Matthew 28

Matthew 28:1

THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. It was the Roman custom to place on the cross over the criminal’s head, a “titulus”, or placard, stating the crime for which he suffered. Lu 23:38 says that the title was written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, the chief languages then spoken, and all spectators would be able to read it.

Matthew 28:2

Then were there two thieves crucified with him. In all probability, partners in the crime of Barabbas. The mountain robbers, or “banditti”, were always ready to take part in such desperate risings against the Roman power.

Matthew 28:3

They that passed by reviled him. The people going in and out of the city, on the thoroughfare near the place of crucifixion. Wagging their heads. Derisively and insultingly. Compare 2 Kings 19:21 Job 16:4 Psalms 109:25.

Matthew 28:4

Thou that destroyest the temple. It is very remarkable that now, while this was receiving its real fulfillment, it should be made more public and more impressive by the insulting proclamation of his enemies. Hence the importance attached to it after the resurrection (John 2:22).

Matthew 28:6

He saved others. This may be ironical, but if Christ had saved himself he could not have saved others. If he is King of Israel. The language is that of taunt, and refers to the inscription upon the cross.

Matthew 28:7

I am the Son of God. It was because he said this that the Sanhedrin condemned him to death. In that he hung, seemingly helpless, on the cross, the chief priests, the very persons who voted his death, considered it demonstrated that he was not the Son of God.

Matthew 28:8

The thieves also, . . . cast the same in his teeth. Luke only tells of the penitence of one (Lu 23:39-43). Doubtless, both at first reviled him, but one was converted in three hours that they hung side by side.

Matthew 28:9

From the sixth hour . . . unto the ninth hour. From twelve until three o’clock. Darkness over all the land. Not the whole earth, but Judea. Early Christian writers speak of this, and appeal to heathen testimony in support of the fact. The period of outward darkness, no doubt, coincided with that of Christ’s mental agony and sense of desertion. The darkness was not total, but probably a deep gloom, such as every one remembers to have experienced in his life-time.

Matthew 28:10

About the ninth hour. Three o’clock, after the Lord had been six hours on the cross. The cry that follows is from Psalms 22:1. Why hast thou forsaken me? These words can only express the idea that he was treading the wine-press alone. As he hung on the cross, “made sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21), he was left to struggle without a sense of his Father’s presence. My God, my God!. The cry shows that he still clung to the Father as his own.

Matthew 28:11

This [man] calleth for Elijah. The resemblance between the word “Eli” and the name Elijah is very close in the original. There is an allusion to the belief that Elijah would come before the Messiah.

Matthew 28:12

One . . . took a spunge, and filled [it]. This was occasioned by our Lord’s cry, “I thirst”, the fifth word from the cross (John 19:28). Vinegar. This was the sour wine used by the soldiers; not mixed with myrrh, as in the case of the stupefying draught Jesus had refused before crucifixion.

Matthew 28:13

Let be, let us see, etc. This was spoken in the way of interruption of him who was furnishing the draught of vinegar. According to Mark, he replied, and asked to be let alone (Mr 15:36).

Matthew 28:14

When he had cried again with a loud voice. “It is finished” (John 19:30), the sixth word from the cross. The three evangelists all dwell upon the loudness of the cry, as if it had been the triumphant note of the conqueror. The last words from the cross were those recorded in Luke, “Father, into thy hands”, etc. (Lu 23:46). The first “word” in the prayer for his enemies (Lu 23:34). Yielded up the ghost. He voluntarily gave up his life for his sheep, and took it back again (John 10:17).

Matthew 28:15

The veil of the temple was rent. The curtain before the Holy of Holies separating it from the Holy Place.It took place about the time of the evening sacrifice and showed by symbol that the real atonement, of which the yearly atonement was only a type, had been offered and that the true High Priest had entered into the true Holy of Holies. And the earth did quake A common event at Jerusalem, but now significant of the sympathy of nature with the great tragedy.

Matthew 28:16

The graves were opened. The convulsions of the earth would naturally roll the stones from the doors of the sepulchers. The saints which slept arose. Who is not stated, or whether their bodies returned to the grave again. Their rising was a testimony that the death of Christ is life to the saints.

Matthew 28:18

The centurion. The Roman officer in charge of the execution. Truly this was the Son of God. Rather, “a son of a god”. He was a heathen soldier, believing in many gods, and the scenes of the cross had convinced him that Jesus was more than man.

Matthew 28:19

Many women. The devoted women were still faithful, when the disciples had fled. Of the apostles we only know that John was near.

Matthew 28:20

Mary Magdalene. Mentioned first here, also in Lu 8:2, before the resurrection. She had been healed by the Lord. Mary the mother of James and Joses. She was the wife of Clopas or Alphaeus (John 19:25). The mother of Zebedee’s children. Salome. John mentions “his (Jesus’) mother’s sister” (John 19:25), but does not name Salome, his own mother. Hence it is inferred that Salome was the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was also at the cross.