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Explanation for:
Matthew
27
:
36
And they sat and watched him.
11
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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":"Listen now to what follows. After mocking Him, they “led Him to be crucified” (Matthew 27:31). Stripping Him of His clothing, they took His garments for themselves and sat down, waiting for Him to breathe His last. They divided His clothing as was customary for the most contemptible of the condemned, the rejected, the defenseless, and the powerless. These garments, which had been the source of many miracles, were stripped away despite their significance, for Christ maintained His ineffable power. This action added to their folly: they treated Him with total dishonor and scorn, as if He were the most despicable among men. Such actions were not directed at the thieves alongside Him; instead, it was against Christ that they exhibited such audacity. Thus, they crucified Him in their presence, intending to share in their own miserable glory alongside Him."},{"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":"The attentiveness of the soldiers and priests serves to make the power of the Resurrected Christ increasingly evident to us."},{"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 garments were divided through casting lots, indicating that the Spirit of God is not granted by human choice but rather bestowed through divine inspiration. The soldiers who affixed the inscription may symbolize the four Evangelists, whose writings we continue to read today. The inscription reads, \\"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,\\" while the accusation above Him states, \\"And the Word was God,\\" recognizing that Christ is indeed the head of God.\\n\\nThe soldiers kept watch over Jesus, just as they still do today, ensuring that His suffering, which was demanded by the Jewish people, would not be overlooked. For my sake, let Christ endure this passion so He may rise again after suffering. He had no intention of leaving the cross for His own sake but chose to bear it for mine. In sharing His garments, they demonstrate that no one receives everything; the Holy Spirit distributes gifts not by human intent but according to divine will, as stated in Scripture.\\n\\nExamine the distributed garments of Christ. They can be found throughout the Gospels: Matthew presents a purple robe, John describes a royal garment, Mark refers to a simple porphyry, and Luke mentions a lighter attire. Christ possessed only this single garment, yet it clothed countless individuals, including not just the four Evangelists and the soldiers but many others. Let’s focus back on the Evangelists.\\n\\nThe clothing does not just represent fabric but the distinctive virtues of each Evangelist. One wrote majestically about the kingdom, another expansively about humanity. Luke depicted the purity of priestly vestments, while Mark did not pursue elaborate textiles. John seems to have crafted his words into garments for our faith, beginning with that profound phrase: \\"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\\" Mark’s introduction, while simple in its elegance, states, \\"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.\\"\\n\\nThe division of Christ’s garments symbolizes His works or gracious gifts, yet the chiton, representing faith, cannot be fragmented—it is whole and indivisible. Faith is not distributed in parts; rather, it belongs entirely to each person. That which remains undivided retains its fullness.\\n\\nJust as the chiton was completely woven from above, faith in Christ descends from divine heights into the realm of humanity. He, who was begotten before all time, took on flesh in the fullness of time, demonstrating that faith should remain untouched and intact."},{"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":"At the base of the cross, the soldiers observed Him closely, vigilant to prevent anyone from removing Him from the cross or causing any disruption among the crowd."},{"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 soldiers, who were responsible for the crucifixion and safeguarding the body of Jesus, clearly witnessed His death. Their focus was particularly captured by the awe-inspiring signs that accompanied His passing (Matthew 27:54)."},{"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 crucifixion of Jesus occurred alongside two criminals, with three crosses erected, the central one designated for Jesus Christ. As the soldiers commenced this heinous act, they removed His clothing, raised Him onto the cross, extended His arms, and drove nails through them. Blood flowed from His wounds to the earth, yet no sound of anguish escaped Him; instead, Christ interceded for those who executed Him, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The Gospel of John mentions that His garments were divided into four parts, indicating four soldiers participated in the crucifixion. While many soldiers were present, others were likely occupied with the robbers or maintaining order at the execution site. Jesus’ upper robe was torn into four pieces, but His lower garment, woven without seams, remained intact, leading them to cast lots for it. Thus, the prophecy of David was fulfilled: they divide my garments among themselves and cast lots about my clothes (Psalm 21:19). After distributing His garments, the soldiers settled down to keep watch over Him at the cross."},{"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":"To minimize the chances of any efforts to take the criminal down from the cross (as there were instances of individuals being removed and revived), a squad of four soldiers along with a centurion was stationed near the crucifixions. The victims' garments were routinely seized as spoils by those tasked with this heavy and distasteful responsibility. Thus, the soldiers, completely unaware of how accurately they were fulfilling the profound predictions found in ancient prophecy, began to distribute the clothing of Jesus Christ among themselves. They divided the cloak into four sections, likely tearing it along the seams; however, the chiton was a single piece of fabric, and tearing it would have damaged it. Therefore, they decided to determine its ownership by casting lots. After completing their division of the garments, the soldiers settled down to watch over the crucified, passing the time with food and drink, engaging in conversation, and playing dice."},{"author-name":"Makkaveiski N.K.