Matthew 27:35
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 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.
After He was nailed to the cross, Roman soldiers divided His clothing among themselves, and after contention over His seamless woven garment they settled it by casting lots, fulfilling what was spoken in Psalm 22 about parting His garments and casting lots upon His vesture. He was stretched upon the wooden cross without resisting, with nails through hands and feet, and hung there dreadful hours in agony outside Jerusalem at the place of execution for felons and murderers. His life and death were humiliation and suffering greater than any human being could suffer, willingly endured when He gave up all for sinners to bear the curse of the law as humanity's substitute and open the way to eternal life. His suffering sets the measure of self-denial for those who follow Him, demanding all, undivided affections and entire consecration with separation from the world. How much He endured proves that no experience can come to believers that He does not fully understand, calling them to keep their eyes fastened on Him and be led by a spirit entirely opposite to that which inspired His enemies.
Crucifixion Scene Described
After trial and scourging came the journey to Calvary under the cross, and the crucifixion belongs to that movement from trial to execution. He was led from the judgment hall to Calvary followed by a large crowd that included disciples and believers from Jerusalem and the nearby areas. He was crucified outside Jerusalem at the place of execution for felons and murderers.
He was stretched upon a wooden cross without resisting, His hands stretched out to be nailed. Nails were driven through His hands and through His feet, through His tender hands and feet. He hung there dreadful hours in agony and physical torture.
The crucifixion was preceded by mockery and cruel treatment, and accompanied by derision, insult, and crowning with thorns. Jewish priests and rulers pressured the Roman governor to carry out their will. As He hung upon the cross His enemies stood at the foot, the Pharisees among them, abusing Him and mocking and deriding Him.
He suffered as the divine Sufferer, yet God gave no command for angels to rescue Him. His death came through the determined hostility of Satan and of the people who chose Barabbas over Him. The agony was so terrible that angels veiled their faces and the sun refused to behold and hid its light. His mother and disciples witnessed the torture with grief. The quarrelling and angry voices of those dividing His clothes expressed enmity and added to His suffering, in sharp contrast to the thief's earnest appeal of faith, hope, trust, and love that brought Him comfort.
Garments Divided Foretold
After He was nailed to the cross, Roman soldiers divided His clothing among themselves. One garment was woven without seam, and after contention over it they settled the matter by casting lots. This division of His garments by lot fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet in Psalm 22, that they parted His garments among them and cast lots upon His vesture. That word about His vesture was spoken together with the prophecy that the assembly of the wicked enclosing Him would pierce His hands and His feet.
Even this detail of His humiliation and death fulfilled prophecy. The event was witnessed by many people and confirmed the prophetic account. His suffering outside the gate fulfilled the pattern of the sin offering. There He bore the curse of the law as humanity's substitute, redeeming people from that curse.
Sacrifice Understood and Applied
The casting of lots for His garments belongs to a life and death of humiliation and suffering greater than any human being could suffer. That suffering at Calvary was part of the hardship and sacrifice He endured to show the way to eternal life and to provide the divine help people need to overcome, and it stands among all His sufferings for humanity. His crucifixion was wholly willing sacrifice, for He did not refuse to die for men but gave up all for sinners. The great cost of what He gave up for humanity is seen in His being stretched upon the cross and enduring hours of agony.
The disciples met that crucifixion with bitter disappointment, for they had expected Him to reign as king on David's throne and to deliver Israel. Instead they saw their beloved Teacher die as a criminal and malefactor amid mockery and taunts, and that sight killed their hopes. Their faith was tested and their hope and courage failed in that moment of humiliation and grief. The affliction and agony it brought were too great to measure, and when He was taken from the cross and laid in Joseph's new tomb their anguish was terrible because they had lost their Lord.
His suffering sets the measure of self-denial for those who follow Him and the measure of the church's missionary work and devotion. Since Christ gave up all for sinners, whatever humans call self-denial is put in the shade and the narrow path is not too strait. It demands all, undivided affections and entire consecration, with separation from the world and from dead, heartless professors instead of conformity to them. His agony on the cross teaches self-sacrifice, patience under affliction, solemn consecration to God, and preparation for holy work. His meekness and loveliness in being crowned with thorns and nailed to the cross for sins should humble and break the sinner's heart, bowing in the dust with shame and humiliation unto repentance and conversion.
How much He endured proves that no experience can come to believers that He does not fully understand. As the Lamb who gave His own life so that we might be saved and the true Branch, He calls believers to be led by a spirit entirely opposite to that which inspired His enemies. They are to keep their eyes fastened on Him, walk in humility of mind, and live in perfect harmony. They are to help and sustain and strengthen and pray with one another, and thus show that the Spirit of God is working in heart and mind and character. Those who look to Him will have the same experience of mocking, but they can endure without discouragement because heaven is to be won and Christ upholds and sustains at every step, without stopping God's work to listen to reports made against them.