38 “Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.” (Matthew 27:38–44 (ESV)
27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.” (Mark 15:27–32 (ESV)
35 “And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine.” (Luke 23:35–36 (ESV)
In our study of the Gospel of Matthew’s record of the Passion Week of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is necessary, and insightful, to examine all four Gospel accounts. This discipline provides us understanding of all the events and encounters which took place during those hours.
We continue to examine what occurred during the first three hours of Jesus’ crucifixion. Today’s focus is the mocking crowd surrounding the scene at Golgotha.
Matthew, Mark and Luke mentioned the mocking of the Lord Jesus by the passersby’s, the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, the Roman soldiers and the two robbers crucified with Him. There were three specific statements of scorn directed to, and about, Jesus by the various people groups.
First, the passersby’s said, ““You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” This statement was in reference to when Jesus cleansed the temple of livestock and the moneychangers, early in His ministry (John 2:13-17). In response, the Jews asked Him what sign would He show for doing these things (John 2:18). Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). The Jews thought Jesus referred to the Jerusalem temple but Jesus spoke of the temple of His resurrected body (John 2:20-22).
Second, the religious leaders said to themselves, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” It is hard to imagine after all the miracles Jesus performed throughout His three year ministry that the Jewish leaders would believe in Christ if He did come off the cross. They would have continued to disbelieve and dismiss the evidence before them of Christ’s deity (Matthew 16:1-4). .
Third, Matthew recorded the religious leaders also saying, “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” (See John 5:18).
Fourth, Luke recorded the Roman soldiers joined in the mockery and blasphemy of the Lord.
Finally, the two robbers joined in the clamoring and reviled the Lord. To revile (ὀνειδίζω; oneidizo) means to mock insult and reprimand. The robbers did this actively and continually.
“Scornfully they exclaim that the way for the crucified One to prove his claim to being the Son of God will be for him to descend from the cross. They imply that it is weakness that keeps him there. Actually, however, it was strength, the strength of his love for sinners,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“In the midst of it all Jesus remains silent. He offers not one word of rebuke. Peter puts it beautifully when he says, “who, while being reviled, did not revile in return; while suffering, never threatened, but continued to entrust himself to him who judges righteously; who himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by his wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:23, 24).”
However, the scene would soon change. Within the providence of God the Father, He would give one of the robbers as a gift to God the Son (Luke 23:39-43; John 6:37). This is what we will examine when next we meet.
Do not be frustrated when people mock, scorn, revile and reject you because of your faith in Christ. As unbelievers treated the Master, they will similarly treat His disciples (John 15:18-25). Rather, count it all joy (James 1:2-4).
Soli deo Gloria!
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