Matthew 27:37

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 27:37

And set up over his head - John says John 19:19 that Pilate wrote the title and put it upon the cross. Probably Pilate wrote it or caused it to be written, and directed the soldiers to set it up. A man is often said to do what he directs others to do. It was customary to set up over the heads of persons crucified the crime for which they suffered, and the name of the sufferer The accusation on which Jesus had been condemned by Pilate was his claiming to be the King of the Jews.This is Jesus,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 27:37-38

Matthew 27:37-38. And set over his head his accusation That is, a superscription, containing the substance of his pretended crime, written in capital letters, and in these remarkable words, THIS IS JESUS, (John adds, OF NAZARETH,) THE KING OF THE JEWS. The two other evangelists do not express the title so fully. See the note on John 19:19, &c. Bishop Pearson, (On the Creed, p. 205,) and Dr. Lardner, ( Credibil., vol. 1. p. 347,) have abundantly proved it to be usual, in cases of any... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 27:33-44

158. The crucifixion (Matthew 27:33-44; Mark 15:22-32; Luke 23:32-43; John 19:18-24)Golgotha, the place of Jesus’ crucifixion, was a hill beside a main road just outside Jerusalem. The procession arrived there about 9 a.m. (Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:25). (It is difficult to calculate the exact times of all the incidents that took place on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. People in those days did not carry clocks, and the times given in the Gospels are only approximate. In some cases the writers may... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 27:37

set up over His head. This is not therefore the inscription written by Pilate and put upon the cross before it left Pilate's presence (John 19:19 ); this was brought after the dividing of the garments; and was probably the result of the discussion of John 19:21 , John 19:22 . See App-163 . over. Greek. epano = up over. See note "upon", Matthew 28:2 . THIS, &c. For these capital letters see App-48 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 27:37

And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.In the extensive literature regarding the monumental things of this chapter, one often finds references to the inscription over Jesus' head, as recorded variously in the four gospels, to the effect that they are "different," "various," or even "contradictory"! Thus, Plummer said, "No two gospels agree as to the wording of the title on the cross ..."[6]But let any impartial reader read for himself:Matthew:... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 27:27-56

4. The crucifixion of Jesus 27:27-56Matthew narrated the crucifixion of Jesus by emphasizing the Roman soldiers’ abuse of Jesus, the Jews’ mockery of Jesus, His actual death, and the events that immediately followed His death. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 27:32-44

The crucifixion and mockery of Jesus 27:32-44 (cf. Mark 15:21-32; Luke 23:26-43; John 19:17-27)"The overenthusiastic attempts to draw out the physical horror of crucifixion which disfigure some Christian preaching (and at least one recent movie [i.e., The Passion of the Christ]) find no echo in the gospels. Perhaps the original readers were too familiar with both the torture and the shame of crucifixion to need any help in envisaging what it really meant. At any rate, the narrative focus in... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 27:37

Often the Romans wrote the charge against the crucified criminal on a white tablet with red or black ink and attached it to his cross. Pilate had Jesus’ charge written in Aramaic, Greek, and Latin (John 19:20). He meant it to be insulting to the Jews. The title "King of the Jews" meant "Messiah" to the Jews. Pilate meant that Jesus was a messianic pretender, but of course He was indeed the Messiah. Pilate ironically stated what Matthew wanted his readers to understand, that Jesus was the... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 27:1-66

Before Pilate. The Crucifixion1, 2. Jesus delivered to Pilate (Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1; John 18:28: see on Jn).1. When the morning] Since according to St. Luke, who follows an excellent and independent authority, the trial itself did not take place ’until it was day’ (Luke 22:66), this second meeting must be placed some time later in the morning, considerably after cock-crowing (Matthew 26:74). The object of the meeting, which was evidently largely attended, was simply to consider how to induce... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 27:37

(37) THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.—This was what was technically known as the titulus—the bill, or placard, showing who the condemned person was, and why he was punished. Each Gospel gives it in a slightly different form—Mark (Mark 15:26), “The King of the Jews;” Luke (Luke 23:38), “This is the King of the Jews;” John (John 19:19), “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The variations are, perhaps, in part, explicable on the assumption of corresponding differences in the Hebrew,... read more

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