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Explanation for:
Matthew
27
:
50
And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
11
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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":"Jesus called out loudly one more time and breathed His last. This act of surrendering His spirit demonstrates His divine authority, for as He stated, “No one can take my soul from me; but I lay it down by myself, and I will receive it again” (John 10:18)."},{"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":"Observe how He transforms even their malice into our redemption. The sources of our salvation emerged after the striking blow. ‘And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit.’ In that moment, He expressed, ‘I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. I willingly surrender it’ (John 10:18). This is the reason for His outcry, indicating that the mission was accomplished in accordance with His intent. As recorded by Mark, ‘and marvelled that He had already died’ (Mk. 15:39, 44-45), the centurion, in particular, recognized that Jesus had expired with a sense of authority. This proclamation tore the veil, opened the graves, and left the temple desolate."},{"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":"Since this initial voice was mocked, asking, “Why doesn’t Elijah come to rescue Him from the cross?” He called out once more with another voice, which the dead recognized and obeyed, demonstrating that if the deceased, who could not hear Him, responded, how much more could the living understand Him. But when He cried out to His Father, why did the dead not respond instead of the Father? If the Father acknowledged Him through the dead, let the living take this as a sign and motivation to heed Him. Thus, having strayed and moved away from the truth of His first voice, the authority of His second voice set them right. The initial voice was a reproof in their mouths, marked by mockery and scorn, while the second voice led to sorrow in their hearts and struck their breasts. The first voice was dismissed, but the subsequent voice issued forth, demanding justice from His rejectors. It is astounding that the dead executed the One who gives life; yet the One who was slain resurrected the dead. They intensified their rage, reaching a peak, while He amplified His glorious gifts and descended even to the depths. Behold the Dead, whom death seized and laid in the tomb, only to rise again and unveil the grave of His imprisonment. Death seized Him and ended His life while He slumbered, but upon awakening, He emerged and took away His captor. Behold the One who was crucified, yet brought down those who led Him to His execution; behold the One now a captive, who has subdued the one who once held Him captive. Your death upon the Cross became the wellspring of life for our frail existence; all who partake of Your source yield fruits akin to Your offering. Death consumed the life concealed in earthly vessels, yet did not realize that life is defiled under the appearance of the same Body in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Death, eager to devour Him, also rushed to liberate Him from its grasp. As death entered through Eve’s listening, life was ushered in through Mary’s hearing, and as humanity fell into bondage through the tree, Christ came to vanquish it through another tree."},{"author-name":"Apollinarius of Laodicea","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"This marks the initiation of the passage of souls into the presence of God. Those who follow Christ ascend to heaven, as demonstrated by Stephen when he proclaimed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ (Acts 7:59), and by Paul when he expressed, ‘It is better to be resolved and be with Christ’ (Phil. 1:23). In contrast, the Old Testament indicated that the souls of the deceased were to return to their own kin. Souls were once believed to descend, but the Lord transformed this descent into an ascent through His divine power."},{"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":"Jesus called out in a powerful voice to illustrate that when He proclaimed, ‘I have authority to lay down my life,’ it was indeed a reality, for He laid down His life with sovereign power. What was this declaration? ‘Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit,’ signifying that He did not surrender His spirit under compulsion but rather chose to do so freely. This reveals His intention to receive His soul again since every deposit is returned. We give thanks to God that when He departed this life, and His spirit was entrusted to the Father, from that moment the souls of the faithful are now safely held in God's care, rather than confined to the depths of hell as they once were, making the death of Christ our means of sanctification. Therefore, death is called out with a bold voice, which would not dare to approach unless summoned."},{"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 nature of the voice is depicted by Luke (Luke 23:46): Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. He called out loudly so that everyone could hear and recognize that throughout His life, even until the moment of His death, He referred to God as Father. He entrusted all to Him and remained obedient, demonstrating that He surrendered His life on His own terms. By proclaiming, Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit, He ultimately welcomed death. The events following this declaration are recounted by John, as the other Gospel writers did not include them: But His mother stood by the cross of Jesus, etc. (John 19:25). After describing how Jesus entrusted His dear Mother and the beloved disciple to each other and how, in His thirst, He consumed vinegar, John concludes with Jesus stating, ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). He then bowed His head and yielded up His spirit. More details regarding these events can be found in the Gospel of John."