1Mane autem facto, consilium inierunt omnes principes sacerdotum et seniores populi adversus Jesum, ut eum morti traderent. 2Et vinctum adduxerunt eum, et tradiderunt Pontio Pilato præsidi. 3Tunc videns Judas, qui eum tradidit, quod damnatus esset, pœnitentia ductus, retulit triginta argenteos principibus sacerdotum, et senioribus, 4dicens : Peccavi, tradens sanguinem justum. At illi dixerunt : Quid ad nos ? tu videris. 5Et projectis argenteis in templo, recessit : et abiens laqueo se suspendit. 6Principes autem sacerdotum, acceptis argenteis, dixerunt : Non licet eos mittere in corbonam : quia pretium sanguinis est. 7Consilio autem inito, emerunt ex illis agrum figuli, in sepulturam peregrinorum. 8Propter hoc vocatus est ager ille, Haceldama, hoc est, Ager sanguinis, usque in hodiernum diem. 9Tunc impletum est quod dictum est per Jeremiam prophetam, dicentem : Et acceperunt triginta argenteos pretium appretiati, quem appretiaverunt a filiis Israël : 10et dederunt eos in agrum figuli, sicut constituit mihi Dominus. 11Jesus autem stetit ante præsidem, et interrogavit eum præses, dicens : Tu es rex Judæorum ? Dicit illi Jesus : Tu dicis. 12Et cum accusaretur a principibus sacerdotum et senioribus, nihil respondit. 13Tunc dicit illi Pilatus : Non audis quanta adversum te dicunt testimonia ? 14Et non respondit ei ad ullum verbum, ita ut miraretur præses vehementer. 15Per diem autem solemnem consueverat præses populi dimittere unum vinctum, quem voluissent : 16habebat autem tunc vinctum insignem, qui dicebatur Barrabas. 17Congregatis ergo illis, dixit Pilatus : Quem vultis dimittam vobis : Barabbam, an Jesum, qui dicitur Christus ? 18Sciebat enim quod per invidiam tradidissent eum. 19Sedente autem illo pro tribunali, misit ad eum uxor ejus, dicens : Nihil tibi, et justo illi : multa enim passa sum hodie per visum propter eum. 20Principes autem sacerdotum et seniores persuaserunt populis ut peterent Barabbam, Jesum vero perderent. 21Respondens autem præses, ait illis : Quem vultis vobis de duobus dimitti ? At illi dixerunt : Barabbam. 22Dicit illis Pilatus : Quid igitur faciam de Jesu, qui dicitur Christus ? 23Dicunt omnes : Crucifigatur. Ait illis præses : Quid enim mali fecit ? At illi magis clamabant dicentes : Crucifigatur. 24Videns autem Pilatus quia nihil proficeret, sed magis tumultus fieret : accepta aqua, lavit manus coram populo, dicens : Innocens ego sum a sanguine justi hujus : vos videritis. 25Et respondens universus populus, dixit : Sanguis ejus super nos, et super filios nostros. 26Tunc dimisit illis Barabbam : Jesum autem flagellatum tradidit eis ut crucifigeretur. 27Tunc milites præsidis suscipientes Jesum in prætorium, congregaverunt ad eum universam cohortem : 28et exeuntes eum, chlamydem coccineam circumdederunt ei, 29et plectentes coronam de spinis, posuerunt super caput ejus, et arundinem in dextera ejus. Et genu flexo ante eum, illudebant ei, dicentes : Ave rex Judæorum. 30Et exspuentes in eum, acceperunt arundinem, et percutiebant caput ejus. 31Et postquam illuserunt ei, exuerunt eum chlamyde, et induerunt eum vestimentis ejus, et duxerunt eum ut crucifigerent. 32Exeuntes autem invenerunt hominem Cyrenæum, nomine Simonem : hunc angariaverunt ut tolleret crucem ejus. 33Et venerunt in locum qui dicitur Golgotha, quod est Calvariæ locus. 34Et dederunt ei vinum bibere cum felle mistum. Et cum gustasset, noluit bibere. 35Postquam autem crucifixerunt eum, diviserunt vestimenta ejus, sortem mittentes : ut impleretur quod dictum est per prophetam dicentem : Diviserunt sibi vestimenta mea, et super vestem meam miserunt sortem. 