THE CONDEMNATION AND DEATH OF THE KING - PART 1 (Matthew 27)

THE CONDEMNATION AND DEATH OF THE KING - PART 1 (Matthew 27)

H. A. IRONSIDE

MATTHEW 27 - AS the Jews had no authority, under the Roman regime, to visit the death penalty upon anyone, they were unable to carry out the Levitical law which condemned a blasphemer to death (Leviticus 24:15, 16), unless they took things into their own hands and acted contrary to the code imposed upon them by Caesar’s Government, as they did later on in the case of Stephen who, like his Lord, was charged with blasphemy (Acts 7:54–60).

In the case of Jesus the chief priests and other leaders were anxious to shift the responsibility for His death to the Romans, in order that the people who had heard Jesus gladly might not turn in indignation upon them. Therefore, having declared Him worthy of death their next move was to bring Him before Pilate, the procurator of Judea at that time. 

MATTHEW 27:5 - In his horror and despair Judas threw down the money in the temple, and rushing out in an insane frenzy he sought a secluded spot where he committed suicide by hanging himself. Peter supplies details omitted here. He tells us that “this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out” (Acts 1:18). Putting the two accounts together we gather that the wretched man, who was probably somewhat corpulent, hung himself, possibly from some tree or beam which broke under his weight, so that his body was so ruptured in falling to the earth that the condition depicted by Peter resulted. It was a sad and terrible end indeed to a life that once promised so much!

  There have been questions raised as to the proper understanding of verse 9. In the book of Zechariah (11:13) we read, in reference to the thirty pieces of silver, “Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.” While this passage is very similar to that which is quoted here, it is not quite the same: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.” There is the possibility that Jeremy, or Jeremiah, is a faulty reading, which some scribe may have written inadvertently in place of Zechariah, as he was thinking of another manuscript which he may also have copied, telling of Jeremiah’s visit to the potter’s house, and that later copyists, finding this name in the text, did not feel free to alter it. On the other hand, it may not be Zechariah’s prophecy that is definitely referred to at all, but rather something handed down by tradition which was spoken, not written, by Jeremiah. 

  MATTHEW 27:19 - Church tradition has made a saint of Claudia Procula, the wife of Pilate. Legend says she was a Jewish proselyte who became a believer in Jesus. But Scripture tells us nothing more than what is recorded here. She sent a message to her bewildered and time-serving husband, bidding him have nothing to do with “that just Man,” because of whom she had suffered much in a dream. 

MATTHEW 27:24 - Recognizing his impotence in dealing with this mob of excited religionists, Pilate called for water and dramatically washed his hands before the multitude, as he exclaimed, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person: see ye to it.” Yet he was there as the representative of the imperial throne, and he was responsible to condemn the guilty and to acquit the innocent. How little he realized that for all time to come his name was destined to be linked with that of the patient Sufferer whom he weakly surrendered to His prejudiced accusers. Untold millions yet unborn were to intone in all the centuries to come, “I believe in God … and in His Son Jesus Christ … crucified under Pontius Pilate.” No water could ever wash away the stain of the blood of the Son of God! 

  In accordance with the horrible custom of the times Pilate gave order to scourge Jesus—a most cruel ordeal which involved the tearing of His flesh into ribbons as He was beaten on the bare back by a whip of several lashes, on which were fastened pieces of metal, so that His body must have been soon literally bathed in His own blood. Yet no word of reproach escaped His holy lips. Knowing He was condemned because He had claimed to be a King, the soldiers stripped Him of all His outer garments and put a discarded scarlet robe on him, and crowned Him with thorns, then mockingly bowed before Him. 

  They knew it not, but their action was most significant as they pressed the thorny circlet upon His pallid brow. When God cursed the earth for man’s sin He caused thorns and thistles to be brought forth (Genesis 3:18). The thorn, is the fruit of the curse; and Jesus was about to be made a curse for those who so basely treated Him and for all men, that all who would trust in Him might be redeemed from the curse of the law. 

   Tradition, not Scripture, tells that He fell beneath the weight of His cross, not only once but thrice; but this rests on no authentic records. However, it seems evident His physical strength was so weakened by loss of blood and excessive suffering that even the callous soldiers saw He needed help in bearing His cross; so they laid hold on Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming that way, and compelled him to assist. What a privilege was Simon’s! We would like to know for certain that he appreciated it. The early Christians said that the Alexander and Rufus, mentioned as his sons in Mark 15:21, both became ardent followers of Jesus, and that their father too was of His company. We may hope this is more than an unfounded tradition.