They Crucified Him
32 As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross. 33 When they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull,” 34 they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots, 36 and they sat and watched him there. 37 They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 38 Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left. 39 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 41 Likewise the chief priests also mocking with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said, 42 “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.
The execution is reported in four words, and the chapter spends its space on what was said around it.
As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.
A passer-by is conscripted, which tells you the condemned man could no longer carry the beam. The crucifixion is told in the earlier account Mark 15:21–47.
When they came to a place called "Golgotha", that is to say, "The place of a skull" Matthew 27:33. Golgotha was outside the wall and beside a road, because the point of the penalty was that people saw it.
they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.
The drink was a rough anesthetic. He tastes it — so he knows what is offered — and refuses. Nothing about what follows is going to be dulled.
When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,
That is the whole account of the act. Four words for the thing the entire book has been moving toward, and no description of the process whatever. The Gospels are unanimous in this restraint, and the space is given instead to the psalm the soldiers are unknowingly acting out Psalms 22:18 and to the voices around the cross.
And they sat and watched him there Matthew 27:36. Men sitting down to wait, because it takes a long time.
They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
The charge nailed above his head is the truest sentence written by anyone that day, posted by a governor to annoy the priests.
Three groups mock, and all three say the same thing in different words. Passers-by: "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!" Matthew 27:40 — which is the wilderness formula exactly, the same if used by the same accuser Matthew 4:3 Matthew 4:6. The chief priests: "He saved others, but he can't save himself" Matthew 27:42, a sentence that is entirely true and means the opposite of what they intend. And "He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now" Matthew 27:43 is quoted, without their knowing it, out of the psalm he is fulfilling Psalms 22:8.
The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.
Even the men dying beside him join in. Every voice in earshot is on one side, and the offer they all make is the same: come down, and we will believe. Coming down was the one thing that would have made believing pointless.
settled What this mark means