Matthew 27:49

KJV

The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

KJV (with Strong's)

The {G1161} rest {G3062} said {G3004}, Let be {G863}, let us see {G1492} whether {G1487} Elias {G2243} will come {G2064} to save {G4982} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The rest said, "Wait! Let's see if Eliyahu comes and rescues him."

Berean Standard Bible

But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.”

American Standard Version

And the rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to save him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 27:49 captures a profoundly ironic and tragic moment during Jesus' crucifixion, immediately following His cry, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" While Jesus was expressing deep spiritual anguish to God the Father, some onlookers deliberately or mistakenly misinterpreted His Aramaic cry for "My God" as a call to the prophet Elijah. This verse records the cynical response of "the rest" of the crowd, who, in their hardened hearts and spiritual blindness, mockingly suggested they should wait to see if Elijah would indeed appear to rescue Jesus from the cross.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the climax of Matthew's Gospel, within the detailed narrative of Jesus' crucifixion. It immediately follows Jesus' loud cry from the cross, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" (Matthew 27:46), which some bystanders misinterpreted as a call for Elijah. The preceding verses describe the darkness over the land (Matthew 27:45) and the intense suffering of Jesus, surrounded by mocking religious leaders, soldiers, and passersby (Matthew 27:39-44). The crowd's reaction in Matthew 27:49 serves as a final, bitter crescendo of human rejection and misunderstanding of Jesus' identity and mission, just before His death. It highlights the profound spiritual blindness that characterized many of those witnessing the divine act of redemption.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish society held a strong expectation for the return of the prophet Elijah, rooted in Old Testament prophecy, particularly [Malachi 4:5](/malachi/4-5 "Malachi 4:5 - Prophecy of Elijah's Return"). This prophecy stated that Elijah would return "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." This expectation led to various popular beliefs, including the idea that Elijah would appear to help those in distress or to announce the Messiah. The onlookers at the cross, hearing "Eli" (My God), either genuinely, though mistakenly, associated it with "Elias" (Elijah) due to phonetic similarity, or, more likely, seized upon the opportunity for further ridicule. The atmosphere was one of intense public spectacle and religious tension, with Roman authorities overseeing the execution and Jewish leaders actively participating in the mockery, reinforcing the prevailing sentiment of disdain for Jesus.

* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel and the passion narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Profound Misunderstanding and Rejection of the Messiah**. Jesus, the Son of God, is performing the ultimate act of salvation, yet His divine suffering is met with cynical scorn and disbelief, illustrating the spiritual blindness of those who rejected Him. This ties into the theme of **Humanity's Rebellion Against God's Plan**, as the crowd's words demonstrate their inability or unwillingness to grasp the true nature of Jesus' mission, preferring to mock rather than to believe. Furthermore, it highlights the **Fulfillment of Prophecy**, albeit in an ironic way, as Jesus' suffering and rejection align with Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, even as the crowd's expectation of Elijah's intervention reflects a misapplication of prophetic understanding. The scene underscores the **Depth of Jesus' Suffering**, not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually, as He endures ultimate humiliation and misunderstanding even in His final moments. This contrasts sharply with the divine purpose of His death, which is to [give his life as a ransom for many](/matthew/20-28 "Matthew 20:28 - Jesus' Ransom for Many").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **rest (Greek, _loipoí'_):** Refers to "the remaining ones" or "the others." In this context, it distinguishes a group from those who had just offered Jesus sour wine. It signifies a collective voice of cynicism and a shared sentiment of disbelief among a segment of the onlookers, highlighting that the mockery was not isolated but a pervasive attitude among many present.
* **Elias (Greek, _Hēlías'_):** This is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew prophet Elijah. The mention of Elijah here is central to the misunderstanding and mockery. It points to the strong Jewish expectation of Elijah's return before the Messiah, an expectation that was twisted into a challenge to Jesus' messianic claims. The crowd's suggestion that Elijah "will come to save him" is steeped in irony, as they imply Jesus is powerless, while He is, in fact, enacting the ultimate salvation.
* **save (Greek, _sṓzō'_):** This verb means "to deliver or protect," literally or figuratively, and often carries the connotation of healing or making whole. In the context of Matthew 27:49, the word is used mockingly. The crowd challenges whether Elijah will come to "save" Jesus from death, implying Jesus is helpless. This stands in stark contrast to Jesus' true mission: to "save" humanity from sin and death through His sacrifice, a salvation far greater than any physical rescue.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The rest said,"**: This phrase identifies a specific group among the onlookers who spoke up. It indicates a collective voice, distinct from those who had just offered Jesus a drink, and underscores the widespread nature of the mockery and spiritual blindness at the foot of the cross. Their words represent the prevailing cynical sentiment among a significant portion of the crowd.
* **"Let be,"**: This is an imperative, meaning "Leave him alone," or "Let him be." It's a command to the person who offered the drink, suggesting they should desist and allow the situation to unfold. The tone is not one of compassion but of morbid curiosity and a desire to see if their cynical expectations, or perhaps a faint, distorted hope, would be fulfilled. It's a challenge to let events proceed without interference, specifically to see if Elijah would appear.
* **"let us see whether Elias will come to save him."**: This is the core of the mockery and misunderstanding. It expresses a challenge, a dare, and a cynical test. The crowd, either genuinely mistaking "Eli" for "Elias" or deliberately twisting Jesus' words, proposes waiting to see if the revered prophet Elijah would miraculously intervene to rescue Jesus from the cross. This statement highlights their profound spiritual blindness to Jesus' true identity and the divine purpose of His suffering, reducing the cosmic act of redemption to a mere spectacle and a test of His power.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 27:49 is rich with **Irony**. The crowd mockingly challenges Jesus, asking if Elijah will "save" Him, completely unaware that Jesus is, at that very moment, enacting the ultimate salvation for humanity through His death. Their cynical demand for a physical rescue from the cross stands in stark **Dramatic Contrast** to the spiritual salvation Jesus is accomplishing. The scene also employs **Misunderstanding**, as Jesus' cry to "My God" is deliberately or mistakenly twisted into a call for "Elias," highlighting the spiritual deafness of the onlookers to the profound theological truth unfolding before them. This **Verbal Irony** underscores the chasm between human perception and divine reality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates the profound spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of those who witnessed Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. Their cynical challenge, "let us see whether Elias will come to save him," reveals a complete failure to grasp Jesus' divine identity and the redemptive purpose of His suffering. Instead of recognizing the Son of God offering Himself as a ransom for sin, they reduce the sacred moment to a spectacle, seeking a sign or a miraculous intervention that aligns with their distorted expectations of a Messiah. This rejection underscores humanity's propensity to misunderstand or deliberately scorn divine truth, even when it is most clearly manifested. The crowd's words serve as a stark reminder of the ultimate irony: they mockingly question if Jesus can be saved, while He is actively saving them and all humanity through His atoning death.

