Matthew 27:40Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What might result from this? Would the populace not harbor resentment toward the Sanhedrin? No, it is vital to conclude the matter with this reviled Teacher from Nazareth. We must enlighten the misinformed crowd. Thus, the Sanhedrin begins its ‘sermon’ about Jesus. It is not difficult to discern the source of the voices rising from the throngs. It mirrors the boldness that once accused Jesus before the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:58). The same former agents of the Sanhedrin are now executing their agenda. Naturally, it wouldn’t be fitting for him to voice slanders against Jesus publicly. It appears far more respectable for him to let those with nothing at stake voice the blasphemies. These individuals are so desperate that they would go to any lengths for a morsel of bread. The prophet described their nature and actions: their mouths are opened against Me, like a roaring lion (Psalm 21:14). It is not unexpected for others, idle followers of Pharisaism, to join in this wickedness. It is so straightforward, so typical; yet it fulfills precisely what the Messiah communicated through the Prophet: ‘All them that see Me shall quarrel, they shall speak with their mouths, they shall mourn with their heads’ (Psalm 21:14). “Come down from the Cross” (Matthew 27:42).

With remarkable accuracy, the prophecy spoken by David about the Messiah was being fulfilled: "All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads" (Psalm 21:8). The phrase "come down from the cross" is strikingly similar to the satanic temptation faced by Jesus at the onset of His ministry during His forty days of fasting: "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down!" It is evident that the same diabolical tempter now spoke through the mouths of those aligned with the Sadducees, urging our Lord to use His divine power to escape the agonizing torment of the cross. The presence of the spirit of evil is particularly palpable in these mocking taunts directed at our suffering Lord, evoking a visceral reaction in the soul at the thought of them. It appears as though Satan sought to infiltrate His most sacred soul with thoughts that oppose God.

Thus, as recounted in Mark’s Gospel, they began to converse among themselves, but loud enough for the crowd to hear: “He saved others; yet He cannot save Himself (Mark 15:31). We have always proclaimed to the populace that the transgressor of the Sabbath, the companion of tax collectors and sinners, cannot be the Messiah, the King of Israel; we cautioned them not to be swayed by His miracles, which He performed by the power of Beelzebub; many did not heed our warnings then, and now what do we see? The One who claims to be the Son of God is crucified alongside the wicked! Some may have thought we chased after Him for selfish reasons, but are we not ourselves longing for the Messiah, the true King of Israel? Will we not be His followers? Yet we cannot recognize the Messiah in Him who is suspended on the cross, for the law of Moses states, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. If He truly is the King of Israel, let Him descend from the cross at once, and we will believe in Him.” Let Him come down! “But why does He not come down? He who put His trust in God and called Him His Father? If He cannot come down from the cross, and if He truly pleases God, then let God rescue Him from such a disgraceful execution...” Yet God does not intervene... These irreverent remarks evidently influenced the crowd; indeed, Luke the Evangelist records that the crowd stood and observed, further noting that the rulers joined in their mockery (Luke 23:35).

This can be understood thus: at first, the crowd, struck by Jesus’ humility and His plea for those crucifying Him, stood in astonishment, gazing at the horrifying scene in silence. But as the rulers stepped into the throng, maligning Jesus and ridiculing Him, a similar hubris echoed from the crowd. Onlookers hurled accusations at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Oh, you who destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself. If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Were not these the false witnesses who had eagerly testified against Jesus at the clandestine session of the Sanhedrin? Their taunts echoed the allegations concerning His claim to destroy the temple and raise it in three days, affirming their identity as those who bore false witness.

The question might be posed: why did Christ not descend from the cross? By doing so, He would have validated His divine authority, compelling belief in Him among all. Such inquiries are still posed by many modern skeptics. How should we respond? The One whose commands silenced demons and calmed winds and waves, who healed countless maladies even from afar, surely could have come down from the cross if it had been deemed necessary. Therefore, His decision not to descend implies justifiable reasons, which ultimately belong to God alone. Yes, we fallible beings do not fully grasp these reasons. But though we are unaware, we can still draw conclusions based on Christ’s own words.

From the Gospel, we understand that Christ presented Himself, through His Humanity, as the model of attainable perfection; He calls us to emulate Him, to take Him as our example, and live in accordance with how He, the Christ-Man, lived. However, to serve as that pattern of attainable perfection, He could not exercise His divine power for personal relief from His trials as a man; otherwise, He would have become an example beyond our reach. His commandments could then appear impossible to fulfill, undermining the very intention of His coming. We recognize that He never wielded His divine authority to mitigate His human sufferings.

As a Man, He experienced fatigue, required food and rest, felt thirst, endured hunger, rejoiced, wept, and could not always conceal His anguish, often expressed through tears. As a Man, He faced temptation yet triumphed, not through the divine power inherent within Him as the Son of God but through His submission to the Father’s will, a command He entrusted to us as the means to conquer trials and adversities. He trembled in the Garden of Gethsemane at the thought of the impending suffering and petitioned the Father to postpone the fulfillment of His will; however, He ultimately conquered that temptation through submission to the Father’s desire, expressing it with the words, “Not My will, but Thy will be done” (Luke 22:42).

In His submission to the Father’s will, the profound physical anguish on the cross evoked His heartfelt lament: My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46). In essence, the question arises: why, during such a harrowing crucifixion, did Christ’s divine strength, always inseparable from Him, not alleviate His unwarranted sufferings? I believe this occurred because, had Christ stepped down from the cross or nullified the excruciating ordeal, He would not have served as the true exemplar of humanity, what we ought to be, thus not fulfilling the purpose of His earthly mission. Yet, He achieved this purpose precisely because He refrained from using His divine power to alleviate His human weaknesses and pains. Yes, Christ, as Man, faithfully fulfilled His commandments; He lived as He taught; His actions were consistent with His words; by His divine authority, He did not make it easier on Himself in bearing the weight of His commandments. For these reasons, He serves as an unwavering example for us; we are called to live as He lived, and indeed, we can!

Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” The bystanders, including the soldiers, joined in the mockery, creating an atmosphere that felt like a frenzied display of cruelty surrounding the Suffering One.