This verse is unique to the first Gospel. Sometimes people took criminals down from their crosses to prevent them from dying. The solders guarded Jesus to prevent this from happening. Jesus really did die; no one rescued Him. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Matthew 27:32-44 - "where They Crucified Him"
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
1Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate 3Judas hangs himself 19Pilate, admonished of his wife, 20and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas 27Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns; 33crucified; 39reviled; 50dies, and is buried; 62his tomb is sealed and watched
Greek Commentary for Matthew 27:36
Watched him there [ετηρουν αυτον εκει] Imperfect tense descriptive of the task to prevent the possibility of rescue or removal of the body. These rough Roman soldiers casting lots over the garments of Christ give a picture of comedy at the foot of the Cross, the tragedy of the ages. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 27:36
2 Corinthians 11:24Five times received I forty stripes save one [πεντακις τεσσερακοντα παρα μιαν ελαβον] The Acts and the Epistles are silent about these Jewish floggings (Matthew 27:36). See note on Luke 12:47 for omission of plēgas (stripes). Thirty-nine lashes was the rule for fear of a miscount (Deuteronomy 25:1-3). Cf. Josephus (Ant. IV. 8, 1, 21). [source]
James 2:10Whosoever shall keep [οστις τηρησηι] Indefinite relative clause with οστις hostis and aorist active subjunctive of τηρεω tēreō old verb, to guard (from τηρος tēros guarding), as in Matthew 27:36, without αν an (though often used, but only one example of modal εαναν ean=αν an in James, viz., James 4:4). This modal εαν an (πταισηι δε εν ενι ean) merely interprets the sentence as either more indefinite or more definite (Robertson, Grammar, p. 957f.). [source]
What do the individual words in Matthew 27:36 mean?
Greek Commentary for Matthew 27:36
Imperfect tense descriptive of the task to prevent the possibility of rescue or removal of the body. These rough Roman soldiers casting lots over the garments of Christ give a picture of comedy at the foot of the Cross, the tragedy of the ages. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 27:36
The Acts and the Epistles are silent about these Jewish floggings (Matthew 27:36). See note on Luke 12:47 for omission of plēgas (stripes). Thirty-nine lashes was the rule for fear of a miscount (Deuteronomy 25:1-3). Cf. Josephus (Ant. IV. 8, 1, 21). [source]
Indefinite relative clause with οστις hostis and aorist active subjunctive of τηρεω tēreō old verb, to guard (from τηρος tēros guarding), as in Matthew 27:36, without αν an (though often used, but only one example of modal εαναν ean=αν an in James, viz., James 4:4). This modal εαν an (πταισηι δε εν ενι ean) merely interprets the sentence as either more indefinite or more definite (Robertson, Grammar, p. 957f.). [source]