From 7:30am-8:30 Pilate repeatedly tries to release Jesus but the Jewish leaders continued to object. Pilate physically tortured and beat Jesus beyond recognition seeking to satisfy the Jewish leaders. However the Jews demanded that Jesus be crucified. Pilate resisted but eventually gave the order to execute Jesus.

First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year…………….. The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24  Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. John 18:13,19-24 (ESV)

And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. Matt 26:63-65 (ESV)

 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. Luke 23:6-11

2. What was the “rock and a hard place” that Pilate found himself in?

Pilate had a palace in Jerusalem, although his headquarters were in Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea. He was in Jerusalem at the Passover season because the city was crowded with Jews who had come to the feast, and generally there were riots on such occasions. Pax Romana (Roman peace) was the focus and Pilate’s job was to keep peace and extract taxes and resources for the Empire. The Romans normally did not involve themselves in local affairs as long as they did not conflict with Roman interests.

Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3  And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.” Luke 23:1-5 (ESV)

Blasphemy is irrelevant to the Romans and not a punishable crime, so the Jewish religious leader have to find something that the Romans will find violating Caesar’s laws. They lie about the taxation thing. Jesus clearly said render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s. They claim He is stirring up the nation, but He never advocated anything against Rome.

 13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16  I will therefore punish and release him.” 17  Luke 23:6-17 (ESV)

Herod agrees with Pilate that Jesus is innocent of a capital offense. Herod is only interested in religious things to the extent that they could be used for his own benefit. He didn’t have a dog in this fight.

33  So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. John 18:33-38 (ESV)

Apparently Pilate understands that Jesus is innocent and seems to be trying to figure out a way to release him. Peter declares in Acts that Pilate had decided to release Jesus

Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.  Acts 3:13 (ESV)

Herod has determined Jesus innocent. In the next verses Judas his accuser is declaring Him innocent and Pilate’s wife says He is innocent.

"I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." Matthew 27:4

"Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." Matthew 27:19

The only people who want Jesus killed are the religious leaders and the mob that they have whipped up into a frenzy. Pilate knew the religious leaders were motivated out of envy.

 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. Matthew 27:18

3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."

3. Why would Judas feel remorseful? Did he repent?

Judas evidently felt remorse because he realized that he had condemned an innocent man to death. His remorse (Gr. metamelomai) resulted in a kind of repentance (Gr. metanoeo), but it was not complete enough. The first of these two Greek words does not indicate “sorrow for moral obliquity and sin against God, but annoyance at the consequences of an act or course of acts, and chagrin at not having known better.” Judas was sorry for what he had done and tried to make amends, but He never believed that Jesus was the Son of God.  “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. Acts 1:16 (ESV).  CN

  I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning,

  And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’ Is 46:9-10

 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Gen 50:20 (ESV)

  God always achieves His will, and He did it through the evil actions of Judas.

You see, the Lord Jesus was there when Judas came. As the chief priests and elders were leading Him through that hall to take Him to Pilate, here comes Judas. Why doesn’t Judas turn to the Lord Jesus and ask forgiveness? Instead of doing that, he addressed the religious rulers. JVM

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" So Jesus said to him, "It is as you say." 12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. 13 Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" 14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

3. What does the term King of the Jews mean?

To the Jews it meant a king like David, a warrior king who would rid the land of the vile unclean gentile Romans, reestablish the splendor of Solomon, and lend credibility to the belief that God was endorsing their twisted and distorted form of Judaism.

Under Roman rule native kings were allowed to rule over their people as long as they acknowledged the supreme authority of Caesar and kept the peace. Herod the great had been the last actual King of the Jews and he was not even a Jew himself. As a result of domestic unrest and violence, the Romans had divided the nation into sections with Pilate controlling the population centers. Pilate had no problem with Jesus being a king as long as it did not conflict with Rome. Pilate seemed to be satisfied with this answer found in John.

My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.* 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!" 22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" 23 Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!" 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." 25 And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." 26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

4. What role did this man Barabbas play in this drama?

Matthew identifies Barabbas as a notable prisoner. John points out he is a robber.

