Matthew 27

Crucifixion

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: Matthew 27:1–2

The leaders bind Jesus and hand Him to the Roman governor, exactly as Jesus had foretold they would deliver Him to the Gentiles.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Matthew 20:18-19 — Jesus foretold being condemned and delivered to the Gentiles to be crucified
• fulfils Psalm 2:2 — The rulers take counsel together against the LORD and his anointed

Lamb of God

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, Matthew 27:3–4

Even His betrayer confesses that Jesus is innocent. Like the sacrificial lamb without blemish, He dies without any sin of His own.

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• interpreted by 1 Peter 1:19 — The precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot

Betrayal of Christ

And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. Matthew 27:5–10

The blood money is used to buy the potter's field, and Matthew declares it a fulfilled prophecy about the price at which the Lord was valued by His own people.

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• fulfils Zechariah 11:12-13 — Thirty pieces of silver cast to the potter in the house of the LORD
• alludes to Jeremiah 32:6-9 — Jeremiah buys a field for silver; Matthew attributes the combined prophecy to Jeremiah
• fulfils Matthew 26:15 — The thirty pieces covenanted with Judas

King of the Jews

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. Matthew 27:11

Pilate asks whether Jesus is the King of the Jews and Jesus affirms it. He is the promised Son of David, though His kingdom is not of this world.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Matthew 2:2 — The wise men seek him that is born King of the Jews
• a parallel account in John 18:33-37 — John records: My kingdom is not of this world

Lamb of God

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Matthew 27:12–14

Jesus answers nothing to His accusers. Isaiah and Abinadi foresaw the Messiah silent like a lamb before its shearers.

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• fulfils Isaiah 53:7 — As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth
• fulfils Mosiah 14:7 — Abinadi's quotation of Isaiah 53:7

Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. Matthew 27:15–22

Pilate twice names Him 'Jesus which is called Christ' and offers to release Him, but the crowd chooses a prisoner instead and calls for the Messiah to be crucified.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Acts 3:13-15 — Peter: ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you
• a parallel account in Mark 15:6-14 — Mark's account of Barabbas

Day of Atonement

And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Matthew 27:16–26

A guilty man goes free while the innocent Jesus is sent to die in his place. Many teachers see here a picture of substitution, like the two goats of the Day of Atonement where one went free and one was offered.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Leviticus 16:7-10 — Two goats: one for the LORD, one sent away alive (traditional typology, not stated in the text)

The Just One

The Just One — the righteous, sinless one

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. Matthew 27:19–24

Pilate's wife and Pilate himself call Jesus 'that just man', words the apostles later use as a title for Christ: the Just One.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Acts 7:52 — Stephen: the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers
• the same title in Acts 3:14 — Ye denied the Holy One and the Just

Atonement

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Matthew 27:26

Jesus is whipped before crucifixion. Isaiah foretold that by His stripes we are healed.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• fulfils Isaiah 53:5 — With his stripes we are healed
• interpreted by 1 Peter 2:24 — By whose stripes ye were healed

King of the Jews

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. Matthew 27:27–31

Soldiers dress Jesus as a mock king with a scarlet robe, a crown of thorns, and a reed scepter. They mean it as a joke, but they are bowing before the true King, who bears the thorns of the curse for us.

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• fulfils Isaiah 50:6 — I hid not my face from shame and spitting
• a parallel account in Mark 15:16-20 — Mark's account of the mocking
• alludes to Genesis 3:17-18 — Thorns as a sign of the Fall's curse (traditional reading)

Crucifixion

They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. Matthew 27:34

At Golgotha He is offered vinegar mixed with gall, as the psalm of the suffering righteous one foretold.

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• fulfils Psalm 69:21 — They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink

Crucifixion

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. Matthew 27:35

Jesus is crucified and the soldiers gamble for His clothes, and Matthew quotes the psalm that foresaw it word for word.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• quotes Psalm 22:18 — They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture
• a parallel account in John 19:23-24 — John's account of the seamless coat

King of the Jews

Jesus — Jehovah saves

And sitting down they watched him there; Matthew 27:36–37

The charge nailed over the cross names Him and His kingship. Meant as an accusation, it is a true testimony posted for all to read.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in John 19:19-22 — John's account of the title in three languages

Crucifixion

Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. Matthew 27:38

Jesus dies between two criminals, fulfilling Isaiah's word that He would be numbered with the transgressors.

