Matthew 27:49 - The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Matthew 27:49" mean?
The verse Matthew 27:49, "The rest said, 'Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him,'" is a sarcastic and cruel taunt directed at Jesus while he is suffering on the cross. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context:
Jesus' Cry of Dereliction: Immediately before this verse, Matthew records Jesus crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). This cry, in Aramaic, sounded similar to "Eli, Eli," the beginning of the cry.
Misunderstanding and Association with Elijah: Some of the bystanders misinterpreted Jesus' cry as a call to Elijah. In Jewish tradition, Elijah was a prophet who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind and was expected to return to help those in distress, especially in times of crisis.
Sarcastic Taunt: The people weren't genuinely hoping for Elijah to come. Instead, their statement was a mocking challenge. They were saying, in effect:
"Leave him alone to suffer."
"Let's see if this so-called Messiah, who claims to be the Son of God, can be saved by Elijah."
"This is all a joke. Nobody is coming to rescue him."
Cruelty and Disbelief: This taunt highlights the lack of faith and the cruelty of the crowd towards Jesus in his final moments. They were adding to his suffering by mocking his helplessness and denying his identity as the Messiah.
In summary, Matthew 27:49 is a sarcastic and callous remark by onlookers who are mocking Jesus' suffering on the cross. They are using a misunderstanding of his cry and popular belief about Elijah to express their disbelief and add to his torment.
Matthew 27:49 - The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
What does "Matthew 27:49" mean?
The verse Matthew 27:49, "The rest said, 'Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him,'" is a sarcastic and cruel taunt directed at Jesus while he is suffering on the cross. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context:
Jesus' Cry of Dereliction: Immediately before this verse, Matthew records Jesus crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). This cry, in Aramaic, sounded similar to "Eli, Eli," the beginning of the cry.
Misunderstanding and Association with Elijah: Some of the bystanders misinterpreted Jesus' cry as a call to Elijah. In Jewish tradition, Elijah was a prophet who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind and was expected to return to help those in distress, especially in times of crisis.
Sarcastic Taunt: The people weren't genuinely hoping for Elijah to come. Instead, their statement was a mocking challenge. They were saying, in effect:
"Leave him alone to suffer."
"Let's see if this so-called Messiah, who claims to be the Son of God, can be saved by Elijah."
"This is all a joke. Nobody is coming to rescue him."
Cruelty and Disbelief: This taunt highlights the lack of faith and the cruelty of the crowd towards Jesus in his final moments. They were adding to his suffering by mocking his helplessness and denying his identity as the Messiah.
In summary, Matthew 27:49 is a sarcastic and callous remark by onlookers who are mocking Jesus' suffering on the cross. They are using a misunderstanding of his cry and popular belief about Elijah to express their disbelief and add to his torment.