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Explanation for:
Matthew
27
:
49
And the others said: Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to deliver him.
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The genuine words of our Lord, “Eli, Eli, why hast thou forsaken Me?” resonated with profound truth; however, the mockers, in their malice, quipped, “Let us see if Elijah will come to bring Him down” while He hung on the Cross. They held the belief that Elijah would visit them, based on Scripture; yet the notion of Elijah descending to assist Christ seemed absurd to them. Despite the prophets’ predictions regarding their scattering and the city’s ruin, they asserted to their brethren that Elijah would not come to aid them."},{"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":"Therefore, as referenced in verse 48, the others remarked, \\"Stay strong; let us observe whether Elijah will come to rescue Him,\\" meaning, do not allow Him to perish; let us determine if Elijah will assist Him."},{"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":"Mark states that the one who offered the drink exclaimed, \\"Leave it, that we may see if Elijah will come to save him.\\" It is likely that both the onlookers and he made this proclamation."},{"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 onlookers responded with a harshness that is often found in the unrefined masses, even during times of trial. They urged, \\"Wait,\\" indicating that they did not wish to alleviate His anguish or to alert Elijah, whom He implores for assistance; they suggested observing whether Elijah might truly come to His aid."},{"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":"Who were those who proclaimed, \\"Elijah says\\"? Given that one of these men offered a drink to the Afflicted One, and since the Roman guards forbade anyone from giving aid to those being crucified, it follows that, according to the clear testimony of St. John, the soldiers had a vessel full of vinegar, which they used to give the Divine Sufferer a taste (John 19:29). Therefore, it is evident that the soldiers referred to Christ as saying, \\"This Elijah says.\\" This is further supported by the fact that only the soldiers, not the Jewish leaders, could have comprehended the Syro-Chaldean words spoken by the Savior to the Father. The Jews held the belief that Elijah, the great prophet, would return to earth before the coming of the Messiah, a promise fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist, as the Savior elucidated (Matthew 11:14; Matthew 16:14; Matthew 17:10, 11). Yet, the scribes and Pharisees failed to recognize either the Messiah or His Forerunner. However, since the notion of Elijah was commonly known among the Jews, it is reasonable to conclude that the Roman soldiers, being surrounded by them, were aware of this belief. Thus, they expressed their views when they remarked, \\"This Elijah says, Leave Him, that we may see if Elijah will come to save Him.\\" How misguided they were! Seeking to mock Jesus as a false Messiah, they only mocked their own understanding; by misinterpreting the announcement to the Father in heaven as a call to Elijah, they revealed their profound ignorance. Yet, among those present, one soldier took it upon himself to show compassion, rushing to satisfy the thirst of the Lord on Golgotha. True, he also uttered, \\"Leave Him, that we may see if Elijah comes to save Him.\\" But this merely reflected a moment of cowardice in the face of coarse ridicule; he told his fellow soldiers, “Let us wait for Elijah, and to do so, we must strengthen Him.” However, the act of cowardice did not negate the act of mercy. St. Mark and St. Matthew recount that he filled a sponge with vinegar and placed it on a reed to give Jesus a drink. As per St. John, the sponge was put on hyssop—an herb that is notably bitter and hollow. When the vinegar made contact with the hyssop, it absorbed its bitterness, yet in this combination, it provided a fortifying remedy for the Thirsting One. The stalk of eastern hyssop can grow up to three-quarters of a cubit in height, which could serve as the reed on which the vinegar-soaked sponge was offered. The compassionate soldier aimed to give Jesus a drink—though not pleasant, it was beneficial to the dying Man. Thus, this was the response of humanity to the Lord Jesus when He proclaimed, \\"I thirst.\\" He was eager to fulfill the will of His Father in heaven and, in His death's throes, yearned to pour forth streams of Grace for destitute humanity. In return, how did men respond to Him? Is it not justifiable for those who have sinned to feel dismayed when others, like themselves, sometimes fail to recognize Him and repay His goodness with wrong? Ah, this is not where our indignation should lie. Instead, we must reflect on what we offer the Lord in exchange for His grace toward us! What consumes our hearts, which ought to blaze with affection for His commandments that lead to our salvation? O Divine Love, forgive our insensitivity and blindness. Through Thy thirst, we implore Thee to extinguish within us the yearning for sinful indulgences and ignite within our frigid souls a holy fervor for our everlasting salvation, that zeal for fulfilling the will of our Heavenly Father that You have desired to instill in us. Without this life-giving fervor and thirst for heaven, a truly dismal fate awaits us in eternity! Amen."