SERIES: Matthew MESSAGE: Matthew 27:1-50 SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:1-50 MESSAGE SUMMARY In this message, we see the ultimate demonstration of God's love the cross. Jesus, the King of the Jews, was betrayed, falsely accused, illegally tried, scourged, and ultimately crucified. As we consider the details of His crucifixion and death, how could we be anything except amazed and humbled? DETAILED NOTES I. Introduction A. The cross 1. Ultimate demonstration of God s love 2. Proclaimed the King of the Jews only days before 3. All would soon understand He was a Savior first 4. Crucifixion prearranged by God B. The chief priest and leaders plotted to kill Jesus 1. Jews were forbidden by Rome to put anyone to death 2. They would sometimes stone people to death (Stephen, woman caught in sin) 3. The Bible predicts He will die on the cross, not by stoning II. Jesus Accused A. The multitude led Him to Pilate and accused Him 1. Perverting the nation 2. Forbidding the people to pay taxes 3. Claims He is Christ the King a. The only accusation that was true b. He said it to the Sanhedrin and to Pontius Pilate B. He is the King of a spiritual kingdom 1. People invite Him to be king of their heart 2. He will rule eternally 3. He will rule with love 4. His rule is filled with hope C. Pontius Pilate 1. Governor Page 1
III. IV. 2. Procurator of southern province of Judah 3. Headquarters by the sea 4. During Jewish pilgrimages the governor and his soldiers were stationed in Jerusalem to keep the peace Judas the Betrayer A. Remorseful realized Jesus was innocent B. Brought back the 30 pieces of silver C. The money was used to by the potter s field (field of blood) D. Hung himself E. Apparent Bible contradiction 1. Hung himself 2. Fell and spilled his guts (see Acts 1) 3. Two stories that compliment, not contradict F. Divine, poetic justice (see Deuteronomy 19:15-19) G. Corollary between Judas and Peter 1. Both were called the devil a. Peter (see Matthew 16:21-23) b. Judas (see John 6:70) 2. Predicted both of them would fall a. Peter would deny Jesus (see Matthew 26:34) b. Judas would betray Jesus (see Matthew 26:23) 3. Jesus tried to help them both a. Jesus looked at Peter after the cock crowed (see Luke 22:60) b. Jesus looked at Judas, "Friend, why have you come?" (Matthew 26:50) H. The corollary ends 1. Peter repented (godly sorrow) 2. Judas was just remorseful (sorrow of the world) a. Sorry that it happened b. Sorry that he felt bad c. Sorry that he got into this situation d. No real repentance I. Purchase of potter s field 1. Predicted by Jeremiah the prophet (see Zechariah 11:13) 2. Contradiction Prophecy was from Zechariah not Jeremiah a. Talmudic tradition Old Testament divided into three i. Law ii. Prophets iii. Writing b. Jeremiah was the first in the list of prophets Jesus Tried Page 2
A. Are You the King of the Jews? 1. Emphasis on the word "You" 2. Pontius wasn t expecting a man covered in blood, a peasant 3. Jesus says yes (see Matthew 27:11) a. Not a political king (see John 18:36) b. A spiritual king i. Rule and reign in your heart ii. Rule over you iii. What is a Christian, really? a) Not as I will b) Someone who has allowed God to rule and reign in their life c. Eventually He will be a political, worldwide, ruling king (see Revelation 11:16) B. Jesus answered nothing 1. Pilate was blown away 2. Θαυμάζω; thaumazó marveled greatly 3. "He opened not is mouth" (Isaiah 53:7) 4. Criminals usually proclaim their innocence C. Pontius Pilate 1. Not Roman, from Spain 2. Fifth governor of Judea 3. Given post in AD 26 by Tiberius and occupied for ten years 4. Joined the Roman army 5. He married Claudia Procula, granddaughter of Augustus Caesar 6. Bible portrays him as a weak, selfish, and arrogant man D. Barabbas 1. At the feast it was customary to release one prisoner 2. A Roman citizen could not be crucified 3. People given the choice to release Barabbas or Jesus a. Barabbas name i. Jesus Barabbas son of a father ii. Jesus son of the Father b. People chose Barabbas 4. What to do with Jesus? Crucify him! 5. The Judge and the Accused a. Jesus and Pontius Pilate b. One who is judged and one who is being judged c. Pontius is the one really being judged? 6. "What then will I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?" Page 3
