Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

27:45 sixth hour . . . until the ninth hour. From noon until 3:00 p.m. Josephus says that the ninth hour was the time when Jews offered the daily evening sacrifice (Jewish Antiquities 14.65). darkness. Not a solar eclipse, since Passover occurred during a full moon, and a solar eclipse can occur only during a new moon; rather, it is a supernatural act of God, displaying his displeasure and judgment upon humanity for crucifying his Son.

27:46 Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? Jesus quotes Ps. 22:1 (see note on Matt. 27:35). The last two words are Aramaic (the everyday language spoken by Jesus), and the first two could be either Aramaic or Hebrew. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Some of the most profoundly mysterious words in the entire Bible. In some sense Jesus had to be cut off from the favor of and fellowship with the Father that had been his eternally, because he was bearing the sins of his people and therefore enduring God's wrath (cf. Isa. 53:6, 10; Hab. 1:13; Rom. 3:25; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 1 John 2:2). And yet, in quoting Ps. 22:1 Jesus probably has in mind the remainder of the psalm as well, which moves on to a cry of victory (Ps. 22:21-31); and he expresses faith, calling God "my God." Surely he knows why he is dying, for this was the purpose of his coming to earth (cf. Matt. 16:21; 20:18-19, 28). And surely his cry, uttered with a loud voice, is expressing, not bewilderment at his plight, but witness to the bystanders, and through them to the world, that he was experiencing God-forsakenness not for anything in himself but for the salvation of others. Surely Matthew, understanding this, quotes Jesus' words to challenge his readers. Jesus' torment, despite his anticipations of it in Gethsemane, was surely inconceivable in advance (cf. note on 24:36).

27:47 Elijah. Jesus' call to God in Aramaic (’Eli, ’Eli) sounds similar to the Hebrew name for Elijah (’Eliyahu), which the bystanders misunderstand as a summons to the prophet.

27:48 sour wine. Used as a daily drink with meals by common people and soldiers. It was cheaper than regular wine and effectively quenched thirst. Cf. Ps. 69:21.

27:50 yielded up his spirit. Even in death, Jesus maintains authoritative control over his destiny (cf. John 10:17-18; Heb. 7:16). "His spirit" means his human spirit. While Jesus' body remained on the cross and was then put in the tomb, his spirit went into the presence of God his Father (cf. Luke 23:43, 46; also Eccles. 12:7) and in this way he became the pattern for believers who would die after him (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23; Heb. 12:23).