27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:27-31 KJV)
Jesus Is Mocked
The barbarous treatment that the soldiers gave Jesus took place while preparations were being made for his execution. When he was condemned, he ought to have had some time allowed him to prepare for death. There was a law made by the Roman senate, in Tiberius’s time—perhaps because of complaints about such haste—that the execution of criminals should be delayed at least ten days after sentence (Suetonius, Tiberius, ch. 25). But our Lord Jesus was scarcely allowed even a few minutes; nor did he have any relief during those moments. It was a crisis, with no pause—deep called unto deep, and the storm raged without intermission.
When he was delivered to be crucified, that was enough. Those who kill the body usually admit they can do no more, but Christ’s enemies did more, wrapping up, if possible, a thousand deaths in one. Though Pilate declared him innocent, his soldiers—his own guards—set themselves to abuse him, driven more by the people’s fury than by their master’s verdict. The Jewish mob influenced the Roman soldiers, or perhaps the abuse was not entirely out of spite, but for their own amusement. They knew he claimed to be a king, and mocking that gave them entertainment and a way to amuse themselves and one another. It is a sign of a base and cruel spirit to mock those in misery and make their suffering a matter of sport.
This happened in the common hall. The governor’s residence, which should have been a refuge for the abused, became the stage for this cruelty. One would expect that Pilate, who was so eager to be cleared of the blood of this just man, would not allow such acts in his house. Perhaps he didn’t order it, but he turned a blind eye. Those in authority will be held accountable not only for the evil they commit or authorize, but also for what they allow when they have the power to stop it. Heads of households should not allow their homes to become places of abuse, or their servants to mock others’ sins, miseries, or beliefs.
They gathered the whole band—the soldiers responsible for the execution wanted the entire regiment (possibly five hundred, or even up to thirteen hundred) to join in the spectacle. If Christ was made a public spectacle, let none of his followers think it strange to be treated the same (1 Corinthians 4:9; Hebrews 10:33).
They stripped him (Matthew 27:28). The shame of nakedness came with sin (Genesis 3:7), and Christ, in order to atone for sin, submitted to that shame, so that he might clothe us with white garments (Revelation 3:18).
They put on him a scarlet robe—an old red cloak like those worn by Roman soldiers, mimicking the scarlet robes of kings. This mock majesty made him appear even more ridiculous to onlookers. Yet there was symbolism in it. He was the one who was red in his garments (Isaiah 63:1-2), who washed his robes in wine (Genesis 49:11). Our sins were scarlet; Christ wore a scarlet robe to show he bore those sins in his own body, that we might wash our robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb.
They twisted a crown of thorns and placed it on his head (Matthew 27:29). Continuing their mockery of his kingship, they could have made a crown from straw or rushes, but chose thorns to cause pain—making literal what crowns are often figuratively said to be: lined with thorns. The one who invented this likely prided himself on its cruel cleverness. Yet there was meaning in it. Thorns came with the curse of sin (Genesis 3:18). Christ, made a curse for us, endured this pain and wore those thorns as a crown (Job 31:36), for his suffering was his glory.
He was also the fulfillment of Abraham’s ram, caught in the thicket and sacrificed instead of Isaac (Genesis 22:13). Thorns signify afflictions (2 Chronicles 33:11). Christ made a crown of them, transforming suffering into glory. His kingdom was not of this world, nor was its glory worldly; it came with affliction here, and eternal glory later. In some pagan customs, sacrifices were brought to the altar crowned with garlands—these thorns were the garlands with which this great Sacrifice was crowned. These thorns likely drew blood from his head, trickling down his face like the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and beard (Psalm 133:2). When he came to claim his beloved, his spotless bride, his head was wet with dew and his hair with the drops of the night (Song of Solomon 5:2).
They put a reed in his right hand as a mock scepter—another symbol of mocked majesty—as if this were fitting for a king as weak and unstable as a reed shaken by the wind (Matthew 11:7). But they were mistaken—his throne is forever, and the scepter of his kingdom is a true and righteous scepter (Psalm 45:6).
They bowed the knee before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” After dressing him as a mock king, they made a show of homage, ridiculing his claims of sovereignty—like Joseph’s brothers asking, “Will you indeed reign over us?” (Genesis 37:8). But just as they were later forced to bow to Joseph, these soldiers bowed in mockery to the one who was soon exalted to the right hand of God, before whom every knee will bow. It is dangerous to mock what will one day be real.
They spit on him, just as he had been treated in the high priest’s hall (Matthew 26:67). In sincere homage, a subject kisses the king, showing loyalty—Samuel kissed Saul, and we are told to kiss the Son. But instead of kissing him, they spat in his face—the same face that shines brighter than the sun, before which angels veil theirs. It is staggering that human beings could commit such a vile act—and that the Son of God would endure it.
They took the reed and struck him on the head. What had been a symbol of mock royalty became an instrument of real cruelty. They likely struck the crown of thorns into his head, deepening the wounds—his pain became their amusement. Thus he was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. All this misery and shame he endured to purchase eternal life, joy, and glory for us.
After mocking and abusing him as they pleased, they took the robe off him, stripping him of the mock authority they had given him, and put his own clothes back on him. These were to be divided among the soldiers at the crucifixion. While the robe was removed, there is no mention of them taking off the crown of thorns, leading many to believe—though it isn’t certain—that he was crucified wearing it. As he is a Priest on his throne, so he was a King on his cross. He was led to be crucified in his own garments because he bore our sins in his own body on the tree.
They led him away to be crucified—like a lamb to the slaughter, like a sacrifice to the altar. We can imagine how they hurried him, dragging him along quickly to satisfy their rage with his blood. Likely they continued to taunt and insult him. He was led outside the city, for Christ, to sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate (Hebrews 13:12), as though the Redeemer of Jerusalem wasn’t worthy to remain among them. He foresaw this when, in a parable, he described being cast out of the vineyard (Matthew 21:39).