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Explanation for:
Matthew
27
:
37
And they put over his head his cause written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
10
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{"arr":[{"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":"I find it truly astonishing that, despite resorting to bribing false witnesses and inciting the distressed populace to anger and protest against Him, His adversaries could only cite one justification for the death sentence: that He was the King of the Jews. Although they may have accompanied this charge with scorn and derision, Pilate, when they expressed hesitation, firmly declared, \\"What I have written, I have written.\\" Regardless of their belief, the entire assembly of Gentiles bears witness to you that He is the King of the Jews, embodying the Lordship over all who trust and profess the faith."},{"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":"While the other Gospel writer referred to it as a title, Matthew designates it as ‘guilt’; they affixed this label in the context of crucifixion: crucify, as the King of the Jews and the one who challenges tradition. The term ‘king’ was used to defame Him, yet this declaration holds truth, despite coming from adversaries, for the Lord indeed is King. He arrived with the intention of redeeming the Jews. However, when the earthly Jews rejected His sovereignty, He became the King of the spiritual Israelites, meaning those who acknowledge their faith, for 'Jew' signifies 'one who acknowledges'."},{"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 inscriptions on the cross of the crucified King revealed insights that were practical, theoretical, and theological in nature. The practical aspect was denoted by the Roman inscription; the prophet Daniel recognized the Roman Empire as the most formidable, with its might already embodying application. Theoretical wisdom was indicated by the Greek inscription, as the Greeks had a more advanced understanding of theory compared to other peoples, while theological wisdom was conveyed through the Hebrew inscription, acknowledging the Jews as the foremost theologians among all nations. Pilate's attendants inscribed the charge that led to Jesus Christ’s crucifixion on a tablet, displaying it on the cross for all bystanders to read. Mark references this by stating (Mk. 15:26): And the writing of His guilt was written: King of the Jews, while Luke notes (Lk. 23:38): And the writing was also written over Him in Hellenic and Roman and Hebrew letters: This is the King of the Jews. It was inscribed in three languages because of the considerable Greek and Roman presence in the city at that time. John recounts (John 19:19-22): But Pilate wrote the title and put it on the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. This title was notably recognized by many Jews since the location of the crucifixion was near the city, and it was inscribed in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. The religious leaders of Judea urged Pilate, saying, \\"Do not write, ‘King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’\\" However, Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written,” indicating his refusal to alter the inscription. Clearly, by divine arrangement, this title was affixed solely to the cross of Jesus Christ. As all three crosses stood close together at that time, the genuine Cross of the Lord was later identified primarily by its inscription."},{"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":"They handed Him over by Pilate’s command (John 19:19). As the Jewish leaders presented the Lord to Pilate, branding Him a political criminal for claiming to be the king of the Jews, Pilate decreed that this inscription alone be displayed."},{"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":"It was a common practice for the head of a man sentenced to crucifixion to indicate the crime for which he was condemned. Over Jesus' head, the accusation was displayed. However, this case was particularly unusual. The inscription read: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. (John 19:19) What was Pilate's intention with this message? At first glance, it appeared to reflect the very charge for which the Jewish council sought Jesus' execution — the usurpation of royal authority. Yet, the inscription lacks clarity. It remains ambiguous whether Jesus claimed this authority for Himself or if it was conferred upon Him by others. Did the Jews acknowledge Him as their King only to betray Him to His adversaries, or did they deliver Him into the hands of legitimate authority without recognizing Him as sovereign? This uncertainty was both intentional and deeply troubling for the Sanhedrin. Furthermore, the Gospel writer notes that the inscription was affixed to the cross on a distinct placard. This detail is significant, as historical accounts indicate that during the time of the devout Helen, the inscription was found separate from the cross. This positioning also conveyed a sense of solemnity that the Sanhedrin found objectionable."