Matthew 27:49

49 And the rest said, Let him be; let us see if Elijah will come to his help.

Matthew 27:49 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:49

The rest said, let be
The others, to whom he belonged, that fetched the sponge, said to him, let him alone, keep at a distance from him, give him nothing to drink:

let us see whether Elias will come to save him;
whom the Jews looked upon to be the forerunner of the Messiah, and therefore suggest, that should he come to save him, they would believe he was the Messiah; and they had a mighty notion of Elias appearing to persons frequently ^F19, and talking, and conversing with them; (See Gill on Matthew 17:3), though they did not believe he would come, and appear to Christ; for they were persons of great note for piety and learning, to whom he appeared, as they pretend, whereas they had no such opinion of him. The Ethiopic version here adds, and one took a spear and pierced his side with it, and blood and water flowed out: but this circumstance is only recorded by the Evangelist John, ( John 19:34 ) , though Beza says the same is read here in two ancient copies.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 Vid. Juchasin, fol. 79. 1. & 86. 1. & 101. 1. & 118. 2. & 132. 1.

Matthew 27:49 In-Context

47 And some of those who were near by, hearing it, said, This man is crying to Elijah.

48 And straight away one of them went quickly, and took a sponge, and made it full of bitter wine, and put it on a rod and gave him drink.

49 And the rest said, Let him be; let us see if Elijah will come to his help.

50 And Jesus gave another loud cry, and gave up his spirit.

51 And the curtain of the Temple was parted in two from end to end; and there was an earth-shock; and the rocks were broken;