So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.  John 18:39-40 (ESV)

Mark calls him a rebel, a murderer and one who took part in the insurrection.

Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. Mark 15:6-7 (ESV)

It is possible that Barabbas a local bad guy might have been viewed as a folk hero, much like Jesse James or Bonnie and Clyde. This guy was probably a man who defied Roman authority and caused problems for the establishment.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Obviously, Pilate felt that the religious rulers had no basis for requesting the death penalty. Jesus had not incited rebellion against Rome. Others had, but Jesus had not. Pilate had a problem on his hands. He wanted to please the religious leaders in order to maintain peace in Jerusalem, but he felt that he could not arbitrarily sentence the Lord Jesus to death. So he hit upon a solution to the problem. Since it was his habit to release a Jewish prisoner during the Passover celebration, he would offer the crowd a choice: Jesus; or a very notorious prisoner called Barabbas, who was guilty of murder, robbery, treason—the whole bit. Pilate thought that the crowd would certainly ask that Jesus be released—the contrast between Him and Barabbas was so evident. JVM

Barabbas whose actual name was Jesus is a stark contrast to Jesus of Nazareth. In the first instance, Jesus is Barabbas and/or Barabbas is Jesus, -that is to say that 'Jesus' was His name; Barabbas was what He was called. "Jesus Barabbas", written in the original Greek Gospel according or attributed to Matthew (27:17) but that His name [Jesus] was removed or omitted from the Latin 'translation' of the same text (around 390 c. e.) and most of the subsequent 'translations' thereafter, -leaving us latter-day people with only "Barabbas" instead.

Barabbas is not a proper name or surname (any more so than is "Christ"), -it is what He was called. It is an Aramaic appellation, the meaning of which is: Bar = Son + Abba = Father (as in 'the Father of us all' or, 'God', if you will).

Irony upon irony. The evil Jesus, son of the father, in contrast to the righteous Jesus the legitimate “only begotten Son of the Father”.

It is also ironic that the people scream "His blood be on us and on our children." And then look at the history of the Jewish people from that day till now.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

5. Where is this spoken of in the OT?

Among the Romans, it was customary to scourge, or whip, a slave before he was crucified. This was done to inflict a greater suffering than crucifixion would be alone; and to add to the horrors of the punishment. Our Lord, being about to be put to death, after the manner of a slave, was also treated as a slave; as one of the lowest and most despised of mankind, This cruel torture was applied upon the bare body by means of a leather whip that had pieces of bone or metal imbedded in its thongs. BN

Smitten by God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV)

As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men [Isa. 52:14].

Isaiah 50:6: "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting."

Psalm 22:7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;

32 Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. 33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. 35 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." 36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

6. What can we pick out from this section?

He was led through the crowded streets carrying the crossbar of the cross(called a patibulum) across His shoulders. The crossbar probably weighed between 80 to 110 pounds. He was surrounded by a guard of Roman soldiers, one of which carried a titulus, a sign which announced His crime of being "the King of the Jews" in Hebrew, Latin and Greek.

Cyrene. A city in N Africa. Evidently the scourging had so weakened Jesus that He was unable to carry the cross.  

They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross. Mark 15:21 (NASB)

wine … mixed with gall. “Gall” simply refers to something bitter. Mark 15:23 identifies it as myrrh, a narcotic. The Jews had a custom, based on Pr 31:6, of administering a pain-deadening medication mixed with wine to victims of crucifixion, in order to deaden the pain. Tasting what it was, Christ, though thirsty, “was unwilling to drink,” lest it dull His senses before He completed His work. The lessening of physical pain would probably not have diminished the efficacy of His atoning work. But He needed His full mental faculties for the hours yet to come. It was necessary for Him to be awake and fully conscious, for example, to minister to the dying thief.  MSBN