},{"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":"They attached an inscription above His head on a whitewashed board, indicating His perceived offenses: THIS IS JESUS, the Nazarene, KING OF THE JEWS. Pilate directed that this inscription be crafted in three languages—Hebrew, Greek, and Latin—allowing those who had traveled from faraway lands for Passover, who may not have been fluent in Hebrew, to read it. This sign was either carried before the Lord as He journeyed to Golgotha or possibly hung around His neck. It was only upon its affixation above the Lord's head that the Jewish leaders realized the extent of Pilate's derision. The meaning of the inscription, which was seen by many Jews due to its proximity to the city, made it clear that Jesus Christ was indeed the King of the Jews, whom His followers had either failed to defend or had betrayed, and certainly not a fraud as portrayed by the chief priests to Pilate. The Gentile visitors could accuse them of dishonoring their sovereign, while the Gentiles had grounds for mockery. This realization deeply tainted the triumph of the Lord's adversaries, prompting them to approach Pilate and request a revision of the inscription that had incensed them. “Do not state,\\" they urged, “King of the Jews, but rather that He claimed, I am King of the Jews. Let it be known that we did not acknowledge Him as King, but that He asserted Himself to be the Messiah.” Pilate, however, replied, “What I have written, I have written,” indicating he had no intention to alter it. Ashamed and irritated, the chief priests returned to Golgotha, seeking to repay their disgrace by deriding and mocking the crucified Jesus. “Pilate,” remarks Blessed Augustine, “what he wrote, he wrote; just as the Lord, whatever He spoke, He spoke. He proclaimed, I am the King set upon Zion; He stated that He must suffer to enter into His glory. Thus, the declaration of the new King was established. A Gentile, Pilate, formally acknowledges Him, in spite of the Jewish rulers. This serves as a prophetic sign of the events that soon transpired. The Jewish people witnessed this, and to their shame, they saw the Gentile nations gradually recognizing the crucified Jesus as their King, Savior, and Lord.”"},{"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":"Above Jesus' head on the cross, the soldiers affixed Pilate's declaration, ‘This is the King of the Jews’ (Luke 23:28). This proclamation was inscribed in three languages: Hebrew (Aramaic), Greek, and Latin; Pilate intended for the visiting foreigners in Jerusalem for the festival to see that the King of the Jews had been crucified, illustrating how the Jewish people treated their rulers. Upon seeing this inscription, the chief priests recognized Pilate's cruel mockery and quickly dispatched some of their followers to confront him, saying, ‘Why have you written, “The King of the Jews”? Write what he said, “I am the King of the Jews” (John 19:21), so that all will comprehend that he claimed this title, and that we did not accept him as our King.’ Pilate, resentful of the chief priests for forcing him into a position of obedience, sharply retorted, ‘It is not your place to meddle with my orders! What I have written will stand!’"},{"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":"Once the cross was erected, the Jewish leaders discerned for the first time Pilate's lethal affront towards them. In their blind zeal, they had believed that the manner of Jesus' crucifixion served as a reprimand aimed at Him; however, upon seeing Him elevated between two criminals, it became evident that this execution was a public rebuke directed at them. The white plaster-covered wooden sign prominently displayed above Jesus read in bold black letters in the three major languages of the ancient world — at least one of which was likely known to everyone in the crowd — Latin, Greek, and Aramaic. The inscription proclaimed that this man, condemned to a disgraceful death reserved for slaves, who hung in public view between two offenders, was ‘the king of the Jews.’ It stated, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews.’ When the Jewish leaders recognized the cruel mockery Pilate had orchestrated, it entirely soured their sense of vindictive triumph, prompting them to send a delegation to Pilate requesting a change to the inscription that had incensed them. They pleaded, ‘Do not write, king of the Jews, but rather that He claimed, I am king of the Jews.’ Yet, Pilate's earlier courage, which had swiftly diminished in the presence of Caesar, reemerged. He relished the opportunity to irritate the very people whose tumultuous demands had forced him to act against his own will and conscience earlier that day. Few could articulate their disdain as effectively as the Romans could. Without offering even a formal justification for his decision, Pilate coldly dismissed the proud leaders with the curt and derisive response, ‘What I have written, I have written.’"},{"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 Evangelists report that they placed a sign above His head, indicating His alleged offense. This sign, known as the titulus, was a white plaque that was either carried before the convicted individual or hung around his neck during the journey to the execution site. The inscription on the Savior's cross was written in the official Roman language of the court, as well as in Greek and the local Hebrew dialect, declaring to all who passed by, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (Jn. 19:19). Pilate, perhaps content with the vagueness of such an inscription, and more likely adhering strictly to the demands of Roman law, which labeled Jesus Christ a rebel, declined the request from the Jewish chief priests to alter the inscription that hung over the head of the Savior (Jn. 19:19-22)."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Roman legal system mandated that the reason for crucifixion be made known to the public, often through a designated herald who announced the charge in the presence of all, or more frequently, through an inscription on a board detailing the name, origin, and crime of the condemned. Typically, this sign was carried before the individual to the execution site or sometimes affixed to them, and after the crucifixion, it was attached to the cross above their head for all to see and read. Pilate exploited this situation to publicly shame the chief priests and the members of the Sanhedrin more harshly, declaring the charge for which the Lord was sentenced with the inscription: \\"This is Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.\\" This statement was displayed in three languages—Hebrew, Greek, and Latin—allowing not only the Jewish populace but also the Gentiles who had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover to understand it. When the chief priests observed the inscription, they recognized the profound humiliation encapsulated within those concise yet powerful words. They anticipated that the Jews would read it with outrage towards their leaders, who had so dishonored the title of the King of the Jews, while the Gentiles would mockingly deride their despised people. In a state of disarray, the crafty adversaries of Christ requested Pilate to amend the inscription: they proposed that it read not \\"King of the Jews,\\" but rather, as He Himself asserted, \\"I am the King of the Jews.\\" Such a modification would cast the fault directly upon the Lord, portraying Him as a self-styled deceiver and likely intensifying the animosity towards Him among all who witnessed the proceedings at Golgotha. This strategy appeared to be sound. Nonetheless, Pilate, having previously conceded much to their demands, chose this occasion to stand firm, responding, \\"What I have written, I have written.\\" Unbeknownst to him, he had declared a profound truth. Blessed Augustine contends that Pilate’s words fulfilled the prophecy: the Lord had stated, \\"I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion\\" (Psalm 2:6) and indicated His suffering was a prerequisite for entering into glory (Luke 24:26). Ironically, those who crucified Him inadvertently placed Him upon His throne; they now had the task of announcing this new King, and Pilate, a Gentile, with the help of the trilingual sign, earnestly proclaimed Him before all peoples—defiantly in opposition to the Jewish authorities—a prophetic foreshadowing of the events to come! The people of Judea, who continued to reject the dominion of Christ, have borne witness to their own disgrace as the Gentile nations gradually accept the crucified Jesus as their King, Savior, and Lord. Thus, at Golgotha, the mystery of Christ's cross was unveiled to the entire world, orchestrated by the eternal counsel of the triune God, a truth hidden through the ages until now (Colossians 1:26). The Unblemished and Holy Lamb, destined before the world’s foundation (1 Peter 1:19, 20) as an expiatory sacrifice for the sins of humanity (1 John 2:2), was exalted upon the altar of the cross. A new tree of life arose amidst the earth (Psalm 73:12), and the plagues of the Lord, pouring forth in four streams over the earth, which has been tainted by the ancient curse (Genesis 3:17), sanctified it, preparing it as a dwelling for the New Covenant children of the second Adam. What a remarkable sight this was, not just for the elect souls entreating deliverance in Jerusalem (Luke 2:38), but also for the angels who surrounded the cross in humble reverence, recognizing it as the Throne of the Lord of Glory (1 Corinthians 2:8)."}]}
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