Matthew 27:39

39 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads

Matthew 27:39 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 27:39

And they that passed by
In the road to or from Jerusalem; for, it seems, the crosses were placed by the wayside; or they who passed by the cross, the populace that came from Jerusalem, on purpose to see the sight,

reviled him,
or "blasphemed him": they spoke all manner of evil of him, they could think of, to which he answered not a word; and which may teach us patience under the revilings of men: this was foretold of him, ( Psalms 89:51 ) , "they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed", or "Messiah"; and which Jarchi explains by (ypwo) , "the ends of the king Messiah"; his last times, towards the close of his days; and cites that passage in the Misna F26,

``in the heels, or, as Buxtorf renders it, in the end of the days of the Messiah impudence shall be multiplied,''

as it now was exceedingly:

wagging their heads;
in derision of him, and as exulting in his misery; see ( Isaiah 37:22 ) ( Lamentations 2:15 ) . This also was prophesied of him in ( Psalms 22:7 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F26 Sota, c. 9. sect. 15.

Matthew 27:39 In-Context

37 Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."
38 Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
39 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads
40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying,

Footnotes 1

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.