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T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
May 1930
is the Son of God, but their whole atti tude showed that it was spoken in deri sion. They undoubtedly understood that when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God He asserted that He had supernatural dignity and power. Vs. 41-43. C h ief priests. Three classes are here mentioned; chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees. From these three classes the Sanhedrin was formed. These mock ers do not address Jesus directly but speak about Him. They said three distinct things in derision: (1) “He saved others”— probably referring to His miracles of healing. (2) “He is the King of Israel.” He had that day claimed to be Messiah (2 6 :6 3 ); therefore they understood Him to claim that He was the King of Israel. The inscription on the Cross gave the same declaration. They could not alter the inscription; they made it appear that it did not tell the truth. (3) “He trust- eth on God”—therefore, say they, should God now come to His help. III. The Son o f God F orsaken (44-49). V. 44. T he robbers also. Luke (2 3 :39- 43) says that one of the malefactors railed on Him, while the other was peni tent and called upon Him for salvation. It is difficult to reconcile these statements. The prevailing explanation is that at first both robbers reviled Him, and later the one, impressed by what he had seen and heard, turned to Him. in repentance. V. 45. F rom the sixth hour. That is, from twelve o’clock to about three o’clock there was darkness. This cannot have been an eclipse of the sun. The simplest explanation is that it was supernatural. Over all the land. The land of Palestine. The word might mean “earth,” but there is no particular reason for so understand ing it. V. 46. Cried with a loud voice. Appar ently in great suffering. E li, Eli. This language is borrowed from Psalm 22:1. Why hast thou fo rsa k en me? More lit erally, “Why didst thou forsake me?” In what sense the Father forsook His Son, no one can say. He was always well pleasing to the Father. We can under stand that it can only be as a sin-bearer that He is in the position of forsakenness. Vs. 47-48. Calleth fo r Elias, it is difficult to see how the Jews could so misunder stand the language of Jesus. The Ara maic and Hebrew were familiar to them. Could it have been the soldiers who mis understood His cry? Gave him to drink. This sympathetic soldier pitied the Suf ferer. The language indicates that he re peatedly applied the moistened sponge to His lips. V. 49. L et us see. That is, wait, let matters rest. See if Elijah will hear Him and come to His help. IV . The Son o f God Victorious (50). V. 50. Cried again with a loud voice. It has been argued that this loud outcry at the moment of dying was an indica tion that His bodily powers had not be come exhausted. The fact that blood and water came from His heart when pierced- by' the soldier’s spear (Jn . 19:34), has been taken as evidence that our Lord died of a broken heart. Y ielded up his spirit. Or dismissed His spirit. Mark (15:37) reads: “He breathed out his life.” John (19:30) says: “He gave up his spirit.” Each of these expressions implies a vol untary yielding of His life. Augustine has well said: “He gave up His life because
TP HE trial of our Lord may be consid- ered in two parts, the Jewish and the Roman. The Jewish trial included the pre liminary examination before Annas (John 18:12-14, 19-23) ; the informal session of the Sanhedrin, at which the real trial and condemnation seems to have occurred (Matt. 26 :57-68; Mark 14:53-65) ; and the formal session of the Sanhedrin (Matt. 27:1, 2 ; Luke 22:66-71), from which He was sent to Pilate for sentence. The Ro man trial included the preliminary in quiry before Pilate (Matt. 27:11-14; Jn. 18:27-38) ; the hearing before Herod (Lk. 2 3 :6-12) ; final hearing and sentence by Pilate (Matt. 2 7 :15-31; John 18:39-19:16). Matthew also mentions incidentally the remorse and suicide of Judas (27:3-10). ♦ * * H eart of th e L esson I. The Son o f Man Crucified (33-36). V. 33. Golgotha. This is an Aramaic word meaning “skull.” The Latin word for “skull” is calvaria, from which we get the English “Calvary.” The location is drink, such as was ordinarily given to criminals about to be executed. H e would not drink. He determined that His mind should be clear throughout the