Verse 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 Messiah that the Old Testament had predicted: Son of God and Suffering Servant.
"’This is Jesus the King of the Jews’ is actually the theme of the book, though it here is used in sheer derision." [Note: Toussaint, Behold the . . ., p. 312.]
The full accusation, compiled by comparing the various Gospel accounts, was evidently "This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (cf. Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38; John 19:19).
"In one sense, this title proved to be the first ’Gospel tract’ ever written." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:102-3.]
I regard this verse as the key verse in Matthew’s Gospel because it states concisely Matthew’s message.
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