Despised and Rejected - Matthew 27:26-44

Good morning beloved and welcome. We are in the book of Matthew again and here we have Finally come to the passion of our Lord.

Across.

The very focal point.

Of our faith.

And all of Scripture lies before us. We're in chapter 27 Of Matthew's account of the gospel. We've seen Jesus is escalating conflict with the Jewish leaders of his day. Has finally come to its climax.

After repeated attempts to catch him in a trap or to divert his course. In a sense or at least in their perspective the religious leaders of his day have finally succeeded. They have with the help of Judas Iscariot and his betrayal of our Lord they have arrested Jesus and And Delivered him over to the Romans for crucifixion.

They've incited this mob to turn against him and here now. He is in the hands of his captors. In short Satan the accuser the adversary seems to have achieved his goal. For he believes that the death of the Son of God will mean the victory of his rebellion.

This dark scene unfolds throughout the remainder of chapter 27 where Matthew will recount Lots of details in these final moments of our Lord's life. For the most part Matthew gives little commentary On these details that he records.

He just relays them to us. He makes some connections for us, but We're left here to make some connections and most of them are pretty clear pretty obvious. We could spend quite a lot of time in this chapter, but my aim is to strike a balance between Slowing down and and observing the details and making the connections set before us.

Without.

Getting lost in the details and losing sight of the whole Lord willing. I Will be teaching this week and the two Sundays after over which time I intend To bring us to the end of chapter 27 those of you who Who know me?

Well likely. No, I I'm not one to really plan things out very far in advance. I'm more of a one step at a time kind of person, but my plan tentatively is this week to focus on our Lord's sufferings. Next week to focus on our Lord's death and then the week after to focus on his burial.

What this means is there will be truths relating to the The death and the passion of our Lord that I will not be focusing on this morning as we look at his suffering leading up to his death this week my primary focus is on that suffering the abuse the reviling the Hatred the mocking and the shame that he endured on our behalf.

I think as we look at this text We will see the implications this has What it reveals about the world What it reveals about us and ultimately what it reveals about the Lord of Glory. So let us read now.

I'm gonna Back up just one verse. I'm gonna start in verse 26 and I'm gonna read down to verse 44. So Matthew chapter 27 starting in verse 26. Let us hear the word of the Lord. Then he released Barabbas to them.

And when he had scourged Jesus He, Pilate, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor Took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.

When they had twisted a crown of thorns They put it on his head at a reed in his right hand. And they bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying hail king of the Jews. Then they spat on him and Took the reed and struck him on the head and when they had mocked him They took the robe off him and put his own clothes on him and led him away to be crucified.

Now as they came out they found a man of Cyrene Simon by name Him they compelled to bear his cross and When they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say place of a skull They gave him sour wine mingled with gall to drink.

But when he had tasted it, he would not drink it. Then they crucified him and Divided his garments casting lots that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet. They divided my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots.

Sitting down they kept watch over him there and they put up over his head the accusation written against him this is Jesus the king of the Jews. Then two robbers were crucified with him one on the right and the other on the left and Those who passed by blasphemed him Wagging their heads and saying you who destroyed the temple and build it in three days.

Save yourself. If you are the Son of God come down from the cross likewise the chief priests also Mocking with the scribes and elders said he saved others himself, he cannot save if He is the king of Israel.

Let him now come down from the cross and we will believe him. He trusted in God. Let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Son of God. Even the robbers who were crucified with him reviled him with the same thing our Father in heaven we approach your word With trembling hands because of the immensity of this that lies before us.

Father as we consider this text may we rightly esteem our Savior. And the shame that he bore those sinless. Though the spotless Lamb of God may we esteem him rightly and worship him and Find here in this text.

The hope that we have to be called sons and daughters of yours In Christ, we pray. Amen. This passage I assume is is very familiar to all of us. There are a couple ways that I believe the Bible would have us consider these details these truths before us.

And as we talk through the things that Matthew details here, I want to make Appropriate applications for us. And mainly they're gonna fall under these three headings first the wickedness of man. That such evil could be done to the king of glory.

Second we have to consider that that he bore our shame all the the mocking and the abuse that he bore.

That.

We as vile sinners rightly deserve that shame. And. Third that even his sufferings even the the mocking the the accusations that were levied against him that.

The.