remaining moments of His life. V. 35. Crucified him. The details of the Crucifixion are passed over very quickly in one brief clause. P arted his garments. John (19:23) explains that the four parts of His garments were divided between the four soldiers who were the special guard, but that the “coat” was without seam. Possibly it was a costly garment which had been given to Him. For this they cast lots (cf. Psa. 22:18). V. 36. They sat and watched. Perhaps there was idle curiosity, or was it that they might guard against rescue? II. The Son o f God R eviled (37-44). V. 37. H is accusation. This was writ ten in the three great world languages: Hebrew, the tongue of the people of Jeru salem; Latin, the language of the civil rulers; and Greek, the language of cul ture and general intercourse. There has been much discussion about the differ ences in the inscriptions as given by the four Evangelists. There is no contradic tion. Matthew seems to give the most complete statement. V. 38. Two robbers. We may imagine that they were comrades of Barabbas (cf. 27:16; Lk. 22:37; Isa. 53:12). V. 39. They that passed by. They were passersby going to and from the Temple service, or going to and from their daily tasks. Railed on him. The word is also “blasphemed,” which would mean any in jurious or insulting speech. The reviling began before the Sanhedrin (26:67, 68), continuing when He was before Herod (27:11) and before Pilate (27:27-31). V. 40. D estroyest the temple (26:61). This apparently grew out -of a perversion of what Jesus said at the first Passover (Jn . 2 :19 ). ■ Save thyself. The word “save” is used both of bodily and spiritual deliverance. I f thou be the Son o f God. The expression takes for granted that He uncertain but it was outside t h e c i t y (Heb. 13:12), yet near (Jn. 19:20). V. 34. W in e to drink. Some manu scripts read “vine gar.” It was evi dently a stupefying
gentle, kind Friend, the Master whom he had followed. On Thursday, Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare the Passover Supper. This feast had been celebrated by the Jews for many years, commemorating their departure from Egypt. The slain lamb was a type of Jesus, the Lamb slain for our sins. As the Israelites were safe because of the blood of the lamb sprin kled on their doors, so we are protected from sin and its punishment, if upon our hearts God sees the blood of His dear Son. On Thursday evening they all gathered in the upper room, where the Passover meal had been prepared, and partook of the bread and wine, which Jesus told them represented His body and blood. He told the disciples to observe the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him, until He comes again. (Picture the Supper scene, the wash ing of the disciples’ feet, the singing of the hymn, as they all left, and the sadness that must have been in the hearts of all, as they went from the upper room into the Garden of Gethsemane. Tell of the sleepy disciples, the watching, praying, submissive Saviour, the arrest, and the denial of Peter after his confident asser tion that he would “never be offended.”) Peter loved Jesus dearly, and meant to be brave, true, loyal, faithful; but when the test came, he lacked courage to let people know he belonged to Jesus, so he denied that he knew Himl But the dear Lord, who had warned Peter of his coming failure, turned, and looked at him. That look of love and sorrow broke Peter’s heart 1 It made him remember all the Master had said. Peter went out and wept bitterly. Jesus freely forgave him, and we know how boldly he witnessed for Christ after Pentecost. “I gave My life for thee, What hast thou done for Me?” Golden Text-. “Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). * * * L esson in O u tlin e I. The Son o f Man Crucified (33-36). 1. The place—Golgotha (33). 2. The bitter draught refused (34). 3. The parting of His garments (35). 4. The watchers (36). II. The Son o f God R eviled (37-44). 1. The “accusation” (37). 2. The mockers. a. The robbers (38, 44). b. The passersby (39, 40). c. The chief priests, scribes, elders (41-43). III. The Son o f God F orsaken (44-49). 1. Midday darkness (45). 2. Forsaken by the Father (46). 3. Forsaken o f men (47-49). IV . The Son o f God Victorious (50; cf. Heb. 2:14). June 15, 1930 Jesu s on th e Cross L esso n : Matthew 27:1-66. ( Lesson T e x t : Matt. 27:33-50.)
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