Matthew 27 — “Truly This Was the Son of God: The Judgment of the World and the Glory of the Cross”
Matthew 26 revealed the night of betrayal and agony.
Matthew 27 reveals the day of condemnation and sacrifice.
After obedience in the garden,
Christ endures injustice before men.
This chapter teaches one central truth:
The Cross is the throne of the King, where sin is judged and mercy is revealed.
1. The Morning Council
“When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.” (Matt 27:1)
Night plotting becomes daytime sentence.
St John Chrysostom writes:
“They confirmed by day what they had dared by night.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
Evil seeks legality
to cloak injustice.
2. Judas’ Remorse
“Judas… repented himself and brought back the thirty pieces of silver.” (v. 3)
Sorrow appears,
but not repentance.
St Augustine teaches:
“He confessed his sin, but not to God.”
(Sermons)
Remorse without hope
ends in despair.
3. “I Have Sinned”
(v. 4)
Judas speaks truth
but seeks no mercy.
St Gregory the Great writes:
“He saw his crime, but not the Physician.”
(Homilies)
Confession without trust
cannot heal.
4. The Price of Blood
“They took the thirty pieces of silver…” (v. 7)
The wages of betrayal
buy a graveyard.
St Jerome comments:
“He sold life and bought death.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Sin always miscalculates profit.
5. Jesus Before Pilate
“Are You the King of the Jews?” (v. 11)
Power questions truth.
St Hilary of Poitiers says:
“He is questioned as a criminal and confesses as a King.”
(On Matthew)
Kingship is redefined
as suffering authority.
6. Silent Majesty
“He gave him no answer.” (v. 14)
Truth stands quiet
before noise.
St Ambrose writes:
“He kept silence so that His blood might speak.”
(On Luke)
The Word becomes
silent sacrifice.
7. Barabbas or Jesus
“Whom do you want me to release to you?” (v. 17)
They choose rebellion
over righteousness.
St Augustine teaches:
“They chose the guilty and killed the innocent.”
(Sermons)
Humanity prefers
false freedom to true holiness.
8. Pilate’s Wife Warns
“Have nothing to do with that righteous man.” (v. 19)
Even pagan conscience
testifies.
St Jerome notes:
“God spoke to Pilate through a woman when he would not listen through the Law.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Grace reaches
even the judge.
9. The Crowd’s Cry
“Crucify Him!” (v. 22)
Voices that cried “Hosanna”
now cry “Crucify.”
St John Chrysostom remarks:
“They exchanged praise for murder.”
(Homilies)
Public opinion
is not truth.
10. Washing of Hands
“I am innocent of this man’s blood.” (v. 24)
Symbol without repentance
is empty.
St Augustine writes:
“He washed his hands, but not his heart.”
(Sermons)
Responsibility
cannot be rinsed away.
11. “His Blood Be on Us”
(v. 25)
They invoke judgment.
St Ambrose teaches:
“They spoke better than they knew, for His blood cleanses those who believe.”
(On the Faith)
The curse becomes blessing
for the repentant.
12. The Scourging
“Then he released Barabbas… and scourged Jesus.” (v. 26)
Innocence is whipped.
St Gregory the Great says:
“He bore wounds to heal ours.”
(Homilies)
Pain becomes medicine.
13. The Crown of Thorns
“They twisted together a crown of thorns…” (v. 29)
Creation’s curse
becomes His diadem.
St Jerome comments:
“The thorns of Adam become the crown of Christ.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Kingship is mocked
and revealed.
14. The Scarlet Robe
(v. 28)
Mock royalty
becomes true royalty.
St Ambrose writes:
“He wore shame as a robe and glory as a mystery.”
(On Luke)
Humiliation
clothes salvation.
15. “Hail, King of the Jews”
(v. 29)
They speak truth
in mockery.
St Augustine says:
“They jested and prophesied.”
(Sermons)
God uses
even scorn.
16. The Way to Golgotha
“And when they had mocked Him, they led Him away to crucify Him.” (v. 31)
The road becomes altar.
St Gregory the Great teaches:
“He carried the wood by which He would carry the world.”
(Homilies)
The Cross is both burden
and throne.
17. Simon of Cyrene
“They compelled a man… to carry His cross.” (v. 32)
The disciple’s path
is revealed.
St Ambrose writes:
“No one bears Christ’s Cross unwillingly who has first believed.”
(On Luke)
Salvation is shared suffering.
18. Wine Mingled with Gall
(v. 34)
He refuses relief.