Specifics of the suffering that he endured. Point to the truth that he is the Son of God that he is the promised Messiah that he is the one Foretold in that psalm that we read this morning. That none of this was an accident or a surprise.

This was the predetermined plan of God that the Son of God willingly subjected himself to. So as we work through this There are two primary texts that serve as the necessary prophetic background for us.

One we read this morning psalm 22 and the other is again a familiar passage Isaiah 53. Both of these provide striking detail of what our Lord endured in this scene. As a brief apologetic side note, it's worth mentioning specifically Isaiah 53.

From for a long time critical scholars claimed that Isaiah 53 must have been a late addition to the scriptures. They claimed that the details recorded here in Isaiah 53 Had to have been added after the crucifixion of Christ because it described his sufferings in such detail.

The unbelieving heart of man could not believe that Prophecy could predict in such detail could could lay bare the specifics of our Lord's sufferings on the cross. And so it was. It was commonly thought by critical Unbelieving scholars that Isaiah 53 was not original to the Old Testament text.

This was the prevailing view among unbelieving scholars of scripture.

Until.

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls Which confirmed that Isaiah 53 was written sent many centuries before the death of our Lord? Some of the the copies of scriptures that they discovered in that archaeological find dated back to the fourth century Before Christ completely debunking their theory that Isaiah 53 was a late addition.

Now I don't appeal to this to establish the authority of God's Word for God's Word stands on its own it testifies to itself that God has spoken and it is true and every regenerated heart knows God's Word to be true and So I don't set that before you to try to convince you with evidence that God has spoken truth.

But rather.

We see this as further evidence that we can use To put to shame the accusations of the foolish unbelieving heart. Their view is perpetually untenable. Because God has spoken and his word speaks for itself.

So.

Here in our text to consider his sufferings first. We see that Jesus was scourged. A Roman scourge was a whip used for flogging. It was made of a of nine strands of leather That had bits of sharp bone or stone or even glass.

Embedded into the leather and at the end of the nine strands they would tie a leather ball Sorry a lead ball to add weight and so when they would strike the back of the victim It would tear the flesh off his back Exposing muscle and bone.

Many would die from scourging alone. And so if the Romans desired to Crucify a particular prisoner. They had to show some measure of restraint with the flogging not out of mercy But out of cruelty because they wanted this person To live long enough to suffer even more under their crucifixion.

This is the first of many punishments that we will see in this chapter that were Meticulously designed by the Romans to inflict maximum suffering agony on their most despised criminals. This was intended for rebels and usurpers traitors and murderers.

Those who were the most hated political enemies of Caesar and the kingdom. Those who posed a threat to Caesar's rule and Here we see the first signs of the irony that Matthew is laying out for us. First of all Christ was absolutely guiltless before God's holy law as Isaiah says he had done no violence nor was any deceit found in his mouth, but truly We are the guilty ones.

We are the rebels we are the ones who have transgressed God's law we are the ones who have engaged in this this cosmic treason of Defying the God who gives us life and breath the one who made us who made us for his purposes not our own we have rebelled and Yet he bore the the animosity the suffering that we rightly deserve.

He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the chastisement for our peace was upon him and by his stripes We are healed. But here also we do see One aspect of truth in what is being levied against our Lord I I pointed out that that it was for those who were a threat to Caesar's rule that this Suffering this this penalty was levied against Caesar and the Romans have no idea The immensity of the threat to their rule that he is.

In fact, it's not merely a threat for the Prophet Daniel foretold the kingdom of Christ as a stone cut without human hands would strike the kingdoms of men. Reducing them to a mere powder that would be carried away by the wind.

The kingdom of Christ will grow. Daniel described it as this great mountain that would grow that would fill the whole earth. All things will be brought under his dominion. We saw that in the psalm again that we read this morning psalm 22.

And even Caesar Himself who claims to be divine? Will bow the knee to the Lord of Glory. Our text continues that the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium and they gathered the whole garrison around him.

The praetorium was most likely that a Courtyard of the governor's palace where the the Roman guards were were to be stationed. Saying here that it was a whole garrison most scholars Interpret this to be about 600 men 600 soldiers gathered around and they Encircle the the bloody and beating Lord beaten Lord.

They strip him of his clothes. This act of humiliation Nakedness in the scriptures is it's always associated with shame and humility. And they put a scarlet robe on him. They place a twisted crown of thorns on his head and a reed in his right hand.