},{"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":"Death remains an enigma. Where can one observe it without experiencing deep reverence? Moreover, is the death of the God-Man, Jesus, not deserving of that same reverence? In a humble acknowledgment of our thoughts and emotions, let us approach the profound reality of His death. With a loud voice, Jesus declared, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46), and after bowing His head, He yielded His spirit (John 19:30). Simple words, but they invoke deep reflections. Jesus spoke with authority; this occurred after He had proclaimed to heaven and earth, “It is finished.” It is only when every task on earth was completed that the suffering Redeemer willingly surrendered His spirit to the Father. The Evangelists affirm that after crying out with a great voice (Luke 23:46; Mark 15:37), He expressed His final thoughts. A strong voice from one facing death signals that the individual dies not merely in resignation, but with complete volition, dominating over the harsh reality of death with a strength beyond human capacity. Witnessing this, the centurion was compelled to exclaim, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39). In His final moments, Jesus spoke to the Father, drawing parallels to his earlier declarations of divine sonship, as He had done in His youth, stating His place in the Father’s household (Luke 2:49), and during His ministry, admonishing those who profaned His Father’s house (John 2:16). Even in death, He maintained an acute awareness of His divine mission. He had come from the Father and was returning to Him, offering comfort to His disciples in their final discourse (John 16:28). His declaration, “I commit my spirit,” was likely intended to impart some faint yet real solace to grieving believers. Previously, He had stated: “I lay down my life for myself; I have the power to lay it down and the authority to take it up again” (John 10:18). In the moment of His death, He relinquished the divine authority over life and death. By His own volition, He executed the will of His heavenly Father on earth: He willingly accepted the shameful suffering for humanity. Having faithfully fulfilled the Father’s purpose, He calmly entrusted His life back to Him as a sign of obedience. He died freely, knowing all had been accomplished in accordance with the Father’s plan (John 19:28). “Into your hands I commit my spirit” conveys a surrender to the Father’s authority and protection, a temporary separation until His spirit would reunite with His body once more. In doing so, Jesus entrusted His spirit like a traveler who safely leaves belongings with a trusted companion, assured that they will remain safe until reclaimed. Likewise, the Lord Jesus entrusted His spirit to the Father, united in purpose and will. When He desires, He will take up life again; nothing will confine Him to the grave—not the malice of humanity nor the darkness of hell. While the faithful, such as the first martyr Stephen, also entrust their spirits to God (Acts 7:59), their surrender carries a different essence. Humans submit their spirits to avoid condemnation for inevitable sins, a concern that can weigh heavily on the righteous before the ultimate truth of God. However, Christ Jesus was immaculate and free from any transgression against His Father’s commandments. Thus, He yielded His spirit in utter tranquility, untouched by despair. The apostle Peter attests that Christ, who was killed in the flesh, remained alive in the spirit and proclaimed to the imprisoned souls (1 Pet. 3:18, 19). The life He entrusted to the Father’s care penetrated even into the realm of death, awakening the spirits long held in the grave. Furthermore, His act of bowing His head signified His voluntary surrender (John 19:30). This moment further demonstrates His dominion over death. Most would bow their heads only after yielding their spirit, yet Christ, filled with vibrant life and power, bowed His head before releasing His spirit. This bowing symbolized submission, not to the cruelty of death, but to the will of His heavenly Father—His Divine Purpose. What majesty resides in that moment of death! As Saint Augustine writes, “Who falls asleep when he wills, as Jesus dies at His own command? Who casts off his garments at his own whim as He discards His flesh?” How remarkable is the manner of our Savior's death! He died at the ninth hour on the 14th of Nisan, which corresponds to noon by our reckoning—precisely when the Passover lamb was sacrificed according to the law. His timing of death unequivocally identified Him as the Lamb of God offered for the sins of humanity. Indeed, there is much in the death of our Savior that remains extraordinary and beyond human comprehension. Yet, can we grasp what it means to die in peace? He completed everything the heavenly Father ordained for Him while on earth, and He did so in perfect repose. Should we believe we will find peace in death and eternity by other means? We must live not for ourselves but for God's glory. The Son glorifies the Father, and the servant reveres his master. “If I am the Father, where is my glory? If I am Lord, where is my fear?” (Malachi 1:6) Thus speaks the Lord of heaven and earth to us with sorrow. The divine will has precisely outlined what is expected of us on earth, defining our relationships with God, ourselves, and one another—guiding us toward eternity. Is this guidance in vain? The day will come when our bodies return to dust, and our spirits will return to God, who bestowed them. What will the soul's encounter with the Lord be like if its earthly existence was marked by forgetfulness of Him? “Amen, amen, I say unto you, If any man keep My word, he shall never see death” (John 8:51). Spiritual death awaits those who disregard His commandments. What a tragic scene will confront the sinful soul when faced with death and eternity! In the rush of earthly life, amidst myriad distractions, even the most attentive may overlook significant truths. Yet, once the ties binding the sinful soul to this world are severed, it will be left to grapple with its own actions and the profound reality of God’s judgment. Ah! One who has not lived as a faithful follower of Christ cannot find peace in death. Will the conscience remain silent at death’s threshold if it was disregarded during life's healthier moments? How can the soul embrace the solace of prayer in death’s hours if it was a stranger to prayer in life? How might it find comfort in confronting death through a faith that has been neglected throughout its journey? It is essential to align our lives with God’s will to prepare for a tranquil death and an everlasting legacy. Parents, do not shy away from the heavenly calling placed upon you. If you neglect to raise your children in the fear of God, how will you face the Father in heaven? He will hold you accountable for the souls entrusted to your care. Young people, cherish your youth in service to the Lord; it will be grievous for you posthumously if your formative years are squandered in wickedness instead of cultivated in virtue. Servants and employers, heed God’s will as laid out for you: servants must serve their masters with sincerity and honesty, while masters must nurture their servants' hearts, remembering there is a Lord above all. Let each of us earnestly fulfill the work assigned by God. Thus, with trust in the Lord Jesus, our faithful Intercessor, we shall embrace eternal rest. Amen."