Envy and Fear Mock the Son of God – But He Would Not Come Down (Matthew 27:32-44).

Class Outline:

Sunday April 12, 2026

 

The Road to the Cross

 

• He has finally made it to the cross.

 

• The obstacles Jesus overcame: betrayal by Judas at the Passover, grief unto death in Gethsemane, arrest, false accusations before the chief priests, handover to Pilate, the Barabbas choice, the crowd’s cries for crucifixion despite Pilate declaring Him innocent, and the Roman scourging.

 

• At any moment Jesus could have stopped it.

 

• “Even while nailed to the cross, the obstacles don’t stop coming.”

 

MAT 27:32-44

As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.

 

33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.

 

35 And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. 37 And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

 

38 At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 "HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'" 44 The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

 

The Scene: A Normal Roman Crucifixion.

 

Romans reserved crucifixion primarily for rebels, slaves, and non-citizens as a tool of psychological terror and public propaganda.

 

• Simon of Cyrene pressed into service: Jesus, weakened by scourging, could not carry the full distance.

 

• Arrival at Golgotha (“Place of the Skull”): It was outside the city walls, near a road, visible from a distance - symbolic of His rejection.

 

• The wine mixed with gall: A common merciful (or customary) pain-reliever (PRO 31:6-7 “give strong drink to him who is perishing…” The soldiers perhaps partook). He chooses to remain fully present, fully aware, to drink the Father’s cup undulled by a different cup.

 

• Crucifixion details: Common to divide His garments by casting lots, sit down and keep watch, put the charge above His head: “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

 

• Pause for wonder: These seemingly routine details were prophesied 1,000 years earlier (PSA 69:21 for the gall/vinegar; PSA 22:16-18 for the garments, piercing, and staring).

 

PSA 69:20-21

Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick.

And I looked for sympathy, but there was none,

And for comforters, but I found none. 

21 They also gave me gall for my food

And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 

 

Not only the gall, but the cheap wine they put it in. 

 

PSA 22:16-18

For dogs have surrounded me;

A band of evildoers has encompassed me;

They pierced my hands and my feet. 

17 I can count all my bones.

They look, they stare at me; 

18 They divide my garments among them,

And for my clothing they cast lots. 

 

The proof against Jesus, to His mockers, was His crucifixion. The proof for Jesus is in fact His crucifixion.

 

• Theological highlight: God sovereignly orchestrates every detail of history.

 

The Mockery: Envy and Fear Exposed.

 

• Matthew structures it with three groups (he loves groups of three), all mocking Jesus for who He claimed to be and for trusting the Father.

 

• • Group 1: The two robbers (vv. 38, 44; He was numbered with the transgressors (ISA 53:12)).

 

• • Group 2: Passersby (vv. 39-40) - Wagging their heads in derision, mocking the temple claim and His Sonship.

 

• • Group 3: Chief priests, scribes, and elders (vv. 41-43) - “He can’t save Himself” - not a case of can’t but won’t.

 

• • The religious elite quote PSA 22:8 almost verbatim and show they know the Scriptures and they even apply them well as they add “for He said ‘I am the Son of God’.”

 

The line they quote (PSA 22:8) is connected with a line on God’s offspring (son of God; PSA 22:9-10).

 

PSA 22:8-10

"Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;

Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him."

 

9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;

You made me trust when upon my mother's breasts.

10 Upon You I was cast from birth;

You have been my God from my mother's womb.

 

• Pride protects the worldview we prefer and refuses to consider other real possibilities—especially the possibility that Jesus really is the Son of God and really is trusting the Father’s will in this suffering.

 

Jesus’ Response - Our Example and Application.

 

Not coming down from the cross, or calling for the legions of angels, is the greatest miracle He ever did. “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

 

• Contrast: Jesus does not silence the mockers or come down to prove them wrong. He would not silence them but He would die for them. He lays down His life for them and prays, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (LUK 23:34).

 

• When we live openly with joy, confidence, and trust in the Father’s plan (proclaiming who we are in Christ), the same dynamic happens today. Prideful people will envy and mock us, trying to make us small (bow to them).

 

• Our calling (1PE 2:21-23):

 

1PE 2:21-23

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

 

1PE 4:14

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

It was outside the city walls (sin sacrifice burned outside the walls; parable of the wicked tenants threw the son outside - captures rejection.

 

HEB 13:12-13

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

 

All mocked Him. It is okay to have no one but God.

 

PSA 69:20

Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick.

And I looked for sympathy, but there was none,

And for comforters, but I found none.

 

Leave all vengeance in the Father’s hands. Believe and bear the reproach of the lost. Look to Christ on the cross as your example.