←
Explanation for:
Matthew
27
:
38
Then were crucified with him two thieves: one on the right hand, and one on the left.
12
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"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":"The two thieves represent both the Jewish people and ourselves. One of them derides the Savior and faces condemnation, while the other expresses belief, repents, and finds salvation. This mirrors the attitude of the discontented assembly of the Jews, often seen as a nation of robbers, as the Savior pointed out, saying, \\"My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers\\" (Matt. 21:13). The first thief embodies a Jewish mindset, while the second reflects a Christian disposition, seeking to cleanse himself of wrongdoing through repentance and striving for salvation. The unwise thief addresses Jesus, saying, “If Thou art the Christ, save Thyself and us” (Luke 23:39), yet the other thief reveals wisdom. Despite his own condemnation, he acts as a judge upon the cross and teaches about the fear of God. He begins by asking his companion, “Or do you not fear God, when you yourself are condemned to the same thing? And we are condemned justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds; but He has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:40, 41). \\n\\nWhat a contradiction: there you committed theft, yet now you judge? There you took a life, yet now you instruct others to fear? “Or do you not fear God?” Behold the cross of Christ, which serves as a lesson in righteousness. It is remarkable that the thief admonishes his fellow wrongdoer, \\"Or do you not fear God?\\" God speaks through the one who willingly suffered alongside them, demonstrating great love for humanity. The thief's words, “Or dost thou not fear God, when thou art condemned to the same thing? And we are justly condemned, because we have received what is worthy according to our works, but He has done nothing wrong,” convey profound truth (vv. 40, 41). I emphasize this confession to encourage you to aspire to holiness and to fervently honor Christ, whether in private or in the presence of others, so that you may too receive a crown of righteousness, akin to the wise thief. \\n\\nTherefore, pay attention to what he declares to his fellow blasphemer: “Or do you not fear God, when you yourself have been condemned to the same thing? And we are justly condemned, because we have received what is worthy according to our deeds, but He has done nothing wrong.” He then turns to Jesus with earnestness, saying, “Remember me, Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom” (Luke 23:42)! This is his true defense! In these words, he acknowledges Christ as the true God: “Remember me, Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom”! He confesses his own transgressions and stands firm for his Lord. Consider the effort the judge must have exerted to elicit recognition of your acts of robbery and murder from you, and did you truly confess? You readily admitted, “we have received justice according to our deeds.” Yet extensive suffering scarcely prompted you to acknowledge your guilt before the governor, and here you confess so easily without duress? Indeed, he responds, here the awareness leads to repentance and life, while there it leads to death. “We have received justice according to our deeds, but He has done nothing wrong.” We acted justly, he states, while He acted righteously. We took life, but He restores it; we seized others’ possessions, but He expended what He had for the sake of the world. \\n\\nThe thief argued with his fellow, saying, “Until the moment we were both on the cross, I was on your path, but now our paths diverge: if you wish to follow me to life, then come, but if not, walk your own way. Until now, our journey was shared, but now the cross has separated our courses. Through repentance, the paths of the thieves were divided. Thus is fulfilled the psalm, ‘the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish’ (Psalm 1:6). Boldly affirming the truth, the thief turns to the King of glory, proclaiming, “Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom”!"},{"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":"If the forehead symbolizes the burial place of Adam rather than a location for the doomed, and if the Lord was nailed to the cross there to redeem Adam, then why are the two criminals also executed in that same location?"},{"author-name":"Isidore of Pelusium","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d94130e668938c9ae9d_Isidore%20of%20Pelusium.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The two criminals symbolize two nations. One failed to recognize its condition until the very end, unaware that its ultimate subjugation by the Romans was a consequence of its rejection of Christ. The other, even in its final moments, maintained hope for redemption and, through the authentic teaching of the divine nature, rectified its wrongs.\\n\\nThis very act of the Lord being crucified among the criminals signifies that His mission was intended for both nations, as He came to them with the intention of renewing them through His Incarnation. The first nation, resembling one of the thieves, rejected Him with the proclamation, “We have no king, but Caesar” (John 19:15), calling innocent blood upon themselves and taking pride in their sin as if it were justifiable, which ultimately led to their loss of the kingdom."},{"author-name":"Maximus the Confessor","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8951a1dea23713695271e_Maximus%20the%20Confessor.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":7,"exegesis-text":"Why did the Lord choose to pass before the criminals, and what do the thieves and the breaking of their legs signify? Because our Lord Jesus Christ, who is inherently God, fully embraced our humanity, becoming truly the only Man. He embodies the divine intention expressed in God's words: \\"Let Us make man in Our image and likeness\\" (Gen. 1:26). Just as the first man was formed by Divine hands, the Lord willingly gave up His life, thereby entrusting His spirit into the Father's care. In becoming the one and only Son, the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29), He also accepted the role of the first to experience death, defeating death itself, so that He might rise as the firstborn from the dead and hold preeminence in all things (Col. 1:18).