* [Mark 15:35-36](/mark/15-35-36 "Mark 15:35-36 - Parallel Account of Elijah Misunderstanding")
* [Psalm 22:1](/psalms/22-1 "Psalm 22:1 - Jesus' Cry from the Cross")
* [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant Despised")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 27:49 serves as a poignant mirror, inviting us to examine our own hearts and how we respond to God's truth, especially when it challenges our preconceived notions or demands a response of faith. The crowd's cynicism and misunderstanding highlight the danger of spiritual blindness – the inability or unwillingness to perceive divine reality. We are called to cultivate humility and an open heart, seeking genuine understanding of God's Word rather than relying on superficial interpretations or dismissive skepticism. This verse deepens our appreciation for the immense suffering of Christ, not only physically but also in enduring profound rejection and mockery from those He came to save. It compels us to consider how often we, too, might misunderstand or trivialize the depths of His sacrifice. Ultimately, it challenges us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to a transformative encounter with the crucified Christ, recognizing that His "weakness" on the cross was, in fact, the ultimate demonstration of God's power to save.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like the crowd, be prone to misunderstanding or dismissing spiritual truths because they don't fit my expectations?**
* **How does the depth of Jesus' suffering, including being mocked and misunderstood, deepen my appreciation for His sacrifice?**
* **Am I sometimes cynical or dismissive of spiritual matters, rather than seeking genuine understanding and humility?**
* **What does this verse teach me about the nature of true salvation, contrasting it with human expectations of rescue or power?**

### FAQ

**Why did some bystanders think Jesus was calling for Elijah?**

Answer: The confusion arose from the phonetic similarity between Jesus' Aramaic cry "Eli" (אֵלִי), meaning "My God," and the Greek name "Elias" (Ἠλίας), which is the Greek form of the Hebrew prophet Elijah. In first-century Judaism, there was a strong expectation, based on prophecies like [Malachi 4:5](/malachi/4-5 "Malachi 4:5 - Prophecy of Elijah's Return"), that Elijah would return before the Messiah or the "great and dreadful day of the Lord." Some onlookers likely genuinely, though mistakenly, heard "Elias" when Jesus cried "Eli," while others may have deliberately twisted His words for further mockery and ridicule, playing on the popular belief to challenge Jesus' claims to be the Messiah.

**What is the significance of the crowd's challenge, "Let us see whether Elias will come to save him?"**

Answer: This challenge is deeply significant for several reasons. First, it underscores the profound **misunderstanding** and **spiritual blindness** of the crowd. They failed to grasp the divine nature of Jesus' cry to His Father and the redemptive purpose of His suffering. Second, it highlights their **cynicism and mockery**. Their words are not born of genuine hope for Elijah's intervention but rather a sarcastic dare, questioning Jesus' power and messianic claims. Third, it creates a profound **irony**: they speak of "saving" Jesus from the cross, completely unaware that Jesus is, at that very moment, enacting the ultimate salvation for humanity through His atoning death. Their challenge, therefore, inadvertently points to the very salvation Jesus was accomplishing, albeit in a way they could not comprehend.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 27:49, with its stark portrayal of human misunderstanding and mockery, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the very act of salvation that the crowd so cynically questioned. While they mockingly challenged whether Elijah would "come to save him," Jesus was, in fact, fulfilling His divine mission to be the ultimate Savior. He did not need Elijah to save Him from the cross, for the cross itself was the means by which He would "save his people from their sins" ([Matthew 1:21](/matthew/1-21 "Matthew 1:21 - Jesus Will Save His People")). The "saving" they scoffed at was not a physical rescue from suffering, but a spiritual rescue from eternal condemnation, a salvation achieved through His voluntary sacrifice as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His death, far from being a defeat requiring external intervention, was the victorious act of cosmic redemption, demonstrating the unparalleled love of God ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love While We Were Sinners")). The crowd's blindness to the true nature of His "saving" power foreshadows the ongoing spiritual blindness of those who reject Him, yet it also magnifies the grace of God who, through this very act of apparent weakness, accomplished the greatest act of power and salvation for all who believe ([1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross")).

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.