},{"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":"Even in this moment, the adversaries of Jesus displayed their cruelty: And others exclaimed: STOP, He relies on Elijah, LET US WITNESS IF ELIJAH WILL COME TO HIS RESCUE. Even the soldier who offered Jesus drink, seemingly fearful of showing too much compassion, remarked, 'What is the need? Perhaps Elijah will take his time in arriving."},{"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":"Even in this moment, the adversaries of Jesus found a way to ridicule Him in His suffering. As a soldier stationed by the cross heard Jesus utter something and mistakenly believed He was requesting a drink, he hurried to fetch a sponge soaked in vinegar and lifted it to Jesus. However, the chief priests intervened, insisting, “Wait, do not offer Him a drink!” The Evangelist Matthew concludes his narrative with the account of Jesus' cry, while the Evangelist Mark continues, highlighting the soldier's reaction. Undeterred in his duty, the soldier responded, “Hold on! Do not interrupt me…” After he provided Jesus with the drink, he added, “Now, let’s see if Elijah will come to take Him down” (Mark 15:36)."},{"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":"At this time, Christ endured profound torment, and in His weakened state, He uttered in a muted, pained voice, \\"I thirst.\\" One of the onlookers dipped a sponge into a nearby container filled with a mixture of sour wine and water, a beverage typical among Roman soldiers. He then offered it to the parched lips of the Afflicted, mockingly challenging, \\"Let us see if Elijah will come to rescue Him.\\""},{"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 Divine Sufferer, suspended between heaven and earth, became a source of shame for both angels and humanity. He descended into profound fatigue and drew closer to death with every heartbeat. Imperfect from head to toe, His body bore the marks of wounds and sores; He was weary and bloodied, derided, and, as prophesied, regarded as insignificant (Isaiah 53:2-3). Along with the intense agony came a new and unbearable torment—thirst. The God-Man reached the pinnacle of weariness; His strength, as foretold by the royal prophet, dwindled like a fragile shadow, and His tongue clung to His throat (Psalm 21:16); a searing pain enveloped His entire being, and an unrelenting thirst emerged, signaling His imminent demise. The patient Lord, who had previously shown infinite forbearance, endured all with the gentleness of a lamb led to slaughter. He did not plead for grace or mercy (Isaiah 53:7); even amid brutal torment, He leveled no threats (1 Pet. 2:23) nor did He remind anyone of humane obligations. Completely focused on His redemptive mission, He appeared to neglect His own human needs. Now, preparing to surrender His life for humanity (John 10:15), for the first and last time from the cross, He beseeched a small act of kindness from those near— a sip of vinegar, for He was thirsty! His painful request stirred the hearts of those around Him, prompting them to fulfill the ancient prophecy: \\"They gave me gall to eat, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink\\" (Psalm 68:22). Close by, there was a vessel full of sour wine. One soldier rushed to take a sponge soaked in vinegar, placed it on a hyssop branch, and offered it to His lips. While this soldier performed this act of mercy for the dying man, the wicked adversaries of the Lord mocked Him, saying, \\"Let us see if Elijah will come to save Him and take Him down.\\" Not only did they deny the sufferer even the slightest comfort in His last moments, but they also hoped for His quick demise. Like a roaring lion, as the psalmist described, His enemies opened their mouths against Him (Psalm 21:14), eagerly waiting for His name to fade into oblivion (40:6). Yet, within the Redeemer's parched cry lay a profound significance beyond physical desire. It signified a deeper spiritual thirst. The God-Man yearned for our salvation, sought to fulfill the will of His Heavenly Father, and to accomplish His mission (John 4:34); He longed to experience the cup of anguish and suffering for the fallen human race, a fate He had dreaded in the Garden of Gethsemane; He desired to satisfy Divine justice for our sake, to redeem us from sin and condemnation, to vanquish the power of death and hell; ultimately, He wished for every prophecy about Him recorded in the sacred Scriptures to be entirely fulfilled (John 19:28)."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Savior, suffering from an intense inner turmoil, requests one final drink; they offer Him a sponge soaked in vinegar."}]}
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