Matthew 27:39-44: Taunting the God of Love

Hungarian painter Mihály Munkácsy's 1884 "Golgotha" 

“Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.” Chief priests, mocking Jesus in Matthew 27:42

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; … they wag their heads.  “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”  (Psalm 22:6-8)

“It was the power of love, not nails, that kept him there.” (Robert Mounce’s commentary on Matthew)

The Lamb of God has willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.   There He is, in a human body, nailed to a cross, facing death head-on.   The universe worships.  But man, the benefactor of the most incredible act of love ever demonstrated, doesn’t get it.   Hard-hearted, rebellious or at best ignorant, man can only mock and taunt.

And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! (v. 39 -40) Interestingly, Matthew never records Jesus saying those words.   (But John does.  See John 2:19.)  But Matthew references Jesus saying these words two times: here and in 26:61)

Those passing by continue to mock Jesus:  “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross,” (v. 40). The same wicked spirit is at work here as in Matthew chapter 4 when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness.   Twice (4:3, 4:6) Satan began his taunt of Jesus with the words, “If you are the Son of God…” In both chapter 4 and here in v. 40, the intent is the same:  To have Jesus disobey the will of His Father.   It worked easily enough on Adam and Eve. 

Maybe, just maybe, if he kept pressing, Satan could get Jesus to also disobey Father God, shattering the perfect unity of the Trinity and foiling the plan of God.  But the matter has already been settled.  The night before in the garden, Jesus said to the Father, “Your will be done,” (26:42).  Jesus is not the frail first Adam; He is the obedient perfect second Adam (see Romans 5:12-21).  Jesus was going to the cross and there He will stay until His death, to the glory of God!

The whole kit and kaboodle of Israel’s religious elite, the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, turned out to see their nemesis crucified.  There they mocked him mercilessly, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him,” (vv. 41-42).  

No , they would not believe in Him, even if He came down from the cross.   Earlier Jesus had healed many (see 15:29-31) and fed 4000 (see 15:32-38).  But the Pharisees and Sadducees still demanded a sign (see 16:1).   “An evil… generation seeks for a sign,” Jesus replied, “but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah,” (16:4; see also 12:40). 

The chief priests, scribes and elders had their man.  Here he was before them, powerless, suffering and dying.   Believing their enemy was defeated, they continued their taunts:  “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God,’” (v. 43).   When on trial before the Council, Caiaphas adjured Jesus, “tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”  To which Jesus said, “You have said so,” (26:63-64).   Now, they are throwing that back in His face, probably spitting in self-righteous anger.  Maybe some are laughing and slapping each other on the back. 

The taunting was so ruckus that a third group of mockers joined in.  Even the robbers who were crucified with Him also reviled Him in the same way (v. 44). Luke details that one of those robbers repented and was saved (see Luke 23:39-43). 

If our Lord had given in to their taunts and come down from the cross, then He would have been no different than Evil Knievel, Houdini, David Blaine, or any another stunt man.   And we would still be in our sins.  But because of His love for us, on the cross He stayed. Even while we mocked, even while we were enemies of God, Christ died for us.   He didn’t do it when we decided to become better people.  But He died when we were weak, ungodly and sinners. And by His blood we have been justified and saved from His wrath (see Romans 5:6-10).   The very God we have taunted has now saved us from ourselves!   Worship Him, for He is worthy.   And the sign of Jonah will prove His worth even further!