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Explanation for:
Matthew
27
:
27
Then the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band;
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"It seemed as though the adversary was celebrating alongside them all. While it is true that the Jewish leaders were hurling insults at Christ, filled with jealousy and animosity, we must ponder the actions of the soldiers. Was it not clear that the devil was gloating among them? They exhibited such extreme cruelty and obstinacy that they derived enjoyment from the insults directed at Christ. Instead of showing remorse, following the example of the crowd, they chose to further mock him, perhaps to curry favor with the Jews, or simply out of their own viciousness. Their insults were both diverse and relentless. This divine head was tormented, crushed by a crown of thorns, and struck with a staff by filthy and impure men. How do we respond to this, we who are quick to anger over the slightest offense, while Christ endured unimaginable suffering? The humiliation He faced was unparalleled. The entirety of His body was tormented: the head from the crown, the staff, and the blows; the face from spittle; the hands from lashes; the whole body from scourging, the degradation of the purple robe, and the charade of worship; the hand from the staff offered in mockery as a royal scepter; the mouth from the vinegar offered to Him. What could possibly be more burdensome? What could be more insulting? Indeed, the events that transpired defy all description. As if intent on ensuring that no insult was overlooked, those who had slain the prophets with their own hands brought about Christ's death through the judgment of the court. They took it upon themselves to do everything: they executed Him with their own hands, passed judgment in their court, and before Pilate, crying, \\"His blood be upon us and upon our children.\\" They unleashed their fury, mocked Him, bound Him, seized what was His, and became guilty of the soldiers' scorn, they nailed Him to the cross, reviled Him verbally, spat upon Him, and derided Him. Pilate contributed nothing; they acted entirely of their own accord, serving as informers, judges, and executioners alike. We have learned of this in our sacred gatherings. To counter any claim from the Gentiles that we only focus on the glorious and miraculous aspects while concealing the shameful, the grace of the Holy Spirit has arranged for these events to be proclaimed during a national celebration, specifically during the solemn evening of Passover, when men and women gather in great numbers. At that moment, the events are proclaimed with clarity and power. Even though this account is shared across the assembly, we maintain our faith that Christ is God; among many other reasons, we regard His willingness to lower Himself for our sake, to endure such hardships, and to instruct us in every virtue as foundational to our worship. We ought to continually reflect on these events, as immense spiritual gain comes from them. Indeed, when one witnesses the mocking He endures in both word and deed, when they see Him bowed before in jest, when they observe Him being beaten and subjected to grievous suffering, even the most stoic heart will soften, and all arrogance will dissipate.\\n\\nIn the battle for salvation, like a champion, He first adorned His sacred brow with a crown of thorns, having lifted the ancient curse from the earth, and through His divine presence, freed it from the thorns multiplying because of sin."},{"author-name":"Apollinarius of Laodicea","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"It was not due to their strength, but rather because it delighted God that the events unfolded for the salvation of humanity. The Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8) suffered ridicule on our behalf to atone for the shame we deserve, and He honors the day of the righteous, which eternally inherits the scorn of the unwise. As the crimson robe, stained with the shade of blood, was dressed upon Him by those yearning for His demise, they acted without awareness of their actions, particularly neglecting that this garment of purple symbolized the scarlet thread (See Hab. 2:18) found in the Book of Joshua and the wrapped hand of one of Tamar's children by Judah (See Gen. 38:28-30). The Redeemer, for the deliverance of all, assumed the weight of the world's blood and that of its inhabitants. Those burdened by anxieties, wealth, and earthly pleasures (Lk. 8:14), despite receiving the divine message, fail to yield fruit, instead weaving thorns that crown and dishonor Jesus. Yet He, who bore our thorns, obliterates them with His own head. They presented Him a staff in His right hand to those who imagined His reign was merely a phantom."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Jerusalem","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a9af397fcf9d613728f_Cyrill%20of%20Jerusalem.