Mark 15:24

And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

And {G2532} when they had crucified {G4717} him {G846}, they parted {G1266} his {G846} garments {G2440}, casting {G906} lots {G2819} upon {G1909} them {G846}, what {G5101} every man {G5101} should take {G142}.

Then they nailed him to the execution-stake; and they divided his clothes among themselves, throwing dice to determine what each man should get.

And they crucified Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.

And they crucify him, and part his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take.

Commentary

Mark 15:24 captures a stark detail from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, highlighting the callousness of the Roman soldiers and the precise fulfillment of ancient prophecy.

Context and Setting

Following the brutal scourging and mockery, Jesus was led to Golgotha, where He was crucified. In Roman execution practice, the garments of the condemned were often considered part of the spoils for the execution squad. This verse describes the immediate action taken by the soldiers after nailing Jesus to the cross: they divided His clothes among themselves. This act underscores the utter lack of reverence or compassion shown to Jesus in His final moments, as His executioners were more concerned with material gain than the profound spiritual event unfolding.

Key Themes and Significance

  • Humiliation and Indignity: Jesus, the Son of God, is stripped naked and His few earthly possessions are taken from Him, adding to the immense suffering and public shame He endured.
  • Indifference of the Executioners: The soldiers' act of casting lots for Jesus' garments demonstrates their profound indifference to His suffering. They were merely performing their duty and claiming their spoils, oblivious to the divine significance of the one they were crucifying.
  • Divine Sovereignty: Despite the human cruelty and randomness of the "lots," this event was not accidental but divinely orchestrated, fulfilling a specific prophecy made centuries earlier.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "parted his garments" comes from the Greek word diamerizō (διαμερίζω), which means "to divide completely" or "to distribute." The act of "casting lots" (from Greek ballō klēron - βάλλω κλῆρον) refers to a method of random distribution, similar to rolling dice. While humanly random, this action was perfectly aligned with God's preordained plan.

Prophetic Fulfillment and Cross-References

One of the most powerful aspects of Mark 15:24 is its direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This specific act was foretold centuries earlier in Psalm 22:18, a messianic psalm that graphically describes the suffering of Christ: "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." The Gospel of John provides a more detailed account, explicitly noting that the soldiers divided Jesus' outer garments but cast lots for His seamless inner tunic, thereby fulfilling the Scripture (see John 19:23-24). This precise fulfillment underscores the reliability and divine inspiration of the Bible.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the depth of Jesus' sacrifice. He endured not only the physical agony of the cross but also profound indignity and abandonment. For believers, it strengthens faith in the meticulous fulfillment of God's Word and His sovereign control, even over the seemingly mundane or cruel actions of humanity. It also challenges us to consider our own responses to suffering—are we indifferent like the soldiers, or do we respond with compassion and understanding, seeking to embody the love of Christ as we are called to bear one another's burdens?

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 19:23

    Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also [his] coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

  • John 19:24

    They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

  • Luke 23:34

    Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

  • Isaiah 53:4

    ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

  • Isaiah 53:8

    He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

  • 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.

  • Matthew 27:36

    And sitting down they watched him there;
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