Matthew 27:50 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

NIV: And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

NASB: And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit.

CSB: But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.

NLT: Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.

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

NKJV: And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

Though He was arrested, maimed, and executed, Jesus' life was not taken from Him. He chose to give it up, beginning with His willingness to be born in human form (Philippians 2:8) and to submit to the will of God (Matthew 26:38–44; 53–54). He consciously chose to arrive at this moment (John 10:17–18). Jesus has fulfilled His mission as He described it to the disciples in Matthew 20:28: "Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

John notes that Jesus cries out "it is finished," declaring this truth before He dies. He has completed the full task He had been given by the Father. He has submitted to the arrest, the trials, the beatings, the mockery, and the extended execution. Beyond all of that, He has suffered through the three hours of darkness, some sense of being forsaken, and the crushing weight of humanity's sin. The requirements have all been satisfied (Matthew 27:35–49).

The phrasing used here is like that of John, who also describes Jesus' death as a deliberate act of will (John 19:30). In other words, Jesus releases His life from His body. The Son of God is dead.

Matthew 27:45–56 describes the climactic moment when Jesus dies on the cross. Darkness falls over Israel as Jesus hangs near death. Jesus cries out the words of Psalm 22:1, which mean "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Some nearby think He is calling for Elijah the prophet to come and save Him. Jesus dies. Immediately, the massive temple curtain is torn in two, top to bottom. Earthquakes open the tombs of some of the saints of Israel, who are later resurrected. A Roman centurion is shocked enough to declare that Jesus was the Son of God. Three women, Jesus' friends, watch from a distance.

When Judas learns Jesus has been condemned, he regrets betraying the Lord. He throws down his ill-gotten money and hangs himself. Jesus is taken to Pilate, who finds nothing to charge Him with. Given the choice, the people shout for the release of a convicted murderer and insist on Jesus' death. Jesus is mocked by a battalion of soldiers and then taken to be crucified. On the cross, He is mocked for not being able to save Himself. After three hours of darkness, Jesus dies. He is buried by a rich follower in a new tomb. This location is tightly guarded to prevent anyone from stealing the body.

Matthew 27 begins with an official meeting of the Jewish ruling council. They affirm Jesus' condemnation from the previous night, described in chapter 26. Judas confesses his betrayal and hangs himself. Pilate tries to release Jesus, but the mob shouts for Jesus to be crucified. Jesus is humiliated by Roman soldiers and marched to be executed. On the cross, He is mocked by Jewish religious leaders and others. He dies and is buried in a never-used tomb. Extensive efforts to secure His body from being stolen only serve to prove the miraculous nature of His resurrection, which is detailed in chapter 28.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.