Matthew 27 Commentary

Matthew summarizes Jesus’s third, and official, religious trial. He says it took place in the morning and tells us that it resulted in condemning Jesus to death. After the predetermined trial concluded, Jesus was immediately brought to Pilate, the Roman governor. This event is known as Jesus’s Sunrise Trial.

Judas’s Remorse: After Jesus was condemned, Judas regrets his betrayal, and he tries to return the thirty pieces of silver. The chief priests refuse to accept it. Judas throws it at their feet and runs away before killing himself.

Matthew reports what the priest’s did with the bribe money that Judas left in the temple. Because it was unlawful for the priests to put Judas’s returned blood money into the Temple treasury, they used it to buy the Potter’s Field, which becomes a burial place for strangers. Matthew explains how the priest’s purchase of "the Potter’s Field" with the returned blood money originally paid to Judas for betraying Jesus, the Messiah, fulfills four prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. 

Pilate’s First Interview with Jesus and his First Declaration of Innocence: Not permitted to execute Jesus themselves, the Sanhedrin brings Jesus to Pilate early in the morning for His Roman (or Civil) Trial. Pilate investigates whether or not Jesus is guilty of insurrection. When Pilate askes Him, if He is the King of the Jews, Jesus answers "It is as you say." The Jews continue to press charges, which Jesus does not respond to. Jesus’s silence amazes Pilate. This event is part of the first phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus’s Arraignment before Pilate.

Matthew interjects to inform his readers about a custom the Roman governor performed for the Jews each Passover. The custom was to release a prisoner. Matthew mentions that at that time Rome had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Pilate will later use this custom and the prisoner Barabbas as a bargaining chip in his attempts to release Jesus, whom the governor knows is innocent. Matthew’s interjection divides his narration of the first phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial, which is called: "Jesus’s Arraignment before Pilate," from the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. The third phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."

"The Passover Pardon": Pilate’s Second Attempt to Release Jesus. Pilate offers the crowd a choice as to which prisoner he will customarily release: the notorious prisoner Barabbas or Jesus, called Christ. Matthew points out that Pilate did this because he knew the Jews accused Jesus out of envy. Matthew 27:17-18 begins Matthew’s account of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."

Pilate’s Wife’s Troubling Dream: Pilate’s wife sends him a message during the middle of Jesus’s civil trial. The Roman governor receives it while he is sitting in the seat of judgment. The message is for Pilate to have no part in Jesus’s conviction or execution, because his wife suffered a terrible dream about this righteous Man the night before. This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas: The crowd responds to Pilate’s offer to use the governor’s "Passover Pardon" on Jesus by shouting at Him to give them Barabbas instead. Barabbas had been imprisoned for insurrection and murder. Pilate wanted to release Jesus and tries to persuade the crowd again, but they kept on calling out—"Crucify, crucify Him!" This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."

The Crowd Wears Pilate Down: As the crowd was shouting "Crucify Him!" Pilate asks them two questions to recall them from their frenzied obsession with killing Jesus. Pilate asks them: "Why He should be crucified? What evil has He done deserving of such a punishment?" The crowds ignore his questions and keep shouting all the more—"Crucify Him!" This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment." 

Pilate Washes His Hands: Pilate’s Sixth Attempt to Release Jesus: Pilate comes to the conclusion that he cannot win and that a riot is about to break out. But he is very troubled about crucifying Jesus, whom he firmly believes to be an innocent Man. He tries to publicly absolve himself of any wrong doing by washing his hands in water and declaring himself to be innocent. For their part, the Jews are quick to reassure the governor that Jesus’s blood will not be on Pilate, but on them and their children. This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."

Pilate’s Verdict: Matthew summarizes the three main outcomes of Jesus’s civil trial. They are: Barabbas was released; Jesus was scourged; and Jesus was handed over to the crowd’s demands that He be crucified.This passage is Matthew’s summary-conclusion to his narration of the judicial proceedings of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."

The Scourging and Mocking of Jesus: Pilate’s Third Attempt to Release Jesus: Matthew records how the Roman soldiers physically abused and cruelly mocked Jesus during His civil trial. After they scourged Him, the soldiers dress Him up as a ridiculous king, complete with a robe, a crown of thorns, and reed for a scepter. They act out a charade of paying homage to "the King of the Jews" and beat Him with the "scepter" and spit on Him. This passage is Matthew’s account of the Roman Soldiers physical and social abuse of Jesus. It occurred within the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment." 

Jesus is stripped of the mocking robe and dressed again in His own clothes. He is led away to be crucified. After exiting the Praetorium, Simon of Cyrene is pressed into service to carry His cross.

The Roman soldiers bring Jesus to Golgotha, which means “Place of a Skull,” where they will crucify Him. To help numb the pain of the nails, they offer Him wine mixed with gall to drink. Jesus refuses to drink it. The offered drink of wine mixed with gall was in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

After they had crucified Jesus and were waiting for him to die, the Roman soldiers divide His garments among themselves by casting lots. This was in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

The inscription over Jesus’s head cited the official crime for which he was crucified. It read “King of the Jews.” On either side of Jesus were two robbers who were crucified with Him. This was in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

Matthew lists three groups of people who mock Jesus while He is on the cross. These groups are those passing by, the religious leaders, and the robbers who were crucified with Him. Matthew records some of the things they say as they mock Him. Some of these things are in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

Darkness fell upon all the land between the sixth and ninth hour on the day Jesus was crucified. Matthew’s simple and factual account of the crucifixion darkness is both rich in meaning and is the fulfillment of a dozen or more prophecies.

After three hours of darkness, Jesus cries out, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken Me?” This expression is a quotation of Psalm 22, which is prophetic of the Messiah’s sufferings. Jesus’s outcry is also the Gospel’s clearest glimpse into His suffering on the cross as He bore the sins of the world.

Matthew addresses a misconception that some of those standing there had about what Jesus said in the previous verse. They thought Jesus was calling for the prophet Elijah to rescue Him, instead of crying out to God. One of them brings Jesus sour wine to drink, thus fulfilling the second prophecy of Psalm 69:21. The bystanders wait in curiosity or scorn to see whether or not Elijah will come rescue Him from the cross.

Jesus cried out with a loud voice and dismissed His spirit. The death of Jesus makes the Gospel possible.

Matthew notes four remarkable events that happened when Jesus the Messiah died.

The Centurion who was in charge of overseeing Jesus’s crucifixion, along with the other soldiers with him, became very afraid when they saw the earthquake and similar events which occurred when Jesus died. They confess that Jesus truly was the Son of God. This event is sometimes called “The Centurion’s Confession.”

Matthew reports that there were many women who witnessed Jesus suffer and die. These women had been longtime followers and supporters of Jesus and were from Galilee. Matthew identifies three of these women: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John.

The Burial of Jesus: Matthew explains how the Messiah’s body was hastily buried before the Sabbath. A rich man named Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to request Jesus’s body, which Pilate granted. Joseph then wrapped Jesus’s corpse in clean linen cloth and laid it in his own nearby tomb and rolled a large stone in front of it. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw where His body was laid. Matthew’s explanation is also a reference to a Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 53:9.

The Securing of the Tomb: The day after Jesus’s crucifixion, the religious leaders who conspired to murder Him are still worried. They recalled how Jesus claimed that He would rise from the dead after three days. They feared that His disciples may come and steal His body out of the tomb and falsely claim that He did rise from the grave. If they did these things, then it would potentially make the Jesus Movement bigger, more threatening, and more difficult to stop than ever before. Therefore, they request that Pilate guard the tomb for three days. He gives them permission to secure it as best they know how, and they do.