Matthäus 27:36

36 Und sie saßen allda und hüteten sein.

Matthäus 27:36 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:36

And sitting down, they watched him there.
] That is, the soldiers, after they had crucified Jesus, and parted his garments, sat down on the ground at the foot of the cross, and there watched him, lest his disciples should take him down; though there was no need to fear that, since they were few, and weak, and wanted courage, and were in the utmost dread and consternation themselves; or lest the people, who were very changeable with respect to Christ, one day saying Hosanna to the son of David, and another day crucify him, crucify him, should once more change their sentiments of him, and through pity to him rise and take him down; or rather, lest Jesus himself should, by his miraculous power, unloose himself, come down, and make his escape. It was usual with the Romans to set a soldier, or soldiers, to watch those that were crucified, not only before they expired, but after they were dead, lest they should be took down and buried; as appears from Petronius, Plutarch, and others ^F23. This seems to be the watch Pilate refers to, ( Matthew 27:65 ) , and over which there was a centurion, ( Matthew 27:54 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 Vid. Lipsium de Cruce, l. 2. c. 16. & Lydium. de re militari, l. 5. c. 4. p. 191. Kirchman. de funeribus Rom. append. c. 9. p. 726.

Matthäus 27:36 In-Context

34 gaben sie ihm Essig zu trinken mit Galle vermischt; und da er's schmeckte, wollte er nicht trinken.

35 Da sie ihn aber gekreuzigt hatten, teilten sie seine Kleider und warfen das Los darum, auf daß erfüllet würde, was gesagt ist durch den Propheten: "Sie haben meine Kleider unter sich geteilt, und über mein Gewand haben sie das Los geworfen."

36 Und sie saßen allda und hüteten sein.

37 Und oben zu seinen Häupten setzten sie die Ursache seines Todes, und war geschrieben: Dies ist Jesus, der Juden König.

38 Und da wurden zwei Mörder mit ihm gekreuzigt, einer zur Rechten und einer zur Linken.