Matthew 27:32-44

Matthew 27:32-44

[32] And  as they came out,  they found  a man  of Cyrene,  Simon  by name:  they compelled  to  bear  his  cross.  [33] And  when they were come  unto  a place  called  Golgotha,  that  to say,  a place  of a skull,  [34] They gave  him  to drink  mingled  with  gall:  and  when he had tasted  thereof, he would  not  drink.  [35] And  they crucified  him,  and parted  his  garments,  casting  lots:  that  it might be fulfilled  which  by  the prophet,  They parted  garments  among them,  and  upon  vesture  did they cast  lots.  [36] And  sitting down  they watched  him  there;  [37] And  set up  over  his  head  his  accusation  written,  THIS  JESUS  THE KING  OF THE JEWS.  [38] Then  were there two  thieves  crucified  with  him,  one  on  the right hand,  and  another  on  the left.  [39] And  they that passed by  reviled  him,  wagging  their  heads,  [40] And  saying,  Thou that destroyest  the temple,  and  buildest  it in  three  days,  save  thyself.  If  the Son  of God,  come down  from  the cross.  [41] Likewise  also  the chief priests  mocking  him, with  the scribes  and  elders,  [42] He saved  others;  himself  he cannot  save.  the King  of Israel,  now  come down  from  the cross,  and  we will believe  him.  [43] He trusted  in  God;  let him deliver  him  now,  if  he will have  him:  for  he said,  I am  the Son  of God.  [44] The thieves  also,  which  were crucified  with him,  teeth. 

What does Matthew 27:32-44 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"The overenthusiastic attempts to draw out the physical horror of crucifixion which disfigure some Christian preaching (and at least one recent movie [1]) find no echo in the gospels. Perhaps the original readers were too familiar with both the torture and the shame of crucifixion to need any help in envisaging what it really meant. At any rate, the narrative focus in these verses is rather on the surrounding events and the people involved (Simon, the soldiers, the bandits), together with the ironical placard over Jesus" head which sums up the Roman dismissal of his claims." [2]
Matthew"s emphasis in his account of Jesus" crucifixion was on the mocking of the onlookers.