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The soldiers encircled Him, ridiculing Him; the Lord became a source of derision for them, enduring their scorn; ‘they saw me, they bowed their heads’ (Psalm 108:25). Yet, the essence of kingship remained with Him: they derided Him while bowing down, and the soldiers proceeded to crucify Him after adorning Him first with a robe of purple and placing a crown upon His head. What need is there for thorns? Every monarch is recognized by soldiers, and thus it was fitting for Jesus to be crowned by them. Hence, Holy Scripture tells us in the Songs: ‘Go out and see the daughters of Jerusalem in the crown with which his mother crowned him’ (Songs 3:11). The crown symbolized a profound mystery, offering liberation from sin and redemption from its consequences. Adam faced judgment: ‘Cursed is the ground in thy works; thorns and thistles shall grow upon thee’ (Gen. 3:17-18). Jesus took upon Himself the thorns to break this curse and was laid to rest in the earth so that the accursed ground might receive a blessing instead of a curse."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The scarlet robe and purple garment that the soldiers adorned upon Christ symbolize two significant aspects: the first represents the triumph of the martyrs, as noted by St. Hilary in Matthew 33, while the second conveys His royal authority. His flesh was destined to take upon itself the blood shed across the world, and through His suffering, He intended to establish His reign within us. The crown of thorns placed upon His head signifies the ongoing construction of the divine household, wherein the victorious magnificence of God will eventually embrace those who are now akin to thorns in this world. \\n\\nThe scourging He endured carries a profound implication; He experienced this punishment so that we might be spared from such fate. The Lord, who is a diligent cultivator, patiently bore the strikes and experienced the agonies for our sake, as illustrated in Isaiah 53:3. He redirected the blows intended for us, who had distanced ourselves from God. Remarkably, He allowed those who fled from Him to bind His hands and subjected His body to their scourging. This act alludes to Adam and Eve, who, after their transgression, hid from the Lord and were ultimately cast out from paradise. The actions of the Jews, although driven by ill will, inadvertently prophesied His glorious resurrection. Through their infliction of wounds, they adorned Him with a crown; by mocking Him and their unbelief, they acknowledged Him, the One they sought to kill. Though they lacked genuine intent to honor Him, God ensured that He received the recognition due to Him—He was proclaimed as King, crowned as Victor, and worshipped as God and Lord.\\n\\nIn Matthew’s account, His hand grasps the staff, serving to ensure that human frailty does not sway like a reed tossed by the wind (Luke 7:24) but is instead fortified through the works of Christ. This act resulted in the accusations against us being affixed to the Cross, thus abolishing the ancient curse (Col. 2:14). According to Mark, the staff that struck His head (Mark 15:19) was meant to empower our nature, which, when touched by the divine, becomes unshakeable."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In this moment, the prophecy of David came to fruition, as it is stated, ‘He gave Me to be reviled by the foolish’ (Psalm 38:9). The soldiers acted in accordance with their folly, adorning Him with a robe fit for royalty rather than a purple mantle, and instead of a true diadem, they placed a crown upon Him. Their mockery was a perverse form of honor, as kneeling is a gesture of respect. Observe how they unleashed every possible insult: they spat upon His face, crowned His head with thorns, struck Him with a rod, covered His form with a cloak, and defiled His ears with blasphemous taunts. Despite the malignancy of their actions directed towards Christ, one must recognize a deeper significance in these events orchestrated by Jesus Himself. The scarlet robe symbolizes our humanity, which, tainted with blood and prone to violence, He embraced and sanctified by wearing it. The crown of thorns represents the sins born from earthly distractions, transgressions that Christ eradicates through His divinity, as the divinity is embodied in His head. The rod signifies our fragile and mortal nature, which the Lord took upon Himself, as noted by David: ‘the right hand of the Lord hath lifted me up’ (Ps. 117:16). By enduring the blasphemies cast upon Him, the Lord freed us from the serpent's deceit that infiltrated through Eve's ears."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The scarlet garment referred to by Mark (Mark 15:17) as a preprada (πορφυραν) was described by John (John 19:2) as a purple robe (ιματιον πορφυρουν). This garment bore a purplish hue, and Matthew also identified it as scarlet (κοκκκινος), drawing a parallel to purple, though it wasn't authentic purple. As Jesus Christ was proclaimed the King of the Jews, they dressed Him in this purple robe in mockery of His royal status, adorned His head with a crown of thorns instead of a royal diadem, and placed a reed in His hand in lieu of a sceptre, thereby inadvertently revealing a deeper truth. They knelt before Him, deriding Him with the taunt, \\"Rejoice, O King of the Jews.