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• fulfils Isaiah 53:12 — He was numbered with the transgressors
• a parallel account in Mark 15:27-28 — Mark cites the fulfillment of this scripture

Son of God

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, Matthew 27:39–40

Passersby wag their heads and taunt Him as the Son of God and the temple-builder. He stays on the cross precisely because He is the Son of God, and in three days He raises the temple of His body.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Psalm 22:7 — All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head
• interpreted by John 2:19-21 — The temple of his body

Savior

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, Matthew 27:41–44

The chief priests mock Him as Savior, King of Israel, and Son of God, almost quoting the psalm of the suffering Messiah. The irony is deep: He could not save others and save Himself at the same time, so He chose us.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Psalm 22:8 — He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him
• the same title in John 1:49 — Nathanael: thou art the King of Israel

Crucifixion

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. Matthew 27:45

Darkness covers the land for three hours at midday while He hangs on the cross. Prophets foresaw darkness as a sign of His death, and the Book of Mormon records three days of darkness in the Americas.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Amos 8:9 — I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day
• fulfils Helaman 14:20 — Samuel: at his death the sun shall be darkened
• the same event in 3 Nephi 8:19-23 — Darkness in the Americas at His death

Crucifixion

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? Matthew 27:46

Jesus cries out the opening words of Psalm 22, feeling the Father's Spirit withdrawn so that He might finish the Atonement alone. By quoting it, He points to the whole psalm being about Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• quotes Psalm 22:1 — My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
• a parallel account in Mark 15:34 — Mark's account
• alluded to by D&C 76:107 — He hath trodden the winepress alone

Crucifixion

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. Matthew 27:48

Offered vinegar in His thirst, Jesus fulfills another line of the messianic psalm.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Psalm 69:21 — In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink
• a parallel account in John 19:28-30 — John: that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst

Crucifixion

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. Matthew 27:50

Jesus dies by yielding up His spirit. He gave His life; no one took it from Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils John 10:17-18 — I lay down my life... No man taketh it from me
• a parallel account in Mark 15:37 — Mark's account of His death

Veil of the Temple

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; Matthew 27:51

At His death the veil before the Holy of Holies tears from top to bottom, as if torn by God. Hebrews teaches that the veil represented His flesh; through His torn body the way into God's presence is opened to all.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interpreted by Hebrews 10:19-20 — A new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh
• typified by Exodus 26:31-33 — The veil dividing the holy place from the most holy
• a parallel account in Mark 15:38 — Mark's account

Crucifixion

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; Matthew 27:51

The earth quakes and rocks split when the Creator dies. Book of Mormon prophets foretold exactly these signs, and 3 Nephi records them on a far larger scale in the Americas.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Helaman 14:21-22 — Samuel: the earth shall shake and tremble; and the rocks... shall be broken up
• fulfils 1 Nephi 19:10-12 — Zenos: the rocks of the earth must rend at the death of the God of Israel
• the same event in 3 Nephi 8:17-18 — The rocks were rent in twain in the Americas

Resurrection

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, Matthew 27:52–53

After Jesus rises, many righteous dead rise too and appear to many in Jerusalem. His Resurrection opens the graves for everyone, beginning with the faithful; Samuel the Lamanite prophesied this very sign.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Helaman 14:25 — Many graves shall be opened... and many saints shall appear unto many
• the same event in 3 Nephi 23:9-11 — The Savior confirms saints arose and appeared unto many among the Nephites
• interpreted by 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 — Christ the firstfruits of them that slept

Son of God

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. Matthew 27:54

A Roman centurion, seeing the earthquake and signs, testifies that Jesus truly was the Son of God. A Gentile soldier becomes one of the first witnesses at the cross.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Mark 15:39 — Mark's account of the centurion
• the same title in Matthew 27:40 — What the mockers denied, the centurion confesses

Burial of Christ

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: Matthew 27:57–60

A rich disciple lays Jesus' body in his own new tomb. Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be with the rich in His death, and Jesus had promised the sign of Jonah: three days in the heart of the earth.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• fulfils Isaiah 53:9 — He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death
• fulfils Matthew 12:40 — So shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth
• typified by Jonah 1:17 — Jonah three days and three nights in the fish

Resurrection

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Matthew 27:62–66

His enemies remember His promise to rise after three days better than His disciples do, and seal and guard the tomb. Their precautions only make the empty tomb a stronger witness.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Matthew 20:19 — The third day he shall rise again
• fulfilled by Matthew 28:6 — He is not here: for he is risen, as he said