Now I want to I want to draw our attention to Psalm 45 this morning briefly. Psalm 45 starting in verse 6 says. Your throne O Lord is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.

You love righteousness and hate wickedness therefore God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. All your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces by which they have made you glad.

Kings daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand stands the Queen of in gold from a fear. Listen daughter incline Consider and incline your ear. Forget your own people in your father's house.

So the king will greatly desire your beauty. Because he is your Lord worship him. And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift. The rich among the people will seek your favor. This this passage describes The king of glory with the scepter of righteousness in his hands In his right hand Wearing a crown and enrobed in beautiful Arraignment of a king and here we see in this scene they They put a robe on him.

They put a crown on his head. They put a scepter in his hand as an act of mockery. But little did they know that he is the king of glory. That he does possess the scepter of Sovereignty over all nations.

This scepter represents his his power and authority to rule. He is arrayed in glory and beauty that they do not see or know their act of mockery Betrays the truth of who he is and the glory that he possesses.

This this encircling of him and Calling to him hail king of the Jews as they they bow down in Ridicule and mock this dying man. This this is a truly unfathomable act of wickedness. It's a direct fulfillment of what Jesus already told his disciples back in Matthew chapter 20.

I'm gonna read just a couple verses. Matthew chapter 20. Starting in verse 17. He says now Jesus Going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them behold We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes.

And they will condemn him to death and deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day he will rise again the point is beloved. None of this is a surprise to our Lord.

None of this is a surprise because it was all according to God's plan. The scene is so horrific. Psalm 22 we read it this morning said he says my strength is dried up like a pot shirt and my tongue clings to my Jaws.

You have brought me to the dust of death for dogs have surrounded me. Scripture often speaks of these these wicked Gentiles as dogs. Those outside the camp of God's God's people. They've surrounded him.

And that's what we see here in the praetorium. He in his suffering is surrounded by these mocking wicked men. We must recognize as Offensive as it is to us that they mock the Lord of Glory in this way.

That this same sin is In our own hearts when we fail to submit to Christ's Lordship when we choose our own glory or our own pleasure or our own comfort over complete submission to the will of God and Obedience to Christ when we choose our sin over obedience.

We're not we are not demonstrating that the same Acts that we see portrayed here, but the root is the same. It is a root of rebellion it is a root that would seek to put Christ off of his throne and make us the determiner of right and wrong.

What we see the Romans doing here is The the the root of this wicked rebellion that is in our own hearts gone to seed the full Act of it is on display here. But we have to recognize this own sin this same sin is in our own hearts.

Again, there's irony here and truth in their mockings. For he is the king of glory as They said here he is the king of the Jews. Our text goes on say that they spit on him. This this is a contrast. Psalm 2 Commands the nation's the Gentiles to to kiss the Sun lest he be angry.

Here instead of kissing him. They they use their mouth to spit on him. This is a Personal offense they have to get close enough to him to spit on him. And when they had mocked him, they took the robe off him put his own clothes on him and led him away to be crucified.

Then in verse 32 we see the Roman soldiers Conscript this man Simon this man of Cyrene to carry Jesus's cross. Now the parallel accounts Matt mark even gives us the names of Simon's sons Who we find apparently mentioned later in Romans chapter 16.

Now there's some assumptions we're making here, but they they appear to be members prominent members of the church in Rome. So we can't be certain but it seems likely that the reason Matthew included this man by name.

It's because he was known to the early church. He was known as a member of the church so this this moment here where he is conscripted and Forced compelled by the Romans to carry the cross of our Lord.

I Suspect this was a transformative experience in his life where he saw the suffering Savior and God used this in his life. He he left a changed man his children to Coming into the church becoming followers of Christ.

Now I can't be positive if this is an intentional illusion that were to make or not but at the very least I see a beautiful picture here that we as Christians are called to Carry our cross and to follow Christ to take upon ourselves.

The the reproach that he bore willingly we willingly Identify with Christ in his sufferings. We are to willingly follow in his footsteps knowing that the world hated Christ and will also hate his followers.

We must not be ashamed to take up our cross and follow him. The text then continues that they came to a place called Golgotha. That is to say place of a skull. Now there's some uncertainty here again, but it seems most likely that it was called Golgotha.