St John Chrysostom says:
“He chose full suffering to give full redemption.”
(Homilies)
No pain is spared
that love might be complete.
19. Nailed to the Cross
“And they crucified Him.” (v. 35)
The Creator
is fastened to creation.
St Augustine teaches:
“He was fixed to the tree to loosen us from the tree of death.”
(Sermons)
The new Tree of Life
is planted.
20. Dividing His Garments
(v. 35)
Prophecy is fulfilled
in cruelty.
St Jerome writes:
“They divided His clothes, but not His love.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Scripture unfolds
in suffering.
21. The Title on the Cross
“This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” (v. 37)
Mock sign
becomes proclamation.
St Hilary of Poitiers remarks:
“The title condemned the crime and proclaimed the King.”
(On Matthew)
Even Rome
preaches Christ.
22. The Two Thieves
“One reviled Him…” (v. 44)
The Cross divides humanity.
St Augustine writes:
“Two thieves: one lost, one saved; the Cross stands between.”
(Sermons)
Judgment and mercy
meet on wood.
23. “If You Are the Son of God…”
(v. 40)
They repeat Satan’s temptation.
St Gregory the Great says:
“He was tempted again on the Cross as He had been in the desert.”
(Homilies)
Victory is obedience,
not display.
24. The Darkness
“From the sixth hour there was darkness…” (v. 45)
Creation mourns
its Creator.
St Ambrose teaches:
“The sun hid its face, for the Light of the world was dying.”
(On Luke)
Nature bears witness.
25. “My God, My God”
(v. 46)
Christ prays Psalm 22.
St Augustine explains:
“He cried in our voice so that we might cry in His.”
(Sermons)
Abandonment
becomes prayer.
26. The Sour Wine
(v. 48)
Bitterness is completed.
St Jerome comments:
“He drank our sorrow that He might give us joy.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Nothing human
is left untouched.
27. “He Gave Up His Spirit”
(v. 50)
Death is chosen.
St Leo the Great writes:
“He yielded the spirit because He had power to take it again.”
(Sermon)
Life is laid down,
not taken.
28. The Veil Torn
“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” (v. 51)
The barrier falls.
St Gregory the Great teaches:
“He opened the Holy of Holies by His blood.”
(Homilies)
Access to God
is restored.
29. The Earthquake and the Tombs
(vv. 51–52)
Death trembles.
St Ambrose writes:
“The earth shook, for the earth was redeemed.”
(On the Faith)
Resurrection begins
within death.
30. The Confession of the Centurion
“Truly this was the Son of God!” (v. 54)
A Gentile confesses
what priests denied.
St Augustine says:
“The blood of Christ preached when His mouth was silent.”
(Sermons)
The Cross converts.
31. The Faithful Women
“Many women were there…” (v. 55)
They remain
when others flee.
St Jerome writes:
“They watched death who would soon witness life.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Love perseveres
beyond fear.
32. Joseph of Arimathea
“A rich man… who also was a disciple.” (v. 57)
Courage appears
in secret believers.
St Ambrose teaches:
“He who feared before now dares when Christ has died.”
(On Luke)
The Cross births
boldness.
33. The New Tomb
(v. 60)
The grave is borrowed.
St Augustine remarks:
“He borrowed a tomb because He would not need it long.”
(Sermons)
Death is temporary lodging.
34. The Guarded Tomb
(v. 66)
They seal what cannot be sealed.
St John Chrysostom says:
“They set guards so that the truth would be guarded by enemies.”
(Homilies)
Unbelief
prepares evidence.
Christ in Matthew 27
Jesus is:
• the Innocent Victim
• the True King
• the New Adam
• the Lamb of God
• the Tree of Life
• the Light in Darkness
• the Savior of the World
Spiritual Application
Do not choose Barabbas.
Do not wash your hands of Christ.
Carry the Cross with Him.
Stand near His suffering.
Trust mercy more than fear.
Confess Him boldly.
Believe in the power of His blood.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
crucified King and Savior of the world,
You accepted condemnation to give us freedom
and death to give us life.
Fix our hearts to Your Cross,
that we may hate sin and love mercy,
bear suffering with faith,
and confess You before the world.
Teach us to stand with You in darkness,
to trust You when all seems lost,
and to hope in the victory
won by Your blood and Your obedience,
until the day when the Cross
is revealed as the throne of glory
and we reign with You forever
in the Kingdom of the Father.
Amen.
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