Matthew 27:42

KJV

He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

KJV (with Strong's)

He saved {G4982} others {G243}; himself {G1438} he cannot {G3756}{G1410} save {G4982}. If {G1487} he be {G2076} the King {G935} of Israel {G2474}, let him {G2597} now {G3568} come down {G2597} from {G575} the cross {G4716}, and {G2532} we will believe {G4100} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"He saved others, but he can't save himself!" "So he's King of Isra'el, is he? Let him come down now from the stake! Then we'll believe him!"

Berean Standard Bible

“He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.

American Standard Version

He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 27:42 captures the cynical taunt of the chief priests, scribes, and elders as Jesus hangs on the cross. They mock His past acts of salvation, challenging Him to save Himself and descend from the cross as proof of His kingship, promising belief if He does so. This statement, while intended to ridicule, ironically articulates the profound truth of Christ's mission: He could not save others if He saved Himself, for His self-sacrifice was the very means of humanity's redemption.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the climax of Jesus' earthly ministry, the crucifixion on Golgotha, following His condemnation by Pilate and the Roman soldiers' mockery. Immediately preceding [Matthew 27:42](/matthew/27-42 "Matthew 27:42 - The Mockery of the Religious Leaders"), [Matthew 27:39-41](/matthew/27-39-41 "Matthew 27:39-41 - Mockery at the Cross") describes passersby, chief priests, scribes, and elders all ridiculing Jesus. The taunt in [Matthew 27:42](/matthew/27-42 "Matthew 27:42 - The Mockery of the Religious Leaders") is specifically from the religious leaders, juxtaposed with the mocking of the two criminals crucified alongside Him, one of whom later repents ([Luke 23:39-43](/luke/23-39-43 "Luke 23:39-43 - The Repentant Criminal")). This scene highlights the widespread rejection of Jesus by those in authority, even as He fulfills ancient prophecies through His suffering.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Roman practice of crucifixion was a brutal, public form of execution designed to inflict maximum suffering and shame. For the Jewish religious leaders, their expectation of the Messiah was primarily that of a conquering king who would deliver Israel from Roman oppression and restore national sovereignty, as envisioned in some interpretations of Old Testament prophecies. They struggled to reconcile Jesus' humble origins, teachings of a spiritual kingdom, and now His apparent weakness on the cross, with their political and nationalistic hopes. The title "King of Israel" carried significant political and religious weight, implying a ruler who would exercise power to liberate his people, not one who would suffer and die.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Matthew's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **Irony of the Taunt**, where the mockers unwittingly declare a profound theological truth about Jesus' mission: His inability to save Himself was precisely what enabled Him to save humanity. Secondly, it exposes the **Misunderstanding of Messiahship** prevalent among the religious elite, who failed to grasp the spiritual nature of God's kingdom and the necessity of a suffering servant, as prophesied in passages like [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant"). Thirdly, it highlights the tension between **Divine Will vs. Human Expectation**, demonstrating Jesus' perfect obedience to the Father's plan for redemption, even when it contradicted human desires for a spectacular display of power, a power He clearly possessed ([Matthew 26:53](/matthew/26-53 "Matthew 26:53 - Jesus could call legions of angels")). Finally, it illuminates the **Nature of True Faith**, contrasting the demand for a miraculous sign as a prerequisite for belief with genuine faith that trusts God's character and purpose even in suffering and apparent weakness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **save (Greek, _sṓzō'_):** This word, used twice in the verse, means "to deliver or protect, literally or figuratively," and can also imply "to heal" or "make whole." In the first instance ("He saved others"), it refers to Jesus' numerous miracles of healing and deliverance throughout His ministry. In the second ("himself he cannot save"), it highlights the paradox of His mission: His saving of others required His own self-sacrifice, making His "inability" to save Himself a necessary condition for the salvation of humanity.
* **cannot (Greek, _dýnamai'_ with _ou_):** The Greek word _dýnamai_ means "to be able or possible," indicating power or capacity. When combined with the absolute negative particle _ou_ (G3756), it forms "cannot." The religious leaders use this to imply Jesus' lack of power. However, the profound irony is that Jesus *could* have saved Himself, but He *would not* because His purpose was to save others. His "cannot" was not an inability of power, but a self-imposed limitation born of divine love and obedience to the Father's will.
* **cross (Greek, _staurós'_):** Derived from a word meaning "a stake or post," _staurós_ refers specifically to the instrument of capital punishment used by the Romans. Figuratively, it represents "exposure to death, i.e., self-denial," and by implication, "the atonement of Christ." The demand to "come down from the cross" is a demand to abandon His redemptive mission and avoid the very act that would secure salvation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He saved others;":** This clause acknowledges Jesus' widely recognized ministry of healing, deliverance, and restoration. The religious leaders, despite their animosity, could not deny the numerous miracles and acts of compassion Jesus had performed, which were indeed acts of "saving" people from physical ailments, demonic oppression, and even death.
* **"himself he cannot save.":** This is the core of their taunt, implying a fundamental weakness or hypocrisy. They see His suffering on the cross as proof that He lacks the power He claimed. However, this statement is profoundly ironic, as Jesus' refusal to save Himself was the ultimate act of power and love, fulfilling His divine mission to atone for the sins of humanity. His "cannot" was a "will not," a deliberate choice to endure suffering for the sake of others.
* **"If he be the King of Israel,":** This conditional statement challenges Jesus' messianic claim directly. The title "King of Israel" held significant nationalistic and political connotations for the Jewish people, implying a powerful deliverer. The religious leaders are demanding a display of this power consistent with their own expectations of a Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule and establish an earthly kingdom.
* **"let him now come down from the cross,":** This is their explicit demand for a sign, a dramatic demonstration of power that would validate His kingship in their eyes. Coming down from the cross would have meant abandoning the very purpose for which He came – to die as a sacrifice for sin. Their "now" emphasizes their immediate, tangible requirement for belief.
* **"and we will believe him.":** This final clause expresses their conditional and superficial understanding of faith. They claim that belief is contingent upon Jesus performing a specific, self-serving miracle. This stands in stark contrast to true faith, which trusts in God's character and purposes even when they are not immediately comprehensible or when they involve suffering. Their demand reveals a desire for power and spectacle rather than a genuine openness to divine truth.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 27:42 is rich with **Irony**, a central literary device here. The religious leaders, in their attempt to mock Jesus, unwittingly speak a profound theological truth: Jesus' ability to save others was predicated on His *unwillingness* to save Himself. This creates a powerful **Paradox**: His apparent weakness on the cross was, in fact, the ultimate demonstration of divine strength and love. The verse also employs **Antithesis**, contrasting "He saved others" with "himself he cannot save," highlighting the fundamental difference between human expectations of power and God's redemptive plan. The entire statement is an act of **Mockery**, intended to ridicule and discredit Jesus, yet it serves to underscore the depth of His sacrifice and the blindness of His accusers.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully encapsulates the central paradox of Christian theology: that salvation comes through suffering, and victory through apparent defeat. The religious leaders' demand for Jesus to save Himself reveals their profound misunderstanding of the Messiah's role, rooted in a worldly concept of power rather than the divine plan of redemptive suffering. Jesus' refusal to descend from the cross was not a sign of weakness, but the ultimate act of obedience to the Father's will, fulfilling prophecies of the suffering servant and laying the foundation for the new covenant. His "inability" to save Himself was the necessary condition for His ability to save all humanity, demonstrating that true power lies in self-giving love and sacrificial atonement. This moment underscores the radical nature of God's love, which chooses vulnerability and suffering as the path to reconciliation.