It was called the skull or the place of a skull merely to incite fear.

The whole this whole.

Display of brutality and cruelty and suffering that they.

They.

Inflicted on these victims of crucifixion was to deter others from these actions. And so even the very place where they committed these brutal executions, they called it the place of the skull.

I.

Believe it's it's to communicate this this graphic macabre Scene of execution that had become so common in Roman culture. And then here it says they gave him sour wine mingled with gall to drink that he refused.

Some commentators speculate that perhaps there there was some medicinal or Anesthetic properties to this and it was being offered to Christ as a mercy.

I.

Tend to agree with DA Carson who thinks this was not a mercy, but a further insult a mockery. Gall is another word for bile. Now there were there were several Bitter herbs that were also referred to as gall but the name itself comes from from bile that that bitter compound secreted by the gallbladder.

The.

Point here, I think is that they gave him this this Repulsive drink they they knew he was thirsty desperately thirsty as again as as The Old Testament tells us that he he thirsts and later on the cross.

He would say I thirst and What do they offer up to him? Vinegar mixed with gall. It's it's repulsive. It's disgusting. They're they're they're adding insult and cruelty and malice. I Think Matthew's point in including this is to remind the reader of Psalm 69 That described that he has gall for food and vinegar for drink again.

It's it's further suffering. Psalm 69 says this. You know my reproach my shame my dishonor. My adversaries are all before me. Reproach has broken my heart and I am full of heaviness. I looked for someone to take pity and there was none and for comforters, but I found none.

They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst. They gave me vinegar to drink. Then here in verse 35, it simply states that they crucified him. Again this is something we've grown accustomed to thinking of and and seeing.

But the brutality here is unparalleled. He was nailed to a cross of wood. Rough hewn wood. They drove great spikes through his wrists and his feet. Attaching him to this cross knowing that this is where he would die.

They had no intention of taking him down alive while on the cross. Experiencing extreme physical trauma the victim would struggle and fight for every breath in agonizing pain. We've grown accustomed to seeing crosses as jewelry and adornments everywhere but when reading this text we have to consider how bloody and Cruel and graphic and violent this was in the first century people people would not wear crosses as jewelry.

This is Far worse than an electric chair, right? Only a sicko would would wear an electric chair around his neck, but this was far more agonizing. The way that we do executions today is is nothing compared to what the Romans did.

Matthew then tells us that in fulfillment of Psalm 22 They divided his garments casting lots again. Make no mistake beloved the crucifixion the savage slaughter of the sinless Son of God was no accident.

All of this was according to plan. The prophets described what would happen in great detail. The father ordained it and the son willingly went to the cross knowing the details as they would unfold. We've talked before about how John particularly in his gospel account makes it explicitly clear multiple times that the Son of God Came to do the will of the father.

That was his purpose. That covenant of redemption made within the Godhead between the father and the son from all eternity. This was no surprise to him. He entered into covenant with his father to do this very act for the redemption of his people.

He knew and still he willingly went. Matthew then tells us that they They put up over his head the accusation written against him. This is Jesus the king of the Jews. This is Jesus the king of the Jews.

Pilate means this as an insult. Particularly to the Jews. But again, we see here the the truth. Within the mockings and the scoffing. This points to the truth that he is indeed the king of the Jews. He is indeed the king of Israel the king of all men.

And yet we see here that he was crucified between two robbers again commentators. Point out that this word here translated in most of our Bibles as robbers. Josephus gives a little bit more content. Ancient Jewish historian gives a little bit more context to this word.

It really It did not have in view just like a thief a common petty thief. These were these were usurpers. These were rebels. These were Insurrectionists and here the Lord of Glory the spotless sinless Son of God is Crucified with them again.

Isaiah 53 says he was numbered with the transgressors. And then we have the passerbys Who wag their heads at him in derision and mocking. They say you who destroy the temple save yourself. If you are the Son of God come down.

The irony, of course is the fact that it's his submission to the father as the righteous son. That is keeping him on the cross. He could come down. But he chooses not to Because he is the Son of God. He is obedient.

He is obedient to the father. That's the ridicule from the general public. But then we see we have the ridicule from the chief priests together with the scribes Pharisees and elders. You can picture this there they're there in their.

Robes.

Adorned.

