In Matthew 27
● notice the narrative emphasis continues- “when” (1) and “when” (3)- as leaders plot, “took counsel” (1), and “bound … led … and delivered” (2) Jesus to the Roman governor and as Judas desperately tries to undo what he has done,
● register the repetition of “took counsel” (7), this time devoted to scrupulous accounting of what should be done with “blood money” (6),
● continue with Matthew in seeing fulfilment of prophetic witness (Jeremiah this time) in the unfolding events,
● ponder Jesus’ third time (earlier with Judas and with the high priest) to turn words back on a questioner- “You have said so” (11)- and Jesus’ persistence in silence (12, 14), perhaps echoing Isaiah 53:7,
● notice the repetition of “who is called Christ” (19, 22) in the Barrabas episode, continuing the gospel-long question of who is this man,
● see how the narrative covers several parts of the crucifixion and events surrounding it but with seeming economy, not dwelling long on any part,
● register Pilate’s sign- “King of the Jews” (37)- and its contribution to the question of who this man is,
● count the references to the verbal treatment Jesus receives- “mocked” (29) … “derided” (39) … “mocked” (41) … “reviled” (44), seeing in it the similarity to scoffing which is so thoroughly condemned in Proverbs,
● ponder the language of Jesus’ death: “He yielded up his spirit” (50),
● register the accounting of the events accompanying Jesus’ death that witnesses “saw” (54) and to which “they” (54) responded with a declaration of who Jesus was: “Truly this was the Son of God” (54),
● tally the people named as witnesses of the events (54-61), and
● close by seeing how the masters of fraud themselves are eager to protect against fraud.
Thank you,
Randy Tumlinson