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The responsibility of the watchmen was to ensure that no one intervened on behalf of those who had been crucified, as noted in Matthew 28:14. They would remain in their posts until the beneficent release of death brought an end to the agonizing torments endured by the condemned. The horrific nature of these sufferings is abundantly clear, yet a more vivid and comprehensive illustration is provided by the physician Gottlieb Richter in his writings. He articulately details the excruciating plight of those on the cross: \\n\\n1) The body's unnatural and violent position, with the arms held out for an extended period, creates an indescribable anguish, making even the slightest movement unbearable due to overwhelming pain, particularly in the pierced and tortured regions. \\n2) The nails impale sensitive areas where numerous nerves and tendons converge; thus partly damaged and severely constricted, they trigger sharp, distressing sensations. \\n3) The open wounds are constantly exposed to the air, leading to inflammation, discoloration, and ultimately, a darkening curse upon the flesh, aggravating the already increasing torment from stagnant blood caused by the extreme stretching of the body. \\n4) Blood intended to flow from the left chamber of the heart struggles to reach the wounded and severely inflamed extremities, instead accumulating in the head, unnaturally stressing the pulse and inducing escalating headaches. The disruption in circulation leads to a backup of blood in the heart’s left cavity, which cannot expel all the blood it receives from the right chamber, thereby limiting blood flow to the lungs. This cascade of issues compresses the heart and places significant strain on the arteries, leading to a dire and alarming state within the body. \\n5) Although the flow of blood from open wounds might alleviate anguish, this flow is usually minimal and soon ceases due to blood thickening. Consequently, death approaches at a gradual pace, accompanied by a numbing of nerves, veins, and muscles, starting from the extremities and moving inward toward the more vital and sensitive regions. \\n\\nYet, before succumbing fully to death, the crucified typically linger for over twelve hours, oscillating between life and death even amid incessant torments, the fever of their wounds exacerbated by the harsh heat of the sun. In certain instances, as noted, some remained alive for up to three days before finally succumbing to starvation, as recorded by Eusebius concerning the martyrs in Egypt. The Apostle Andrew, for instance, endured two days on the cross while preaching to the people, while St. Victorinus, crucified upside down, survived three days. However, rare instances occurred where the crucified were taken down shortly after execution, whereupon skilled medical care permitted the revival of some. Yet, even with the utmost care, many perished. It is apparent that only the strong and resilient could withstand such prolonged agony on the cross; the weak often succumbed to the Roman scourge's brutality even before reaching the cross, and those who endured were typically left with little vitality in their spent bodies. The suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, having endured immense physical and spiritual torment prior, was unlikely to last for an extended duration."},{"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 the moment when the profound mystery of humanity's redemption was being accomplished upon the cross, the adversary of our salvation was relentlessly inciting the darkest spirits to unleash their most intense fury. He aimed to strike down the heel of the victorious Offspring of the woman, as prophesied in Genesis 3:15. After the cross was erected and the inscription affixed, the ancient words of King David were fulfilled with precision. He vividly depicted the suffering of the Messiah on the cross, foretelling the division of His garments: \\"They have divided My garments unto themselves, and they have cast lots for My garments\\" (Psalm 21:19). Once the soldiers completed the crucifixion, they hastened to claim the Lord's garments, drawing lots to decide how to distribute them among themselves in four shares. The lower garment, the chiton, was unique because it was woven from top to bottom by the pure hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary, without seams. The crucifiers recognized that it would be of no use if torn (as St. Cyril of Alexandria noted), and thus they refrained from ripping it apart. Instead, they agreed to cast lots for it, determining who would receive it. Following the customary practice of the time, they took their places at Golgotha to guard against any premature removal of the crucified individuals from their crosses."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The accounts of Christ's anguish on the cross and His death are similarly narrated in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. As the group of those condemned to die arrived at Golgotha, Christ was offered a drink referred to as 'vinegar mixed with gall' by Matthew and 'wine mixed with myrrh' by Mark. This beverage was intended as a numbing concoction made from sour wine mixed with bitter and pungent substances, aimed at dulling the awareness of the one suffering and easing their pain. However, Christ, desiring to fully experience the depth of the anguish associated with His willing sacrifice, refused to drink after tasting the offered mixture. Following this, the soldiers crucified Him, as noted by Mark, at the third hour. They then divided His garments by casting lots and placed an inscription above Him stating, ‘This is Jesus, King of the Jews.’ Additionally, two criminals were crucified alongside Christ, one on His right and one on His left, fulfilling the prophetic words noted by Mark that He was numbered among the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12)."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"He was stripped of His garments; His garment, unstitched and entirely woven as is customary for Galileans, was seized by the soldiers. He was then raised upon the cross and secured to it, His hands and feet affixed to the wood by nails. The agony of His body suspended in this manner, as attested by contemporary writers of that era who witnessed such forms of execution, was considered the most excruciating suffering when compared to other methods of capital punishment."}]}
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