Jesus was then crucified. Crucifixion was a practice that originated with the Persians and was later passed on to the Carthaginians and the Phoenicians. The Romans perfected it as a method of execution which caused maximal pain and suffering over a period of time. Those crucified included slaves, provincials and the lowest types of criminals. Roman citizens, except perhaps for soldiers who deserted, were not subjected to this treatment. (McDowell)

The procedure of crucifixion may be summarized as follows. The patibulum was put on the ground and the victim laid upon it. Nails, about 7 inches long and with a diameter of 1 cm ( roughly 3/8 of an inch) were driven in the wrists . The points would go into the vicinity of the median nerve, causing shocks of pain to radiate through the arms. It was possible to place the nails between the bones so that no fractures (or broken bones) occurred. Studies have shown that nails were probably driven through the small bones of the wrist, since nails in the palms of the hand would not support the weight of a body. In ancient terminology, the wrist was considered to be part of the hand. (Davis) Standing at the crucifixion sites would be upright posts, called stipes, standing about 7 feet high.(Edwards) In the center of the stipes was a crude seat, called a sedile or sedulum, which served a support for the victim. The patibulum was then lifted on to the stipes. The feet were then nailed to the stipes. To allow for this, the knees had to be bent and rotated laterally, being left in a very uncomfortable position. The titulus was hung above the victim's head.

Psalm 22:14-15: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death."

Having suffered from the beatings and flogging, Jesus suffered from severe hypovolemia from the loss of blood. The verses above describe His dehydrated state and loss of His strength.

When the cross was erected upright, there was tremendous strain put on the wrists, arms and shoulders, resulting in a dislocation of the shoulder and elbow joints.(Metherall) The arms, being held up and outward, held the rib cage in a fixed end inspiratory position which made it extremely difficult to exhale, and impossible to take a full breath. The victim would only be able to take very shallow breaths.(This may explain why Jesus made very short statements while on the cross). As time passed, the muscles, from the loss of blood, last of oxygen and the fixed position of the body, would undergo severe cramps and spasmodic contractions.

• Shallowness of breathing causes small areas of lung collapse.
• Decreased oxygen and increased carbon dioxide causes acidic conditions in the tissues.
• Fluid builds up in the lungs. Makes situation in step 2 worse.
• Heart is stressed and eventually fails.

  They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Psalm 22:18

Here we have another direct fulfillment of prophecy.

38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. 39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 42 "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. 43 He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.

7. Who were these robbers?

Because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; Isaiah 53:12 (ESV)

Some have suggested that these were two of the followers of Barabbas and to further irony that would make Jesus of Nazareth the exact substitute for Jesus Barabbas. Jesus was crucified in his place. It is interesting that Matthew and Mark records both thieves as reviling Jesus, but Luke add an extra bit of info with one thief coming to saving belief.

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." Luke 23:39-43 (NASB)

23:39 One of the criminals  As the hours wore on, however, this criminal’s conscience was smitten, and he repented. When the impenitent thief resumed his mocking, this thief rebuked him and refused to participate again.

23:41 this man has done nothing wrong. Even the thief testified of His innocence.

23:42 Jesus, remember me. The penitent thief’s prayer reflected his belief that the soul lives on after death; that Christ had a right to rule over a kingdom of the souls of men; and that He would soon enter that kingdom despite His impending death. His request to be remembered was a plea for mercy, which also reveals that the thief understood he had no hope but divine grace, and that the dispensing of that grace lay in Jesus’ power. All of this demonstrates true faith on the part of the dying thief, and Christ graciously affirmed the man’s salvation.

45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And 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?" 47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!" 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. 49 The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him." 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

8. What are some of the strange things that happened during this period of the crucifixion?

a. Darkness 45 That “land” (Gr. ge) became abnormally dark from noon until 3:00 p.m. This was quite clearly an abnormal, literal darkening of the sky. It could not have resulted from a solar eclipse since the Passover was celebrated at full moon. Matthew’s use of ge probably implies Israel as well. Darkness in Scripture often represents judgment and or tragedy  "It will come about in that day," declares the Lord GOD, "That I will make the sun go down at noon And make the earth dark in broad daylight. Amos 8:9 (NASB)

Compare the three days of darkness in Egypt. Then the Lord said to Moses, " Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt." 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings. Ex 10:21-23 (NASB) and the three hours of darkness here. Matthew’s description of the setting “conveys a strong sense of impending disaster.” This was a judgment on Israel and its people, but it was also a judgment on Jesus. His cry of desolation came out of this darkness. This was a time of judgment on Jesus for the sins of all humanity.

b. Jesus screams out , "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

This is a direct reference to opening verse of Psalm 22 a messianic prophetic picture written by David one thousand years before.

c. Jesus cries out with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit.