7. Pilate could not prevail, a tumult arose 8. Washes his hands 9. Release of Barabbas 10. Jesus scourged and delivered to be crucified E. His blood be on us and our children 1. Pilate washes his hands "I am innocent of the blood of this innocent man" 2. The crowd said, "His blood be on us and our children" a. Peter and apostles arrested for preaching (see Acts 5) b. Chief priest, "You re trying to bring His blood on us and our children" (Acts 5:28) V. Jesus scourged and crucified A. Three levels of flogging 1. Fustigatio less severe, warning 2. Flagellatio brutal flogging 3. Verberatio terrible, associated with crucifixion a. Hands raised above head, sometimes dangling b. Two lictors, men with whips c. Leather thongs with bone, metal or glass in the tips d. Tear the skin e. Diagonal blows across the back f. Many victims died from the flogging g. Lictors took out anxiety and frustrations on the victim h. Skin so lacerated sometimes great vessels and organs exposed (Eusebius church historian) B. Jesus delivered to be crucified 1. Soldiers took Jesus and mocked him in the Praetorium (King s game) a. Gather whole garrison (600 men) b. Stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him c. Twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head d. Put a reed in His hand e. Bowed before Him f. "Hail, King of the Jews!" g. Spat on Him h. Struck Him (Hot Hand game) i. Put His own clothes back on Him 2. Led Jesus away to be crucified a. Man of Cyrene, Simon, bears Jesus cross to Golgotha b. Gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink c. Tasted and did not drink d. Crucified Him Page 4
e. Divided and cast lots for his garments, fulfillment of prophecy (see Psalm 22:18) f. Golgotha i. The place of the skull ii. ;ת gulgoleth -skull iii. κρανίον; kranion skull iv. Rock escarpment looked like a skull v. Not on top of hill; flat, level ground right in front of hill vi. Along a road to warn people not to mess with the Roman government g. Posted accusation: "This is Jesus, King of the Jews" h. Two robbers crucified on either side of Him C. The origins of crucifixion 1. Not invented by the Romans 2. Invented by the Persians years before 3. Persians, Carthaginians, and another group long before the Romans 4. Romans adopted it and used it for capital punishment 5. It delayed death for hours and usually days a. Maximum torture inflicted before death b. Sometimes a vertical stake; sometimes a stake with a horizontal cross beam with a sign placed above the horizontal beam c. Cross beam weighed about 75 100 lbs. d. Jesus unable to carry due to His wounds, loss of blood, and lack of sleep 6. So brutal people usually die of asphyxiation a. Spikes through the wrist, not the hand b. Weight of the body taken by the wrists c. Spike through the heel with the feet to the side d. Unusual, twisted position e. Only way to get breath was to raise up on the spike through the heel f. Legs often broken in order to relieve the tension g. Jesus died earlier than expected and His legs were not broken h. Legs of the criminals broken D. Passersby and chief priests mock Jesus (v. 39) 1. Blasphemed Him 2. Chief priests admitted He saved others but said He could not save Himself a. "If He comes down from the cross we ll believe in Him" (v. 42) i. If He were to come down, He wouldn t save others ii. Because He didn t come down, He bore our sin Page 5
b. Since He didn t come down from the cross, we believe in Him c. God the Father treated Jesus Christ like we deserve to be treated; so that God could treat you and I like Jesus deserves to be treated (see 2 Corinthians 5:21) d. Robbers mocked Him also E. Darkness over all the land for three hours at Jesus death, noon to 3 pm 1. Not a sandstorm 2. Not a local eclipse 3. It was something supernatural 4. Origen and Tertullian reference the darkness 5. Historical letter from Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar hinting that that darkness was worldwide 6. Why darkness a. High priest at Yom Kippur in darkness and secrecy sprinkles the blood (Old Testament) b. Jesus presents His blood before the Father c. A darkness of wickedness the world was extinguishing the light of the world d. A darkness of judgment i. Babylonian Talmud God reserves darkness to punish someone for an unusual sin ii. Ninth plague in Egypt darkness over all the land for three days iii. Fifth bowl judgment in Revelation B. Jesus cries out 1. "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" 2. Martin Luther meditated in seclusion and still did not get it 3. Why would the Father allow the Son to be so forsaken? 4. God the Father broke fellowship with the Son (see Isaiah 53) 5. Jesus never experienced this kind of abandonment before a. Disciples sleep b. Peter denied Him c. Eventually all the people left Him 6. Fulfills Psalm 22:1 7. Sour wine offered 8.With a loud voice, yielded up His spirit Hebrew terms: ;ם nebiim prophets; ;ת gulgoleth -skull Page 6
Greek terms: Θαυμάζω; thaumazó marveled greatly, κρανίον; kranion skull Figures referenced: Eusebius, Origen, Tertullian, Tiberius Caesar Cross references: Deuteronomy 19:15-19; Psalm 22:1; Psalm 22:18; Isaiah 53:7; Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 16:21-23; Matthew 26:23; Matthew 26:34; Matthew 26:50; Luke 22:60; John 6:70; John 18:36; Acts 1; Acts 5:28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Revelation 11:16 Topic: Crucifixion Keywords: crucifixion, betrayal, Judas, Jesus Page 7