Matthew 27 36

Matthew 27:36 kjv

And sitting down they watched him there;

Matthew 27:36 nkjv

Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.

Matthew 27:36 niv

And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.

Matthew 27:36 esv

Then they sat down and kept watch over him there.

Matthew 27:36 nlt

Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there.

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 36 Meaning

Matthew 27:36 describes the Roman soldiers guarding Jesus after His crucifixion. "And sitting down, they watched Him there" signifies their continuous, deliberate observation of Christ on the cross. This action highlights their duty to ensure the death of the condemned, prevent any rescue attempt, and maintain public order. It portrays their professional, yet detached and often indifferent, presence at the epicenter of divine redemption.

Matthew 27 36 Context

Matthew 27:36 falls within the narrative of Jesus' crucifixion. Following His trial and scourging, Jesus is led to Golgotha, where He is nailed to the cross between two criminals. Prior to this verse, Matthew records the soldiers casting lots for His garments, fulfilling a specific prophecy (Mt 27:35). The immediate context shows the soldiers establishing their guard, which was a standard Roman procedure to prevent disturbances, escape, or the removal of the body, thus asserting state authority over the execution. This action also marks the beginning of the prolonged period of Jesus' suffering on the cross. The historical context indicates that Roman crucifixion was a public, torturous execution method intended to assert imperial power and deter rebellion, often with soldiers keeping watch until death.

Matthew 27 36 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction, connecting this action directly to the previous events of crucifixion and garment division. It shows a continuous progression of events.
• sitting down (καθίσαντες - kathisantes): An aorist active participle of kathizo, meaning "to sit." This indicates a deliberate, settled posture. The soldiers are not merely standing; they have taken up a post for a potentially long period of observation. It denotes a position of duty, perhaps even a casualness or routine associated with their task, emphasizing their official capacity and preparedness for a lengthy vigil.
• they watched (ἐτήρουν - etēroun): Imperfect active indicative of tereo (τηρέω). This is a crucial word. Tereo means "to guard," "to observe carefully," "to keep an eye on," or "to preserve." The imperfect tense indicates continuous, sustained action over a period of time. It's not just a momentary glance but a prolonged, vigilant watch throughout the hours Jesus was on the cross. This highlights the endurance of Christ's suffering under their persistent gaze. It was a professional duty to keep watch over the executed person, ensuring no intervention until death occurred.
• Him (αὐτόν - auton): The direct object, referring to Jesus. This singular focus on Jesus emphasizes that He was the object of their entire watch. Their duty was centered on His Person and His slow death.
• there (ἐκεῖ - ekei): An adverb of place, indicating the specific location, Golgotha. It signifies the fixed nature of their post and the public, undeniable reality of the crucifixion event.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And sitting down, they watched: This phrase captures the physical posture and continuous action. Their "sitting" denotes a planned, settled presence, while "they watched" in the imperfect tense emphasizes the prolonged and steady nature of their guard. This was not a temporary assignment but an established watch.
• watched Him there: This group of words zeroes in on the object and location of their vigil. They were meticulously guarding Jesus, at that precise spot, demonstrating a detachment that contrasted sharply with the agony unfolding before them. Their professional "watch" ensured the divine plan would proceed uninterrupted.

Matthew 27 36 Bonus section

• The detail of the soldiers "sitting down" and "watching" is relatively unique to Matthew among the synoptic gospels in its specificity, providing an intimate, albeit grim, close-up of the immediate post-crucifixion scene from the perspective of the guards.
• The professional indifference of the soldiers contrasts sharply with the agony of Christ and the grief of His followers, emphasizing the human condition's inability to fully grasp divine sacrifice without divine revelation.
• This watchful duty by the Roman soldiers at the cross foreshadows their subsequent role in guarding Jesus' tomb (Mt 27:64-66), highlighting their direct, though unwitting, involvement in confirming key aspects of Christ's passion and resurrection.

Matthew 27 36 Commentary

Matthew 27:36 offers a brief but potent detail of the crucifixion scene: the Roman soldiers' duty-bound presence. Their act of "sitting down" underscores their established and prolonged vigil, signifying a routine professional task rather than personal engagement. The use of the imperfect tense for "watched" (etēroun) is key, portraying a continuous, unyielding observation of Jesus as He hung on the cross. This persistent gaze, born out of indifference and military obligation, stands in stark contrast to the unimaginable suffering of the Son of God. It silently fulfills prophetic expectation, such as in Psalm 22:17, where the psalmist cries, "they stare and gloat over me." The soldiers, unwittingly, bore witness to the very culmination of God's redemptive plan. Their watch not only ensured that no one interfered with the execution but also validated the actual death of Christ, crucial for later verification. This mundane act by pagan soldiers highlights the profound depth of human callousness encountering divine sacrifice, yet serving an ultimate purpose within God's sovereign plan.