The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 27 Part 5 A Death Bed Conversion To Christ!

Matthew 27:32  And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. 

Some may wonder why the Jews forced a bystander named Simon, to bear the cross of Christ.

We must remember that Jesus was slapped on His face, and pummeled by their fists.

They plucked off the hair of Jesus' beard and they mercilessly taunted Him.

Then, a crown of thorns was smashed onto His head, causing more pain.

Finally, the scourging consisting of 39 lashes with the Roman cat of nine tails whip, inflicted much damage to Jesus' back.

Thus, the cumulative effect of all this, coupled with a loss of blood, weakened Jesus such that His enemies compelled Simon to bear His cross.

Luke 23:27  And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 28  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29  For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. 30  Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31  For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 

Doctor Luke tells us that as Simon bore the cross of Christ, a very large group of people whose lives were touched by Jesus, followed Him.

The women were filled with grief and sorrow over the prospect of Jesus' crucifixion.

Jesus turned to tell them not to weep for Him because judgment was coming soon.

Jesus seems to have had in view, the Roman conquest and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and also the final destruction of the wicked at the Day of the LORD judgment.

Matthew 27:33-34  And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34  They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 

Calvary was also known as Golgotha, because during the time of Christ, the rocky outcropping had the appearance of a skull.

They offered Jesus a mixture of acidic wine mixed with myrrh, giving it a bitter taste.

This was offered to those being crucified in order to dull their senses to the intense pain caused by that form of execution.

Jesus refused it, because He was willing and ready to drink this cup from His Father, in order to save us from our sins.

Matthew 27:35  And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 

Thus, Jesus suffering and death on a Roman cross began.

Roman soldiers took the garments of Jesus and cast lots to see who would keep them.

This fulfilled Psalm 22:18.

Matthew 27:36-37  And sitting down they watched him there; 37  And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

Roman soldiers sat down near the cross of Christ to watch Him die, to make sure no one tried to rescue Jesus and that no one would bring anything to relieve His sufferings.  

Pilate had a sign made to put on Jesus' cross, to signify what His crime was.

John's gospel tells us it was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin.

Matthew 27:38  Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 

The fact that Jesus was crucified between two thieves is a literally fulfillment of Isaiah 53:12.

Matthew 27:39  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41  Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43  He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 

Mockery and ridicule of Christ on the cross reached its highest intensity.

People who passed by the scene blasphemed and spoke evil of God's Son.

Christ priests, scribes and elders mocked Jesus for saying He could rebuild the temple in three days, though He spoke this of His resurrection.

Satan prompted these wicked men to say that if Jesus came down from the cross, they would believe on Him.

They contemptuously said, Let God deliver Him if He will have Him. 

Matthew 27:44  The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. 

The two thieves on either side of Jesus said the same cruel things to our Lord.

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 

It is at this point when Jesus prayed to His Father to forgive all the hateful wicked ones seeking His death, for they did not know or grasp the significance of their evil deeds.

Luke 23:39  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 

Luke's gospel records something that the two thieves said as they were insulting Jesus.

One of the two was hurling vile invectives at Christ but the other thief must have thought about Jesus being a King and as some said, the Son of God.

Therefore, this man's conscience was pricked and he rebuked the other mean spirited thief.

He reminded him that they were hanging on their crosses because of crimes they committed.

Then he said that Jesus has done nothing wrong, committed no crime and was being unjustly executed. 

Luke 23:42-43  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 

Thus, right before Jesus died on the cross, this thief turned to Jesus with repentant faith and asked Christ to remember him when He comes into His kingdom.

Jesus' reply was that this repentant thief would be with Him in paradise this very day!

Although what we have studied about Jesus sufferings on the cross is historical narrative, there are some powerful truths contained in this story.

First, we see the loving, kind and forgiving heart of Jesus as He asked His Father to forgive the very ones responsible for His crucifixion.

Second, Jesus readily accepted the faith and repentance of the dying thief, and welcomed him into the family of God.

Third, this man was not baptized, so those who insist that baptism is a requirement of salvation now see that baptism is not a requirement of salvation.

Rather, it is the outward profession of an inward faith through the washing and regenerating work of God's Spirit.

Finally, we must not lose sight of the truth that all Jesus' sufferings were the pain, agony and sorrow that should have been ours, because we are sinners and "this man has done nothing amiss."

In our next post, we will study what happened at the moment of Jesus' death.

Bob