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Explanation for:
Matthew
27
:
33
And they came to the place that is called Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Epiphanius of Cyprus","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b66dcf34a644220655d_Epiphanius%20of%20Cyprus.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"According to tradition, our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified at Golgotha, the very site where the body of Adam was laid to rest. After being expelled from paradise, Adam wandered for some time before finally arriving at the location of what would become Jerusalem, where he came to fulfill his natural debt and was ultimately buried at Golgotha. This site is appropriately referred to as the Place of the Forehead. The name Golgotha does not derive from any resemblance to a skull, as it does not sit atop an elevated position like a head on a body, nor is it higher than the surrounding areas; in fact, the Mount of Olives stands at a greater height, and even the fortress that once existed on Zion, now fallen, was also taller than Golgotha. So why is it named the Place of the Forehead? It is because the skull of the first man was found here, along with his burial site. Consequently, it was not without purpose that blood and water flowed from the pierced side of Jesus to this location; the blood was symbolically applied to Adam, the beginning of humanity, illustrating that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the cleansing of our impurities, while the water was poured out over him, marking both him and all of us, his descendants, in the restoration and purification from our sins. Thus, Scripture was realized in this place: ‘Rise from sleep and rise from the dead, and Christ will lighten you’ (Eph. 5:14). Although these words resonate with us, who are spiritually dead and lulled into ignorance, they were primarily fulfilled regarding Adam, as the Gospel narrates that, at that time, the bodies of holy figures arose and, after His resurrection, entered the holy city (Matthew 27:52)."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"It has been suggested that the brow signifies the location of Adam's burial, derived from the notion that the skull of the original man rests there. This interpretation connects with the Apostle’s words, “Arise, thou that sleepest, and rise from the dead, and Christ shall lighten thee,” Eph. 5:14, which is appealing to many. However, this understanding is not accurate. In truth, outside the city, beyond the gates, lie the sites where condemned individuals have met their end, places referred to as the brow, or the location of the beheaded. There, the Lord was crucified to raise the standard of martyrdom where the cursed were executed, and in our stead, He became a curse on the cross, suffering and dying, being numbered with transgressors as if He were one of them for the redemption of all humankind. If one contests that the Lord's burial served the purpose of shedding His blood upon Adam's grave, we might inquire why the other criminals were executed at that site. This clarification shows that the brow was not indeed the grave of the first man but rather the site designated for the beheaded, exemplifying that where sin increased, grace overflowed, Rom. 5:20. Furthermore, in the record of Joshua's son, it is noted that Adam was buried near Hebron. The text states: Heb. 14:15, according to the new Synodal Russian translation: Nav. 14:15. It is worth noting that Hebron was previously known as Kiriath-Arbea."},{"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":"Behold the site of Calvary, and as a believer, lift your voice in adoration. Remain steadfast in your conviction during trials, ensuring that you do not waver in your testimony even amidst persecution. Celebrate the Cross not only in moments of tranquility but also maintain unwavering faith in Him during times of hardship. Do not be merely a follower of Christ in peaceful days; be resolute in your allegiance to Him even when faced with adversity. You have now received the redemption of your transgressions and the noble blessings of divine grace. When challenges arise, be bold for your Sovereign; Jesus, who was sinless, endured crucifixion for your sake: will you not also bear your cross for Him who suffered for you? You do not offer the gift, for you have first been blessed by Him, yet you honor Him by returning thanks for His grace. He who was crucified on Calvary did so for you. Calvary translates to \\"the skull.\\" Has it not been foretold that Calvary is the place where Christ, the true head, bore the Cross, as the Apostle declares, ‘who is the image of the invisible God,’ and shortly thereafter, ‘and this one is the head of the body, the church’ (Col. 1:15, 18)? Furthermore, he states, ‘to every man Christ is the head’ (1 Cor. 11:3), and once more, ‘He who is the head of every beginning and authority’ (Col. 2:10). This head endured suffering at the brow. How profound is this prophetic designation! The very name speaks to you and urges, Do not perceive the Crucified as merely a man; the crucified head is the sovereign of all authority, the head who encompasses the Father. For ‘the head of the man is Christ, and the head of Christ is God’ (1 Cor. 11:3)."},{"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":"The location is referred to as the brow since, according to the teachings of the early church, Adam was interred there. Just as all humanity fell into death through Adam, we must be resurrected through Christ."