\\n\\nThe robbers represent our humanity, divided between the righteous and the unrighteous. The breaking of their legs symbolizes that among all mortals, there is not one without flaws and the burden of sin; only the Lord died perfectly sinless. In a broader sense, we can interpret the robbers as signifying the dualities within mankind: the soul and body, earthly and spiritual wisdom, anger and desire, the physical realm and the mental sphere, as well as the written law and the law of grace. Therefore, when we commit sins or act justly, the Logos descends and is crucified among us. This occurs whenever our transgressions or ignorance render the Logos ineffective and bowed down, giving the demons an opportunity to pounce and shatter our spiritual faculties that traverse the material world."},{"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":"To defame Christ, two criminals were executed alongside Him, designed to portray Him as lawless like they were. However, these robbers symbolized two nations, Jews and Gentiles, both equally unrighteous; they mocked Christ, mirroring the initial taunts of the robbers. Yet one of the criminals, coming to realization, acknowledged Him as King, thus he implored, “Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.” In a similar manner, the Gentiles recognized Christ. Conversely, the other criminal, representing the Jewish people, persisted in his blasphemy."},{"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 Jews aimed to portray Him as a criminal by having Him crucified alongside thieves, thus associating Him with their wrongdoing. Consequently, they executed Him publicly, as noted in Luke’s account (Luke 23:25), while the onlookers observed the scene unfold. They arranged for soldiers to carry out the crucifixion, doing everything possible to tarnish His reputation among the people. This act fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 53:12), which states, “And with the lawless He shall be accounted for.” The two thieves symbolize the two nations: the first mocked Jesus Christ in his final moments, whereas the second ultimately recognized Him as the divine. He was crucified in their midst, positioned between the Old and New Covenants."},{"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":"Two criminals: \\"They executed him among them so that he could partake in their wicked honor. The governor, who typically resided in Caesarea, was infrequently in Jerusalem, making it customary for him to deliver death sentences on various offenders during his visits to the city.\\""},{"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 punishment that the Sanhedrin and Pilate imposed on Jesus Christ was a disgraceful act. However, the divine majesty of Christ illuminated the darkness of His humiliation and dishonor. The crucifixion of the thieves alongside Jesus, the inscription that labeled Him, and the dividing of His garments are events that, from a human perspective, aimed to further degrade Jesus. Yet, in a grander divine scheme, they ultimately bring honor to Him. The two criminals were crucified with Him, one on His right and one on His left (Mark 15:27). In the view of the Sanhedrin, this was a way of branding Jesus as a lawbreaker, even positioning Him as the chief among them, given His elevated place. The malice of the Sanhedrin did not find satisfaction in the undignified execution of the Savior; they sought to amplify the disgrace of Jesus, aiming for the crowds to discern the sort of individuals associated with the Teacher from Nazareth."},{"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":"After the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, two criminals were executed alongside Him, one positioned to the right and the other to the left. This arrangement was intended to portray the Holy One as the chief among transgressors. According to St. Chrysostom, the adversary sought to diminish the Lord's glory through this act, yet in his ignorance, he inadvertently magnified it, fulfilling the prophecy that stated Jesus would be numbered among the lawless. Tradition names the criminal on the Lord's right Dismas and the one on the left Gestas. They were likely companions of Barabbas in his insurrection and acts of violence. At the base of the cross, there was a significant display of mockery directed at Jesus, filled with derision and scorn."},{"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":"At that moment, other soldiers executed the robbers alongside Christ, positioning one on His right and the other on His left. This event fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, as noted by the Evangelist, indicating that He was numbered among the wicked (Is. 53:12, Mk. 15:28)."},{"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":"Alongside Christ, two thieves were taken to be crucified. In this dire context, Pilate aimed to instill terror in the other criminals, hoping to at least somewhat diminish the rampant thievery that frequently escalated into political uprisings during that era."},{"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":"In light of the significant assembly present at the feast in Jerusalem, and in an effort to amplify the gravity and terror of the death sentence, Pilate ordered that two criminals be crucified alongside Jesus Christ as recorded in Luke 23:32, Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27, and John 19:18. Therefore, rather than a single cross, the crowd witnessed three crosses en route from Pilate’s judgment seat to Golgotha. For further details on the crucifixion, refer to Luke 23:33."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
