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Matthew 27:32-44

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32As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.

33They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).

34There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.

35When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

36And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.

37Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

38Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

39Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads

40and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”

41In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.

42“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

44In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

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1)       Why did the soldiers force Simon to carry the cross in verse 32, given that the person who was going to be crucified normally carried the cross?

o   Jesus might have been so weakened by the flogging.

o   That

o   He was not able to carry it.

 

2)       In accordance with verse 33 where was Jesus crucified?

o   Jesus was crucified at Golgotha.

 

3)       Where is Golgotha?

o   Golgotha is a site immediately outside Jerusalem’s walls.

 

4)       What does Golgotha mean?

o   It means “the place of the skull”.

 

5)       What was the purpose of the wine mixed with gall that the soldiers offered to Jesus in verse 34, given that wine mixed with gall was a narcotic drink?

o   It was for dulling the pain of crucifixion.

 

6)       Why did Jesus choose not to take the drink, given that he died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world?

o   Jesus chose to endure the full force of the physical aspect of the penalty.

 

7)       Why did the soldiers divide up Jesus’ clothes by casting lots in verse 35, given that in Jesus’ time there was no low-cost manufacturing of clothing?

o   They did not have many changes of clothing.

o   Because

o   Clothing was expensive.

 

8)       According to verse 36 what were the soldiers doing?

o   Sitting down, they kept watch over Jesus.

 

9)       According to verse 37 what did the written charge against Jesus above his head read?

o   It read: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

 

10)   According to verse 38 who were crucified along with Jesus?

o   Two rebels were crucified with Jesus,

§  One on his right.

§  And one on his left.

 

11)   According to verses 39 and 40 what did people who passed by mock Jesus for?

o   They mocked Jesus for the discrepancy between his claim and his inability,

§  His claim of

Ø  Being the Son of God. 

Ø  And having miraculous power to destroy the temple and build it in three days.

§  His inability to save himself from the punishment of the cross.

 

12)   According to verses 41 to 43 how did the chief priests and the teachers of the law mock Jesus?

o   He

§  Saved others.

§  But can’t save himself!

o   Let him come down now from the cross.

o   If

o   He’s the king of Israel.

o   And we will believe in him.

o   Let God rescue him now.

o   If

o   He’s the Son of God,.

 

13)   According to verse 44 what did the two rebels who were crucified with Jesus do?

o   They also heaped insults on Jesus.

 

14)   In the context of his mission to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world, why did Jesus choose not to come down from the cross when those who mocked him consistently challenged him to do so?

o   Jesus chose to endure the

§  Scorn.

§  And shame.

§  And pain.

o   In order to fulfill his mission.

 

15)   Why did Jesus choose to stay on the cross, given that had he come down from the cross, people’s belief in him would not be by faith and would have been coerced by his power?

o   Jesus saves us

§  By our faith in him.

§  That

§  He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

§  Not by our coerced belief in his power.

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Matthew 27:32-44

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