36Et sedentes servabant eum. 37Et imposuerunt super caput ejus causam ipsius scriptam : Hic est Jesus rex Judæorum. 38Tunc crucifixi sunt cum eo duo latrones : unus a dextris, et unus a sinistris. 39Prætereuntes autem blasphemabant eum moventes capita sua, 40et dicentes : Vah qui destruis templum Dei, et in triduo illud reædificas : salva temetipsum : si Filius Dei es, descende de cruce. 41Similiter et principes sacerdotum illudentes cum scribis et senioribus dicebant : 42Alios salvos fecit, seipsum non potest salvum facere : si rex Israël est, descendat nunc de cruce, et credimus ei : 43confidit in Deo : liberet nunc, si vult eum : dixit enim : Quia Filius Dei sum. 44Idipsum autem et latrones, qui crucifixi erant cum eo, improperabant ei. 45A sexta autem hora tenebræ factæ sunt super universam terram usque ad horam nonam. 46Et circa horam nonam clamavit Jesus voce magna, dicens : Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani ? hoc est : Deus meus, Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me ? 47Quidam autem illic stantes, et audientes, dicebant : Eliam vocat iste. 48Et continuo currens unus ex eis, acceptam spongiam implevit aceto, et imposuit arundini, et dabat ei bibere. 49Ceteri vero dicebant : Sine, videamus an veniat Elias liberans eum. 50Jesus autem iterum clamans voce magna, emisit spiritum. 51Et ecce velum templi scissum est in duas partes a summo usque deorsum : et terra mota est, et petræ scissæ sunt, 52et monumenta aperta sunt : et multa corpora sanctorum, qui dormierant, surrexerunt. 53Et exeuntes de monumentis post resurrectionem ejus, venerunt in sanctam civitatem, et apparuerunt multis. 54Centurio autem, et qui cum eo erant, custodientes Jesum, viso terræmotu, et his quæ fiebant, timuerunt valde, dicentes : Vere Filius Dei erat iste. 55Erant autem ibi mulieres multæ a longe, quæ secutæ erant Jesum a Galilæa, ministrantes ei : 56inter quas erat Maria Magdalene, et Maria Jacobi, et Joseph mater, et mater filiorum Zebedæi. 57Cum autem sero factum esset, venit quidam homo dives ab Arimathæa, nomine Joseph, qui et ipse discipulus erat Jesu : 58hic accessit ad Pilatum, et petiit corpus Jesu. Tunc Pilatus jussit reddi corpus. 59Et accepto corpore, Joseph involvit illud in sindone munda, 60et posuit illud in monumento suo novo, quod exciderat in petra. Et advolvit saxum magnum ad ostium monumenti, et abiit. 61Erant autem ibi Maria Magdalene, et altera Maria, sedentes contra sepulchrum. 62Altera autem die, quæ est post Parasceven, convenerunt principes sacerdotum et pharisæi ad Pilatum, 63dicentes : Domine, recordati sumus, quia seductor ille dixit adhuc vivens : Post tres dies resurgam. 64Jube ergo custodiri sepulchrum usque in diem tertium : ne forte veniant discipuli ejus, et furentur eum, et dicant plebi : Surrexit a mortuis : et erit novissimus error pejor priore. 65Ait illis Pilatus : Habetis custodiam, ite, custodite sicut scitis. 66Illi autem abeuntes, munierunt sepulchrum, signantes lapidem, cum custodibus.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 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,
Zech 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 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 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 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 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 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
Pss 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 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 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 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.
