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Matthew 27

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

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

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

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.

And sitting down they watched him there;

And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

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

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

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.

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

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.

He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

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

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

What does Matthew 27:57 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 27:57 recounts an event that takes place in the late afternoon or early evening following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

A man named Joseph from Arimathea, who is described as wealthy and a disciple of Jesus, makes an appearance.

His wealth is significant because it suggests that he had the means to provide for the burial of Christ, an act that would have been costly.

Joseph's discipleship implies a hidden or secret following of Jesus due to potential risks associated with being openly aligned with Him at this tumultuous time.

Despite the possible dangers, Joseph demonstrates his loyalty and bravery by stepping forward to claim Jesus' body and ensure it receives a proper burial.

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Historical Context

At the time this verse was written, burial practices in Jewish culture required a timely interment, generally on the same day of death before sunset, as to not violate the laws set out in Deuteronomy 21:22-23.

Arimathea is a location mentioned in the New Testament, thought to be a city in Judea, although its exact location remains uncertain.

The gospel accounts portray Joseph of Arimathea as a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, yet a secret follower of Jesus who does not consent to the council's decisions concerning Jesus.

This implies a schism within the Jewish leadership.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy and the importance of a dignified burial.

Christians see Joseph of Arimathea's actions as fulfilling Isaiah 53:9, which speaks of the Messiah being buried with the rich.

Furthermore, Joseph's reverence for Jesus' body reflects the Christian belief in the sanctity of the human body and prefigures the doctrine of bodily resurrection.

The request made by Joseph to Pilate also indicates the Roman authority's control over crucifixion victims and the grace extended to Jesus even after his death.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Matthew 27:57 inspires believers to act with courage and demonstrate their faith through actions, even in the face of possible persecution.

It encourages a respectful treatment of the deceased, emphasizing the need for dignity and compassion in the face of death.

The passage also offers a model of discipleship, suggesting that faith can be expressed through service and sacrifice, regardless of one's status or position in society.

Cross-References

Isaiah 53:9 - "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."
John 19:38 - "And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave.

He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus."

Luke 23:50-53 - "And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus."

Mark 15:43 - "Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "plousios" (πλούσιος) translates as "rich" or "wealthy," indicating not just material wealth but influence as well.

"Mathētēs" (μαθητής) is used for "disciple," which connotes a learner or follower.

Additionally, "Opsias de genomenēs" (Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης) sets the time as "When the even was come," importantly noting the urgency due to the approaching Sabbath when work, including burial, was not allowed.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The burial of a revered figure mirrors important themes found in various ancient myths and religions, where burial rites are often significant acts.

In Egyptian mythology, for example, the care given to the body of Osiris by Isis shares thematic similarities.

The emphasis on burial among the Greeks can be seen in the importance placed on it in Homer's "Iliad".

Moreover, the motif of a wealthy or influential individual using personal resources to honor a revered deceased person is a common theme across many cultures.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the description provided in Matthew 27:57 offers no apparent conflict with modern scientific understandings.

The verse is a historical account that involves burial customs, which can be studied and corroborated through archaeology and cultural anthropology.

Modern forensic science can also shed light on the process of death and decay, further confirming the importance of prompt burial practices in the ancient world.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have provided various interpretations of this verse.

Some view Joseph of Arimathea as a courageous figure who stepped out of his comfort zone to serve Jesus.

Others emphasize the fulfillment of prophecy in Joseph's actions.

Renowned commentators such as Matthew Henry and John Calvin note Joseph's wealth as an example of God using individuals from different societal levels for His purposes.

The act of providing an honorable burial is also seen as a strong expression of Joseph's faith and respect for Jesus.

Matthew 27

Matthew 27

What does Matthew 27:57 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 27:57 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?