What does Matthew 27:35 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Roman"s normally tied or nailed the victim to the crossbeam of his cross. In Jesus" case they did the latter. They would then hoist the crossbeam and the prisoner up onto the upright member of the cross. Next they would fasten the crucified person"s feet to the upright by tying or nailing them. The Romans constructed crosses in various shapes: an X, a T, or, as in Jesus" case, the traditional T with the upright extending above the crossbeam ( Matthew 27:37). Sometimes the victim was only a few inches off the ground, but Jesus appears to have been a few feet higher ( Matthew 27:48; John 19:29). Normally the Romans crucified their victims naked. The executioners took the criminal"s clothes for themselves. In Jesus" case they cast lots for his robe fulfilling Psalm 22:18 (cf. John 19:23-24). This happened in the late morning on Friday ( Mark 15:25; John 19:14). [source][source]

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"In the case of Jesus we have reason to think that, while the mode of punishment to which He was subjected was un-Jewish ^[1], every concession would be made to Jewish custom, and hence we thankfully believe that on the Cross He was spared the indignity of exposure. Such would have been truly un-Jewish." ^[2] [source]

Muslims believe that God took Jesus to heaven before He died and that He will come back to earth to finish His work. They believe that it was Judas who died on the cross. [source][source]

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"Crucifixion was unspeakably painful and degrading. Whether tied or nailed to the cross, the victim endured countless paroxysms as he pulled with his arms and pushed with his legs to keep his chest cavity open for breathing and then collapsed in exhaustion until the demand for oxygen demanded renewed paroxysms. The scourging, the loss of blood, the shock from the pain, all produced agony that could go on for days, ending at last by suffocation, cardiac arrest, or loss of blood. When there was reason to hasten death, the execution squad would smash the victim"s legs. Death followed almost immediately, either from shock or from collapse that cut off breathing." ^[3] [source]

The Romans reserved crucifixion for the worst criminals from the lowest classes of society. Roman citizens were exempt from crucifixion unless Caesar himself ordered it. For the Jews crucifixion was even more horrible because it symbolized a person dying under God"s curse ( Deuteronomy 21:23). Israel"s leaders hung up those who had died under God"s curse for others to see and learn from. Jesus bore God"s curse for the sins of humankind so we would not have to experience that curse. [source][source]

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Context Summary

He will not drink what would dull His keen sense of the momentous issues of the Cross. Those taunts were true. None who save themselves can save others. The cry of forsakenness, the midday midnight, the yielded spirit, the rent veil, the opened tombs, the sympathy of nature-all these proved that this was no common death, and were in keeping with everything that Scripture had foretold, 1 Peter 1:11.

Our Lord was wrapped in midnight, that He might be our "bright and morning star." He became obedient to death, that He might give eternal life. His heel was sorely wounded, that He might break the head of him that had the power of death, and might wear forever at His girdle the keys of death and Hades. Make His soul an offering for thy sin. Hide in the cleft which the soldier's spear opened in His side. He has made peace by the blood of His Cross; we have but to accept and be at rest. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 27

¹  Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate
³  Judas hangs himself
¹⁹  Pilate, admonished of his wife,
²⁰  and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas
²⁷  Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns;
³³  crucified;
³⁹  reviled;
⁵⁰  dies, and is buried;
⁶²  his tomb is sealed and watched