},{"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":"He cried out with a loud voice: “It is finished” (John 19:30) and “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46). When He “gave up the spirit,” it meant He had passed away. This occurred around the ninth hour (Matthew 27:46), after having been crucified approximately at six o'clock; thus, He remained on the cross for about three hours. Typically, those who were crucified could survive for several days, yet the Lord's swift departure shocked even Pilate (Mark 15:14). This rapid demise can be attributed to the immense agony He suffered beforehand, which so drained His strength that He was unable to carry His own cross."},{"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 taking a refreshing drink, Jesus again called out with a loud voice, “It is finished! Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit....” At these sacred words, His head fell, as is customary for those who are dying, and He surrendered His Spirit.... Thus concluded a life unlike any other that has ever been or will ever be on earth. The mission for the salvation of the world was fulfilled. Everything anticipated, promised, foretold, and envisioned by the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament came to fruition. This powerful declaration from the Lord, “It has been accomplished!” (John 19:30), is the pronouncement of the victorious Conqueror over death and hell: “I have ... accomplished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4). The will of the heavenly Father has been realized: the cross of the Son of God has brought salvation to the world, the Old Covenant has concluded, and the New Covenant has been unveiled. Having completed His obedience, the Son of God, who remained faithful to His Father’s will even to the death of the cross, bows His head and entrusts His spirit to God the Father as an act of submission. He declared, “I have the authority to lay it down” (His life) “and I have the authority to take it again”.... “But I lay it down of My own accord” (John 10:18). He cried out to demonstrate that it was done according to His desire. The Evangelist Mark recounts, “Pilate marveled that He had already died” (Mark 15:44), while “the centurion, particularly because he believed that Jesus died with signs of authority” (St John Chrysostom). Glory to Your humility, O Lord! Glory to Your unfathomable love...!"},{"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 soldiers offered Him a sponge soaked in vinegar on a branch of hyssop. After Jesus had satisfied His thirst, He proclaimed, ‘It is finished!’ (John 19:30). The death of Jesus signifies the conclusion of His earthly mission as the Messiah, and the redemption plan designed by the Father has been fulfilled. Subsequently, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (Luke 23:46). With His head bowed, He surrendered His spirit and passed away."},{"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":"The conclusion of the Son of God’s suffering was imminent. As He sensed death drawing near, He shouted with a powerful voice: ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ Then, with one final exertion, He declared the words: ‘It is finished,’ and immediately surrendered His spirit, His head dropping lifelessly against His chest. Thus concluded the earthly existence of the God-man who had come to rescue humanity. To redeem fallen humanity from the original curse and death, He willingly bore the immense weight of the world's sins upon Himself, and to atone for them, He underwent all possible physical and moral trials that one may endure. The profound depth of His moral anguish is accentuated by the fact that He faced these sufferings from the very people whom God had nurtured and cherished as His chosen and beloved ones for millennia, the individuals on whom the hopes for the future relied, serving as a beacon amidst profound spiritual and moral darkness. \\n\\nA noteworthy aspect highlights the physiological reason for Christ’s death: He died on the cross before the criminals beside Him, eliminating the need for the Romans to resort to their brutal practice of breaking the legs of the crucified. Typically, death could linger on the cross for two to three days, yet Christ passed from this life in just six hours (from 3 to 9) after being affixed to the cross. This occurrence, particularly notable since He was in peak health throughout His life, seemed extraordinary to early Christians and was attributed to a miraculous cause. However, there was also an immediate reason behind His quick demise. When the soldier pierced His side to confirm His death, blood and water flowed from the wound, strongly suggesting that the immediate cause of His death was a rupture of the heart, resulting from overwhelming mental distress. It is well known that extreme joy or sorrow can lead to the tearing of heart tissue, causing blood to fill the pericardium, the cavity surrounding the heart. Typically, this condition is identified only through post-mortem examination, but in Christ’s case, the soldier's spear thrust clearly indicated it. \\n\\nIt is a common occurrence for a person dying from a ruptured heart to abruptly clutch their chest and emit a sharp, agonizing cry. Although the Savior could not raise His hand due to His hands being nailed, the Evangelists distinctly recount His last loud cry, followed by immediate death. Thus, the Savior of the world literally succumbed to a broken heart. This infinitely loving heart could not withstand the painful ignorance of those who, in their furious rage, did not recognize the enormity of their actions. It could not bear the unfathomable insanity that prompted humanity to subject the One who came to liberate them from death’s grasp, to rescue them from the destructive power of hell, and to guide them toward everlasting life and eternal happiness, to the most brutal tortures of demise."}]}
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