Matthew 27 28

Matthew 27:28 kjv

And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

Matthew 27:28 nkjv

And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.

Matthew 27:28 niv

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,

Matthew 27:28 esv

And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,

Matthew 27:28 nlt

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 28 Meaning

Matthew 27:28 describes the humiliating act carried out by Roman soldiers against Jesus Christ. After He was delivered by Pilate for crucifixion, the soldiers stripped Him of His own clothing and dressed Him in a scarlet robe. This action was not accidental but a deliberate and cruel act of mockery, aimed at His perceived claim to kingship or that attributed to Him by His followers. It was part of the process of debasement and public scorn that He endured before His crucifixion.

Matthew 27 28 Context

Matthew 27:28 occurs during the most intense phase of Jesus' passion narrative. It directly follows Pilate's pronouncement that he found no fault in Jesus but, swayed by the crowd, handed Him over to be crucified. The verse takes place in the Roman praetorium, likely the governor's headquarters in Jerusalem, where the soldiers had gathered Jesus and the "whole band" or cohort (speira in Greek) of soldiers. This stripping and reclothing was a prelude to the scourging and mocking, designed to publicly shame and humiliate Jesus as a criminal and a false king before leading Him out for crucifixion. It vividly illustrates the extreme degradation Christ endured for humanity's sake, fulfilling ancient prophecies regarding the suffering servant of the Lord.

Matthew 27 28 Word analysis

• And: kai (καὶ). A simple conjunction, connecting this action directly to the previous events of Jesus being delivered to the soldiers. It signals a continuous sequence of events in Jesus' suffering.
• they stripped: ekdysantes (ἐκδύσαντες). The participle means "having stripped." It comes from ekdyo, to take off clothing, undress, strip. This implies the removal of Jesus' own personal garments, leaving Him exposed. This act was humiliating, depriving Him of His meager possessions and basic dignity. In Roman practice, victims of crucifixion were often stripped.
• him: Refers directly to Jesus Christ, the subject of the entire narrative of suffering.
• and put on: periethesan (περιέθεσαν). The verb means "they put around," "clothed with." It signifies a deliberate action of placing something upon someone. It's an active verb highlighting the soldiers' intentional act of clothing Jesus in something foreign and degrading, contrasting with His own garments being taken.
• him: Again, referring to Jesus, emphasizing that the actions were specifically directed at Him.
• a scarlet: kokkinen (κοκκίνην). Refers to the color, a deep red or crimson. While purple (porphyra) was the true color of imperial Roman royalty and senatorial rank, scarlet or crimson robes were also worn by military commanders or by nobility as an imitation of imperial purple. This color choice, instead of purple as mentioned in Mark and John, could represent common military garb (a chlamys being a military cloak) or simply a readily available color intended to mock the pretense of royalty. It might also subtly evoke the color of sin (Isa 1:18) or blood.
• robe: chlamyda (χλαμύδα). A chlamys was typically a short cloak or mantle, worn by soldiers, magistrates, or travelers, often fastened at the shoulder. It was not an official royal robe or toga purpura (imperial purple toga). By giving Him a soldier's scarlet cloak, they were using a readily available garment to mockingly array Him as a 'king' in a degrading, military fashion. It served as a stark contrast to any genuine royal attire, highlighting their derision.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they stripped him and put on him": This phrase emphasizes the contrasting actions: taking off His clothes and immediately putting on another garment. This sequence is a ritualized act of humiliation and role reversal, removing His personal identity to impose a false, mocking identity upon Him. It signifies a transition from a simple Nazarene to a figure of derision, a spectacle for the soldiers' amusement.
• "a scarlet robe": The specific choice of a "scarlet robe" for the mockery, particularly when other Gospels mention "purple," is significant. It reinforces the soldiers' intention to ridicule Jesus' kingship. Whether it was the color of a common soldier's or commander's cloak, or simply a deep red meant to mimic imperial purple, the object was to highlight the ironic "royalty" of the "King of the Jews" now being prepared for a criminal's death. The scarlet hue might also implicitly point towards the shedding of His blood or the sins He was bearing.

Matthew 27 28 Bonus section

The discrepancy between "scarlet" (kokkinen) in Matthew and "purple" (porphyra or purpura) in Mark and John for the robe's color has been a point of discussion. Scholars suggest several possibilities:

1. Semantic Overlap: In the ancient world, color terms were not as precisely differentiated as today. "Scarlet" and "purple" could sometimes refer to shades of red or crimson, with a broad range of hues covered by the same word. What was "purple" (signifying royalty/luxury) could be a shade of deep red.
2. Specific Garment: A chlamys was a specific type of military or administrative cloak, which could have been available in scarlet. It was distinct from the ceremonial royal garments that would typically be purple. The soldiers may have simply used a readily available garment from the barracks.
3. Theological Emphasis: While "purple" directly mocks imperial majesty, "scarlet" might additionally evoke a connection to sin (as in Isa 1:18, where sins are like scarlet) or the color of blood. This could add another layer of symbolic meaning to Matthew's account, portraying Jesus as taking on humanity's scarlet sins, or highlighting His impending bloodshed. Regardless of the exact hue, the primary intent was clearly mockery of Jesus' kingly status through a cheap, degrading imitation.
4. Soldier's Uniform: Some interpretations suggest it could be a discarded cloak of a common Roman soldier or centurion, which might typically be scarlet or a deep red, thereby mocking His kingly claims with military gear rather than official royal attire. This act underscores their contempt for Jesus' authority.

Matthew 27 28 Commentary

Matthew 27:28 depicts a profound moment of Christ's abasement. Stripping Jesus of His clothes was not merely practical; it was a common practice for humiliating prisoners. To then dress Him in a scarlet robe was a theatrical, cruel mockery of His kingship. This act by the Roman soldiers highlighted the contrast between His true divine sovereignty and the pathetic human efforts to ridicule it. The "scarlet robe," whether symbolizing mock royalty, military attire, or even implicitly the sins He would bear (Isa 1:18), served to further His public degradation. Jesus willingly submitted to this indignity, illustrating His total surrender to the Father's will and His immense love for humanity. His suffering, in stripping and then re-dressing, anticipates His ultimate self-sacrifice, where He becomes "sin for us" (2 Cor 5:21), taking on the shame and judgment meant for humanity, clothed in ignominy before being clothed in glory. It is a powerful reminder that His path to exaltation passed through profound humiliation and suffering.