Matthew 27:49

49 while the rest said, "Let us see whether Elijah is coming to deliver him."

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 "The man is calling for Elijah," said some of the bystanders.

48 One of them ran forthwith, and filling a sponge with sour wine put it on the end of a cane and offered it Him to drink;

49 while the rest said, "Let us see whether Elijah is coming to deliver him."

50 But Jesus uttered another loud cry and then yielded up His spirit.

51 Immediately the curtain of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom: the earth quaked; the rocks split;