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.

And {G1161} they crucified {G4717} him {G846}, and parted {G1266} his {G846} garments {G2440}, casting {G906} lots {G2819}: that {G2443} it might be fulfilled {G4137} which {G3588} was spoken {G4483} by {G5259} the prophet {G4396}, They parted {G1266} my {G3450} garments {G2440} among them {G1438}, and {G2532} upon {G1909} my {G3450} vesture {G2441} did they cast {G906} lots {G2819}.

After they had nailed him to the stake, they divided his clothes among them by throwing dice.

When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.

And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots;

Commentary

Context of Matthew 27:35

Matthew 27:35 describes a grim scene immediately following Jesus' arrival at Golgotha, the place of crucifixion. In Roman crucifixion practice, the soldiers who carried out the execution were typically allowed to claim the condemned person's clothing as their spoils. This act served to further strip the victim of their dignity, reducing them to utter destitution and public shame. The casting of lots was a common, impersonal method for distributing these possessions fairly among the soldiers, highlighting their casual indifference to the profound suffering before them.

Key Themes and Significance

  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: The most prominent theme is the precise fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah's suffering. This seemingly mundane act of soldiers dividing garments was foretold centuries earlier, underscoring God's meticulous plan.
  • Humiliation and Stripping of Dignity: Jesus, the Son of God, is stripped of His clothing, a profound act of public humiliation and vulnerability. This symbolizes His complete surrender and the depth of His sacrifice for humanity.
  • Divine Sovereignty: Despite the cruelty and human agency involved, the verse emphasizes that these actions were not random but part of God's sovereign plan, unfolding exactly according to His prophetic word. Even in the midst of profound injustice, God's will was being accomplished.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Parted his garments": The Greek word for "parted" (διαμερίζω - diamerizo) implies a division or distribution among several individuals, likely referring to Jesus' outer garments.
  • "Vesture": The Greek term (ἱματισμός - himatismos) refers to an outer robe or clothing in general. However, the parallel account in John 19:23-24 clarifies that the soldiers cast lots specifically for Jesus' inner tunic (χίτων - chitōn), which was seamless. This seamless garment is often seen as symbolic of Jesus' unbroken deity or priestly office.
  • "Casting lots": (βάλλω κλῆρον - ballo klēron) describes a common ancient method of making decisions, similar to rolling dice, emphasizing the impersonal and almost trivial nature of the soldiers' actions from their perspective.

Prophetic Fulfillment

The verse explicitly states that these actions fulfilled what "was spoken by the prophet." This refers directly to Psalm 22:18, a Messianic psalm written by King David centuries before Christ. The precise detail of dividing garments and casting lots for the vesture underscores the meticulous nature of God's prophetic word and its absolute reliability. This fulfillment served as a powerful testimony to Jesus' identity as the promised Messiah for early Jewish believers and continues to affirm the divine inspiration of Scripture.

Practical Application

  • The Reliability of Scripture: Matthew 27:35 reinforces the truth that God's Word is dependable and true. Even seemingly minor details of Jesus' life were foretold, demonstrating the Bible's divine inspiration and accuracy, offering great comfort and assurance to believers.
  • God's Sovereignty in Suffering: This verse reminds us that even in moments of extreme pain, injustice, and human cruelty, God is ultimately in control. Jesus' suffering was not chaotic but part of a divine plan for redemption, offering hope that God can use our own trials for His greater purposes.
  • Focus on the Spiritual, Not the Material: The soldiers were preoccupied with Jesus' earthly possessions, while Jesus was focused on His divine mission and the salvation of humanity. This can serve as a powerful reminder to prioritize eternal values over fleeting material gains.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

  • Psalms 22:18

    They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

  • Mark 15:24

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

  • Mark 15:32

    Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

  • Luke 23:34

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

  • 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.

  • Acts 4:10

    Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
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