},{"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":"They arrived at a location known as Golgotha, situated not far from the city, as John indicates (John 19:20). The term Golgotha, derived from the Hebrew, translates to the place of the skull. It is believed by some that Adam met his end at this spot, and by God's divine arrangement, where the original Adam succumbed to death, the symbol of triumph of the new Adam over death, namely the cross, was erected."},{"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":"Golgotha, which translates to \\"place of the skull,\\" was a small hill located to the north-west of the city limits. The reason for its name remains uncertain; it is thought either to resemble a skull (as noted by Cyril of Jerusalem) or to be the site where many skulls and bones of executed individuals were found (according to Hieron). Church tradition holds that this location is where Adam was buried, as suggested by figures like Athanasius, Epiphanius, Theophylact, and Augustine, who remarked that \\"the physician was lifted up on the tree where the sick man lay.\\" In Jewish practice, executions took place outside the city (see Num. 15:36, 2 Sam. 21:13), a practice that mirrored that of the Romans. Nevertheless, it was the Lord's will to endure suffering outside the city walls, demonstrating His profound sacrifice, as the holy Apostle Paul clarifies in Hebrews 13:11-12."},{"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":"Behold Jesus on Calvary! Here He is, nailed to the cross as a criminal! Although it may seem a bleak scene, it does not deter those with faith. The visit of heavenly beings, Moses and Elijah, to Tabor to discuss the departure that Jesus would accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) was not in vain. The mystery of Christ's cross captivated even the most exalted angels. Let us approach Golgotha with solemnity and regard the crucifixion of Jesus through the lens of God’s love and reverence. They led Him to Golgotha, a location referred to as the place of the skull (Mk. 15:22). The Hebrew term Golgoleph and the Syro-Chaldaic Gulgotha signify forehead or skull, and it denotes the elevated site just outside Jerusalem's walls, where execution of criminals was performed. Rather than focusing solely on its literal name, let us seek understanding from divine revelation concerning Golgotha. The Savior indicated to the Jewish people that it was necessary for the tenants of the vineyard to kill the Heir outside of it (Matthew 21:38, 39). Indeed, His prophecy was fulfilled: He was crucified at Calvary. This location was not chosen randomly; it was selected by Jesus Himself with a higher purpose in mind. The apostle notes: ‘Since the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary for the cleansing of sin are burnt outside the camp, Jesus also, in order to sanctify the people with His blood, was pleased to suffer outside the gate’ (Hebrews 13:11, 12). This indicates that the site of His death aligns with the nature of death itself. Christ's death, intended as a redemptive sacrifice for humanity's sins, was ordained to occur outside the city—this is grounded in the commandments of the law. The scape goat, upon which the high priest placed all the sins of the people, was sent beyond the camp, and outside the camp, the carcasses of the animals whose blood was offered for sin purification were burned (Lev. 16:26, 29). Thus, the location of Jesus’ death signifies to the Hebrews that it represents the death of the prophesied Messiah. It affirms that the Redeemer of the world died precisely where it was foretold according to the teachings of the old covenant. Those who opposed Jesus failed to comprehend this profound truth."},{"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":"AND ARRIVING AT A LOCATION KNOWN AS GOLGOTHA. Who can remain unmoved by the name of Golgotha? Is there any site on this earth as sacred as Mount Calvary, where the only Son of God, who took on human form for us, poured out His blood and sacrificed Himself for us, the fallen descendants of Adam? Holy Golgotha serves as the gateway to the Kingdom of Heaven, the entryway to the abode of the Heavenly Father, through which the wise thief was the first to enter, followed by all sincerely repentant souls. This is the reason that the holy Evangelists emphasize this location with great care; for instance, St. Matthew asks: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BROTHER'S PLACE, St. Mark queries: ‘What is the meaning of The Frontal Place’ (Mk. 15:22); and St. John notes: ‘He went out to the place called The Frontal Place, in Hebrew Golgotha’ (Jn. 19:17). It was a small hill situated just outside the Judgment Gate, to the northwest of Jerusalem, where it was then the custom to carry out the dreadful executions of criminals, whose remains may have scattered the ground. An ancient tradition, as recorded by the holy fathers and teachers of the Church, asserts that here, on Golgotha, lay the burial site of our forefather Adam. This is why the head of Adam is depicted beneath the Lord’s cross: ‘For as in Adam all die,’ states the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 15:22), ‘so in Christ all shall be made alive.’ The term Calvary itself means skull. Thus, the Divine Healer, the second Adam, ‘was lifted upon the tree where the afflicted one lay,’ the first Adam. Death is vanquished where it first laid man in the grave. Just as the bodies of animals, whose blood was brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for the cleansing of sin, were burned outside the camp, so Jesus, as St. Paul writes, in order to purify humanity through His blood, ‘suffered outside the gate’ (Hebrews 13:11). Today, this most sacred site is no longer outside the boundaries of the holy city; it is embraced within the grand temple of the Resurrection, alongside the cave of the Holy Sepulchre. Humble worshippers bow before this throne, filled with reverence and love, to kiss the edge of the sacred rock, stained with the Saviour's blood, and throughout the ages, innumerable gentle, saving tears of repentance have fallen here, at the foot of the Lord's cross."},{"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":"This site was known as Golgotha, which translates to forehead or skull in Hebrew. Hence, Golgotha is often referred to as the place of the head. According to one of the earliest Jewish traditions, Adam was interred at this location, which is why a human skull is frequently represented beneath the Cross of Jesus Christ."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Now the sentence was beginning to be executed. The soldiers constructed a cross and placed it on the shoulders of the man condemned to death, as the grim procession moved out from the city to Golgotha, a name derived from its skull-like appearance. Following the condemned, a larger crowd formed, aroused by the very identity of the Prisoner and the events surrounding His trial, which had stirred the hearts of numerous pilgrims in the city. Along the route, the immense weight of the cross, bearing the sins of humanity, overwhelmed Christ, who was already weakened by prior physical and spiritual anguish, causing Him to fall beneath its burden. To avoid delaying the execution, the soldiers compelled a certain Simon of Cyrene, who happened upon them, to take up the cross, granting him the profound honor of participating in the journey of the redeeming burden. The sight of this tragic procession was heartbreaking, leading many women to weep uncontrollably at the horror unfolding before them. The Suffering One turned to them, urging them not to weep for Him but for themselves and for the impending calamities that awaited the entire Jewish nation and the Promised Land. Two other criminals were led alongside Christ for execution, and by crucifying them, Pilate aimed to instill fear among other wrongdoers, attempting to curb the prevalent banditry that often ignited political uprisings. Upon arriving at the site of the execution, all three crosses were laid down, with Jesus’ cross, as the chief prisoner, placed in the center for added derision. He was stripped of His garments, leading to the most harrowing moment of the execution—being nailed to the cross. Christ was pinned to the device of death, His hands extended along the crossbeam, and a large iron nail was driven through the center of His palms, secured into the wood with hammer blows. The same was done to His feet, and then the soldiers strained to lift the cross with its living burden, placing it into the prepared pit. In that moment of excruciating suffering, the voice of the Savior echoed with a plea for forgiveness directed at His merciless executioners: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The torment experienced by the crucified was unbearable; yet these agonies were compounded by the reality that the wretched souls could linger on the cross for an extended period, often crying out for their executioners to end their misery. Such was the fate to which Christ was condemned; though for Him, it was mercifully hastened by all He had previously endured, He still hung on the cross from noon until nearly sundown, before He “gave up the spirit.”"},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"During His time on earth, the Lord encountered a small circular hill known as Golgotha located to the north-west of Jerusalem, just outside its walls. This place, referred to by the holy Evangelists as the place of the skull (Matt. 27:33; John 19:17), may have received its name due to the presence of scattered skulls and bones from the executed or perhaps owing to its barren appearance, resembling a skull (cf. 2 Sam. 9:35). An ancient tradition upheld by the holy fathers holds that our first ancestor was buried here, as God's providence designated it to be where the sin of the first Adam would find atonement through the death of the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:45). Therefore, as St. John Chrysostom noted, 'the sign of victory was established in the very place where death held sway,' so that the very destruction of death could also begin there (Blessed Theophylact). Long before, those who did evil had conspired to eliminate the heir of the heavenly Master outside the vineyard (Matthew 21:38, 39). However, in executing their plan, they unwittingly participated in the profound mystery (1 Tim. 3:16) of the salvation of fallen humanity—a mystery concealed across ages and generations (Col. 1:26), understood only through humble and reverent faith. \\n\\nAccording to the Law of Moses, on the day of atonement, certain animals were to be driven out of the camp after the people's sins were confessed, and other sacrificial animals were to be burned outside the camp (Lev. 16:21, 27). When the day of universal cleansing arrived, which the