Luke again adds more detail, Then Jesus calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Luke 23:46 (ESV)

Jesus voluntarily allowed His spirit to leave. It was an act of His will.

For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18  No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." John 10:17-18 (NASB)

John adds that Jesus declares His work is finished.

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 (ESV)

The entire work of redemption had been brought to completion. The single Gr. word here (translated “it is finished”) has been found in the papyri being placed on receipts for taxes meaning “paid in full” “It is finished!” What was finished? Your redemption and my redemption was finished. In His report to the Father He had said, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4).

d. The veil of the temple is torn from top to bottom.

It is safe to assume that this veil was somewhere near 60 feet high. Josephus also tells us  that the veil was four inches thick and that horses tied to each side could not pull the veil apart. So, what do we make of this? What significance does this torn veil have for us today? Above all, the tearing of the veil at the moment of Jesus' death dramatically symbolized that His sacrifice, the shedding of His own blood, was a sufficient atonement for sins. It signified that now the way into the Holy of Holies was open for all people, for all time, both Jew and Gentile.

e. An “intelligent” earthquake, and dead saints come out of the grave and go into the city.

This is an event that is mentioned only by Matthew. We wish more had been told. I can only say that I believe it happened just the way Matthew tells it and that those who arose were part of that great company who went to heaven when Christ led captivity captive at His ascension. The earthquake mentioned in verse 51 was an intelligent quake, not haphazard, because the graves were opened by it, and “many bodies of the saints which slept arose”—just certain ones.

“And [they] appeared unto many.” There were many witnesses who saw these certain folk because, according to Matthew, they “went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” JVM

g. Roman crucifixion team recognized Jesus as the Son of God.

Obviously the supernatural nature of the events must have affected the Roman executioners, because they all admitted the Jesus was the Son of God. It was undeniable.

55 And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons. 57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. 62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first." 65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

9. Who was Joseph of Arimathea?

Arimathea. A town about 15–20 mi. NW of Jerusalem. Joseph. Mark 15:43 and Luke 23:50, 51 identify him as a member of the Sanhedrin, though Luke says “he had not consented to their plan and action” in condemning Christ. Joseph and Nicodemus (Jn 19:39), both being prominent Jewish leaders, buried Christ in Joseph’s own “new tomb” (v. 60), thus fulfilling exactly the prophecy of Is 53:9.

And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:9 (ESV)

We did not know that he was a disciple until this event. It is interesting to see that the very thing which caused the apostles to scatter seems to have drawn into the open others who, up to this time, would have been called secret disciples. Joseph of the town of Arimathaea stepped out and declared his faith. JVM

10. What is significant about Pilate ordering the tomb guarded?

It pretty much puts to rest the theory that the disciples stole the body.

• ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes                                                 
• JFB…………..Jamieson  Fausset  Brown Commentary
• VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies                                                 
• MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes       
• CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark                           
• NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes
• BDB………….. Barclay's Daily Study Bible (NT)                                  
• JVM ….J Vernon McGee,
• Darby………..John Darby’s Synopsis of the OT and NT                     
• ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
• Johnson………Johnson's Notes on the New Testament.                    
• BN …..Barnes Notes
• NTCMM…………..The New Testament Commentary:  Matthew and Mark.   
• CN …… Constables Notes  
• IC……….Ironside Commentary                                                            
• NET………Net Bible Study Notes.
• JFB…………..Jamieson  Fausset  Brown Commentary

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