So conspicuously as they so like that they can be seen as as as Greater than everyone else there. He's they say he saved others. Himself, he cannot save if he is the king of Israel. Let him now come down from the cross and we will believe him.

He trusted in God. Let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Son of God. Again, Christ could save himself. What's striking here? Is that if Jesus did? Miraculously in this great show of power come down from the cross and end the suffering and obliterate his his persecutors here as he could.

They would still not believe they say they would. But these are the men who have seen his mighty acts of one his wonders how he has raised the dead. How he has given sight to the blind. They've seen his wonders and they still do not believe.

Nothing will change that because of the hard stony hearts of unbelief. That refuse him if he performed this wonder that they are calling upon him in mockery to perform. Their hearts would only grow harder in unbelief.

He Trusted in God let him deliver him now. He will be indeed be delivered. He will be indeed delivered from the grave from death itself for the bands of death cannot hold him this Deliverance will be far greater than they can even imagine.

Again, Psalm 22 we read it this morning all those who see me ridicule me. They shoot out the lip. They wag the head saying he Trusted in the Lord. Let him rescue him. Let him deliver him since he delights in him.

Ironic that these chief priests who know their Old Testament so well. Use almost verbatim this these same words in their mockery. And then the text ends with Matthew's comment about the two robbers. Even they are mocking and reviling our Lord.

Now we know of course from the other gospel accounts that the hearts of one of these two men was indeed softened and he does repent and trust in Christ and Receive mercy. This reminds us that that mercy can often be found even at the last hour, but do not presume upon this.

For the other criminal does die and perish in his sins. So that's the text laid before us. Those are the the details that Matthew records for us. We have to see here the wickedness of sin the rebellion of mankind how the world hates Christ and hates his authority and hates who he is.

We see here the full display of the.

The mature.

Fruit that sin bears in reviling the one Alone who is worthy of all worship. That such evil can be done to the king of glory. These these Interactions show the depth of wickedness that resides in the human heart.

Beloved we are no better hardened sinful hearts by nature. Do not submit to Christ the same rebellion is in our own hearts.

Would if God would not?

Restrain our evil we would be guilty of these same acts. Second. Bearing in mind that the depth of our guilt. We have to reflect on this fact that he bore our shame. He bore our shame all the the mocking and the abuse that he bore.

Was what we as vile sinners rightly deserve. And so if you are trusting in Christ dear one. No, you have been released from your shame. Because Christ took it for you. The devil loves to accuse the brethren.

Those who are trusting in Christ to remind us of our sin to shame us and to silence us. But no beloved. That Christ bore our shame. He took it upon himself. And so we can say yes, we are guilty we are worthy of the worst cruelty imaginable.

That is what we deserve. But he took it for us. And then finally. Even his sufferings in the words of his mockers. Point to the truth that he is the king of kings and that he came willingly knowingly to redeem his people as he said he would.

None of this was a surprise. It was the will of the father to crush the son. And it even was the delight of the son to obey and submit to his father in this way. To humble himself that we might be redeemed from the curse of the law.

Why did he do this? Why did he endure this? Because the father sent him in love. To make us his own. I'll end with Philippians 2 which gives us a taste of where we will be heading in the next two weeks as we Further look into his death on the cross and the atonement that he secured for us.

I'm gonna read from Philippians 2 starting in verse 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation.

Taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man. He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even the death of the cross.

Therefore God.

Also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee would bow of those in heaven of those on the earth and of those under the earth. That every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Beloved there is purpose here. There is love here. There is justice here. And there is mercy here. This is the gospel. This is the only gospel that saves. So dear one if your hope is not.

In this.

Cursed abused mocked reviled broken man. This bleeding lamb Led to the slaughter Your hope is in vain for he bore this wrath He was despised and rejected. Because this is the only way of salvation. This is the will of the father to redeem himself a bride a spotless bride.

By the blood of Christ. Let us pray.

Father in heaven we we thank you for Christ. We thank you that he has done what we could not do. That he humbled himself That he bore the shame He took upon himself the reviling that I deserve father.

We don't know the depths of our sin, but Christ Endured all That we might be redeemed. Father we thank you that you have glorified your son in this way Even through humiliation that he might be Exalted as the king of kings as the Lord of glory as the Lamb of God Who sits even now on the throne as one?

Slain.

Yet alive forever.

Glory be to Christ. Amen.