Lord designated as His own (John 8:56), this Old Testament symbolism was fulfilled in the Lamb of God who bore the sin of the world (1:29). In fulfillment of this, the holy Apostle reminds us that the Savior, Jesus, suffered outside the city gates to sanctify humanity with His own blood (Heb. 13:12). \\n\\nOn Golgotha, the Cross of Christ was established as a new altar (v. 10), a Throne of grace (4:16), ‘the altar not of the temple, but of the entire world’ (St. Leo the Great). Here, before heaven and earth, the world witnessed the manifestation of mercy and truth, of righteousness and peace (Ps. 84:11); here, the wonders of divine love were unveiled, showing in profound humility the glory of the Godhead: the Prince of Life (Acts 3:15) and the sacrificial offering for the world’s peace (Rom. 3:25), both the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8) and the Man of Sorrows, despised and rejected by people (Isa. 53:3); the Righteous One (1 Pet. 3:18), counted among wrongdoers, and interceding for transgressors (Isa. 53:12). In the sacred sacrifice at Calvary, our Redeemer, as St. Gregory the Theologian expressed, was both ‘teacher and offering,’ dedicating Himself as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all (St. John Chrysostom aptly states that He was both the offering and the priest—an offering in flesh, a priest in spirit; the same One who offered Himself and was offered in the flesh). \\n\\nThe redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary is immensely profound, extending to all humanity and across all time, addressing every sin. The Lord ‘was offered once and remains forever’ (St. John Chrysostom); His sacrifice ‘achieved all and is eternally steadfast’ (St. Athanasius of Alexandria). According to St. Cyril of Jerusalem, ‘He who died for us was not some lowly creature, nor merely a man or an angel, but God incarnate. The sin of humanity cannot be compared with the truth of Him who died for us; our shortcomings are not as great as He who willingly laid down His life for us, deciding when to die and when to be resurrected.’ The sacrifice on Calvary was made on the Cross, as the holy fathers interpret, to demonstrate to the world the depth and breadth of Christ's love, which surpasses all understanding (Eph. 3:18). \\n\\nAll that transpired on the Cross provided a remedy for our weaknesses, restoring the old Adam to his original state while guiding him toward the tree of life, from which the fruit of the forbidden tree of knowledge had caused his fall. For this reason, as noted, ‘the tree must be met with another tree, hands must counter the hands that fell; the hands outstretched for those who did not reach out in courage, the hands nailed for the rebellious hand, bringing together the ends of the earth before God.’ Thus, the Cross symbolizes resurrection following the fall, bitterness countering the act of eating, and thorns representing dominion over evil, with death defeating death, darkness giving way to light, and burial paving the path back to the earth. As expressed by St. Gregory the Theologian, ‘just as sin entered the world through the fruit of the tree, so too salvation entered through the tree of the Cross’ (St. Athanasius of Alexandria). \\n\\nTo redeem us from our transgressions (Galatians 3:13) and to relieve humanity of the burden of original sin, it was necessary for our Savior to bear our iniquities on His body while on the tree (1 Pet. 2:24), becoming a bond for us (Galatians 3:13) and affixing it to the Cross. The Cross's four-fold shape, as related by St. Simeon of Solunsk, reflects Christ, the Son of God, who was nailed there, who created and encompasses all that exists—heavenly and earthly. He descended to lift us from our fallen state, elevating us from the depths of hell to heavenly heights. He unified creation and called all to worship the true and living God, embodying the unity of divine majesty and the humility of Incarnation, embracing all, and recreating us through love and mercy. Elevated upon the Cross and reaching out His arms to the fallen, as interpreted by St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Christ triumphed over the ruler of the air (Eph. 2:2), drawing the old covenant people with one hand and the Gentiles with the other, unifying both in Himself. St. Gregory of Nyssa describes how the Apostle’s words (Eph. 3:18) reflect the cross's image, which reveals Christ's pervasive power. The different parts of the Cross are signified by proper names: ‘depth’ for the lower part, ‘height’ for the upper, and ‘length’ and ‘breadth’ for the sides, signifying that the divine essence encompasses all existence, both heavenly and earthly.\\n\\nSaint Basil the Great interprets the four parts of the Cross as symbolizing the four corners of the world, understanding that the death upon the Cross was chosen so that salvation might extend to all parts of the earth. By humbling Himself to the point of death (Phil. 2:8), the Lord embraced the most humiliating and painful death, demonstrating the boundless richness of glory hidden within the mystery of our salvation (Col. 1:27). Crucifixion, regarded as the most dreadful, cruel, and disgraceful form of execution, was reserved for thieves, murderers, insurrectionists, and enslaved criminals. The agony of crucifixion was so severe that it can only be likened to the torments of hell alluded to by the Psalmist (Psalm 114:3)."}]}
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