Save Yourself - Matthew 27:40

Matthew the apostle wrote how there was, “ set up over” Jesus' “head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse forty of his book, Matthew wrote how, “you that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself” where we read:

And saying, You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself.

If you be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

The verse reads, “And saying, You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself.” Matthew began words, “and saying” which means “and uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “you that destroy” or “you who dissolve, disunite and demolish” “the temple” which refers to “the sacred edifice (or sanctuary) itself in Jerusalem which consisted of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies”, “and build it in three days” or “and restore, rebuild and reconstruct the temple in three days”, “save yourself” which means “rescue from danger and destruction and keep safe your own self”. Matthew shared how the people passing by Jesus reminded Him of His words about tearing down and rebuilding the in “three days”.

The verse continues, “ If you be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Matthew added the words, “If you be” or “whether Jesus exists as” “the Son of God” or “God's prodigy and progenitor”, “come down” which means “descend” “from the cross” or “from hanging upon the cross”. Matthew shared how the crowd taunted Jesus by telling Him to “descend” from the “cross” since He was supposedly “God's Son”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we understand the “Son of God” came to fulfill the purpose for which the people were ridiculing Him, and He could not “save Himself” because He desired to “save” them from their “sins” that they might live with Him for all eternity. Jesus was speaking of His body as He made His declaration concerning the “temple”, and He had to be “killed” or “destroyed” before He would be raised again. May all who read these words understand why Jesus did not come down from the cross, and let those who read these words never be a part of those who mock Him.

Next time Matthew wrote, “likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.