Matthew 27:32

And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

And {G1161} as they came out {G1831}, they found {G2147} a man {G444} of Cyrene {G2956}, Simon {G4613} by name {G3686}: him {G5126} they compelled {G29} to {G2443} bear {G142} his {G846} cross {G4716}.

As they were leaving, they met a man from Cyrene named Shim`on; and they forced him to carry Yeshua's execution-stake.

Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go with them, that he might bear his cross.

Commentary

Matthew 27:32 describes a pivotal moment during Jesus' crucifixion procession, just outside the city gates of Jerusalem. As the Roman soldiers led Jesus, weakened by scourging and abuse, they encountered a man who would play an unexpected role in the divine drama.

Context and Setting

After being condemned by Pilate, scourged, and mocked by soldiers, Jesus was forced to carry His own cross (specifically, the heavy horizontal beam, or patibulum) towards Golgotha. The journey was arduous, and accounts suggest Jesus was physically spent. It was Roman custom to compel bystanders into service if needed, especially for tasks like carrying equipment or, in this case, a prisoner's cross. This verse introduces Simon of Cyrene, a man from North Africa, likely a Jewish pilgrim in Jerusalem for the Passover feast, who was seized and forced into this grim duty. This act highlights the extreme physical toll taken on Jesus, who could no longer bear the weight Himself, contrasting with John 19:17 which states Jesus initially carried His cross.

Key Themes and Insights

  • The Burden of the Cross: Simon's compelled assistance underscores the immense physical suffering of Jesus. The weight of the cross symbolized not just the instrument of execution but the spiritual burden of humanity's sin that Christ was bearing.
  • Compelled Service: The Greek word for "compelled," aggareuล, refers to forced governmental service, like a courier being forced to carry a message or a person forced to carry a burden. This term is notably used by Jesus Himself in the Sermon on the Mount regarding going "the extra mile." Simon's involvement was not voluntary, yet it became part of God's sovereign plan.
  • Unexpected Discipleship: Though forced, Simon's act symbolically links him to Jesus' teaching about discipleship. Jesus had previously taught, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Simon, unwillingly, physically enacted this principle. Later accounts, such as Mark 15:21, mention his sons, Alexander and Rufus, suggesting his family may have become prominent in the early Christian community, perhaps indicating a profound spiritual transformation resulted from this encounter.

Practical Application

Simon's experience reminds us that God often uses unexpected people in unexpected ways to fulfill His purposes. While Simon was compelled, his act of bearing the cross, even for a short distance, represents a universal call to share in Christ's burdens and sufferings, not just physically, but spiritually and metaphorically. It challenges us to consider how we respond when we are called to bear burdens, whether our own or those of others, especially when such burdens are difficult or unwelcome. It invites us to reflect on the nature of true discipleship, which often involves sacrifice and carrying burdens in imitation of Christ.

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

Cross-References

  • Mark 15:21

    And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

  • Luke 23:26

    ยถ And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear [it] after Jesus.

  • Matthew 16:24

    ยถ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Acts 2:10

    Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

  • Acts 6:9

    Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

  • Acts 11:20

    And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

  • Acts 13:1

    ยถ Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
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