* [Isaiah 53:4-6](/isaiah/53-4-6 "Isaiah 53:4-6 - The Suffering Servant Bears Our Sins")
* [Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humiliation and Obedience")
* [Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Our Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 27:42 challenges us to re-evaluate our own understanding of power, faith, and God's work in the world. Just as the religious leaders demanded a spectacular sign for belief, we too can fall into the trap of dictating to God how He should act, or requiring certain outcomes before we fully trust Him. This verse reminds us that God's ways are often counter-intuitive to human logic; His greatest victories are frequently achieved through means that appear weak or foolish in the eyes of the world. Jesus' steadfast obedience, even unto death on the cross, calls us to embrace a faith that trusts God's character and purpose even when circumstances are difficult, painful, or seemingly contradictory to our expectations. It invites us to consider what "crosses" we are unwilling to bear, and how our desire for comfort or control might hinder our participation in God's redemptive work. True discipleship often involves self-denial and a willingness to suffer for the sake of others, mirroring the very heart of Christ's sacrifice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I demand that God act according to my expectations before I will fully trust Him?**
* **How does Jesus' "inability" to save Himself challenge my understanding of true strength and divine power?**
* **Am I willing to embrace self-sacrifice and apparent weakness if it aligns with God's greater redemptive purposes?**
* **How can I cultivate a faith that trusts God's character even when His actions seem paradoxical or difficult to comprehend?**

### FAQ
**Why didn't Jesus come down from the cross if He had the power to do so?**

Answer: Jesus certainly possessed the power to descend from the cross; He had previously demonstrated authority over nature, sickness, demons, and even death. As He told Peter in [Matthew 26:53](/matthew/26-53 "Matthew 26:53 - Jesus could call legions of angels"), He could have called twelve legions of angels to His defense. His refusal to come down was not due to a lack of power, but a profound act of obedience to His Father's will and a fulfillment of His redemptive mission. He had come to earth specifically to die as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity, establishing the new covenant through His blood ([Matthew 26:28](/matthew/26:28 "Matthew 26:28 - Blood of the New Covenant")). To save Himself would have been to abandon the very purpose for which He was sent, leaving humanity without a means of salvation. His "cannot" was a "will not," born of divine love and unwavering commitment to the Father's plan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The taunt of Matthew 27:42, "He saved others; himself he cannot save," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in Jesus' weakness, but in His unparalleled strength and love. The very "inability" to save Himself was the necessary condition for Him to become the Savior of the world. His steadfast endurance on the cross, despite having the power to escape, was the supreme act of obedience that accomplished atonement for sin. By refusing to come down, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the suffering servant ([Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5-6 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - The Suffering Servant's Atonement")), bearing the sin of humanity in His body ([1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Christ Bore Our Sins")). His death was not a defeat, but the strategic victory over sin and death, culminating in His glorious resurrection ([Romans 6:9-10](/romans/6-9-10 "Romans 6:9-10 - Christ's Death and Resurrection")). Through His self-sacrifice, He inaugurated the new covenant ([Hebrews 9:15](/hebrews/9-15 "Hebrews 9:15 - Christ, Mediator of the New Covenant")), opened the way to God, and became the King not of a political Israel, but of a spiritual kingdom encompassing all who believe ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Transferred to the Kingdom of His Son")). Thus, their mockery inadvertently declared the profound truth of the Gospel: Jesus saved us precisely because He did not save Himself.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 1:49

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Matthew 27:37

And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

John 12:13

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed [is] the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Luke 19:38

Saying, Blessed [be] the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

John 9:24

Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

Acts 4:14

And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

John 12:47

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.