\\" After spitting on Him, they struck Him with the reed on His head, which exemplified unparalleled patience and an indescribable anger (John 19:3). The same passage notes that He was also struck on the palms of His hands. The lawless inflicted every manner of insult upon Him to appease the Jews, who despised God. Only John (John 19:4-16) recounts the subsequent events, stating, “Pilate went out again and said to them, ‘Behold, I will take Him away from you,’” leading up to the moment when he ultimately handed Him over to them for crucifixion. This suggests that Pilate delivered Jesus Christ to crucifixion on two occasions, first under the pretext of seeking a reason, but recognizing their stubbornness, he eventually caved in after hearing their declaration: \\"If you let Him go, you are not Caesar’s friend; everyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar\\" (John 19:12). Thus, he actually surrendered Jesus to them for execution. Pilate initially sought ways to clear Jesus of guilt and tried to prevent His death, but felt constrained by judicial authority, refusing to capitulate to those who acted unjustly and maintaining his own judgment that Jesus was innocent (John 12:6). Pilate's inability to betray Jesus is clear from his own statements: “Do you not realize that I have the power to crucify You and the power to release You?” (John 19:10). Therefore, Jesus did not absolve him from guilt, indicating that \\"He who delivered Me to you is guilty of the greater sin\\" (John 19:11), suggesting that Pilate's sin was lesser than that of the betrayer. Pilate could not justly accuse Jesus of seeking royal power without calling forth the accusers, demanding evidence, or looking for proof of any intent to claim authority, such as assembling an army or stockpiling weapons. Yet, upon hearing the charges, he acted out of fear, neglecting a thorough investigation and accepting the accusations with astonishment. As the Jews grew increasingly ruthless and bold, Pilate became more timid and cowardly, yielding easily to their demands. It is beneficial to refer back to the preceding accounts as noted in John, which provide valuable context for the matters at hand."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The soldiers of the governor: The crucifixion was a method of execution employed by the Romans, typically carried out by their soldiers. The Praetorium refers to the area occupied by the Roman governor, which could include both the main chamber and its adjacent structures, or sometimes just a specific court within that space. The Lord's judgment occurred in front of the governor’s residence, at the site known as the lithostroton. The Jewish leaders refrained from entering the Gentile governor’s house for fear of ritual defilement (John 18:28), as they were preparing to celebrate the Passover that evening. Engaging with anything linked to paganism would have rendered them impure and unable to partake in the sacred observance. The term “whole regiment” or cohort designates one-tenth of a Roman legion, typically made up of 400 to 600 soldiers, contingent on the legion's full size. Since it is unlikely that an entire cohort was present in the court, the term “praetorium” should be interpreted as the broader area referenced earlier. This is further supported by the Gospel account of Mark, which notes that the soldiers led the Lord into the court, indicating they brought Him into the Praetorium (15:16)."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Gumilevski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896f4b6fd32caa244b5d7_Philaret%20(Gumilevski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The agents carrying out Pilate's orders did more than just whip Jesus. In an effort to appease the Sanhedrin, Pilate handed Jesus over to the soldiers for this punishment. The rough soldiers, seeking to gain favor with the Sanhedrin according to their own motives, compounded their cruelty during the scourging. They initiated their mockery by calling together all the troops assigned to Pilate's guard to deride the King of the Jews collectively."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The holy Evangelist narrates that the soldiers of the governor brought JESUS into the praetorium, moving Him from the lithostroton, the stone platform, into the courtyard, and assembled a whole battalion, typically numbering two hundred to six hundred men. They called upon all the idle soldiers to mock the King of the Jews. While the Evangelists do not explicitly mention that the Lord was bound to a pole, it is evident that this must have occurred."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The beating inflicted upon Jesus was ordered by Pilate, who aimed to appease the Sanhedrin and the frenzied crowd. This Roman punishment, primarily reserved for serious crimes and typically for slaves, involved whips crafted from ropes and leather, with sharp bones and metal tips inserted at the ends. The number of lashes was not fixed and varied according to the number of soldiers and their intensity. This form of torment was often so excruciating that many who endured it succumbed to their injuries. Pilate issued the order for the scourging of someone he deemed innocent. Upon receiving Pilate's command, the soldiers brought Jesus into the courtyard, summoning the entire cohort, which comprised approximately 400 to 600 men, to participate in the scourging. The Gospels refrain from detailing the horrific aspects of the scourging, as these were well-known to those living under Roman authority. Stripping Jesus of His garments, the soldiers commenced with what they saw as a form of entertainment. Ritualistically, the victim was secured to a pole at an angle, and the soldiers proceeded to lash His bare back. With each strike, His flesh was torn, and blood flowed from His wounds. As a man, Jesus endured this immense suffering, yet no one heard His cries or complaints."}]}
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