Matthew 27 41

Matthew 27:41 kjv

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

Matthew 27:41 nkjv

Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said,

Matthew 27:41 niv

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

Matthew 27:41 esv

So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,

Matthew 27:41 nlt

The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus.

Matthew 27 verses

Matthew 27 41 Meaning

Matthew 27:41 depicts the official religious leadership of Israel, including the chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders, joining the mockery directed at Jesus while He hung on the cross. This verse highlights their profound spiritual blindness and their deliberate participation in the humiliation of the Messiah. It reveals their ultimate rejection of Jesus, aligning themselves with criminals and the Roman executioners in scorn.

Matthew 27 41 Context

Matthew 27:41 is set within the intensely dramatic account of Jesus' crucifixion. Prior to this verse, Jesus has been unjustly condemned, scourged, and mocked by Roman soldiers (Mt 27:27-31). He is then led to Golgotha, where He is crucified between two criminals (Mt 27:32-38). Just before the religious leaders' mockery, Matthew records that those passing by, as well as the crucified criminals, hurled insults at Him (Mt 27:39-40). The verse therefore details the peak of official scorn from Israel's religious and judicial authority. This mockery, from those who should have recognized their Messiah, contrasts sharply with the cosmic events beginning later in the chapter, signifying the spiritual darkness that accompanied their act. The historical context includes the Roman occupation of Judea and the unique yet powerful role of the Jewish Sanhedrin as the ruling council.

Matthew 27 41 Word analysis

• In the same way (ὁμοίως - homoios):

  • Meaning: "Likely," "in like manner," "similarly."
  • Significance: Connects the mockery of the religious leaders to the preceding scorn from passersby and robbers (Mt 27:39-40). It implies a unified front of contempt, irrespective of status, highlighting the universal nature of humanity's rejection of Christ. Their action lowers them to the level of common criminals.

• the chief priests (οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς - hoi archiereis):

  • Meaning: High-ranking members of the Sadducean party, responsible for temple rituals, finance, and holding political influence.
  • Significance: These were the official religious authorities, appointed by Rome, primarily concerned with maintaining power and order. They saw Jesus as a threat to their authority and the prevailing political stability. Their participation emphasizes the institutional rejection of Jesus.

• with the teachers of the law (καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς - kai hoi grammateis):

  • Meaning: Scribes; experts in the Mosaic Law and oral traditions, often associated with the Pharisees.
  • Significance: These were the scholars and interpreters of scripture. They opposed Jesus primarily over His teachings on the Law, His claims to authority, and His critique of their hypocrisy (Mt 23). Their mockery indicates their spiritual blindness despite their profound knowledge of scripture that prophesied the Messiah.

• and the elders (καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι - kai hoi presbyteroi):

  • Meaning: Respected leading men from prominent families, members of the Sanhedrin representing the populace.
  • Significance: These three groups—chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders—constituted the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court. Their collective presence symbolizes the official, institutional, and spiritual leadership of Israel utterly rejecting their Messiah.

• mocked him (ἐμπαίζοντες - empaizontes):

  • Meaning: "To play with," "to make fun of," "to ridicule," often involving scorn, contempt, and insult. It carries the idea of humiliating through jest or parody.
  • Significance: This verb has appeared earlier in Matthew 27 (v. 29, 31), describing the soldiers' physical abuse and mockery. Now, the religious leaders verbally "play around" with Jesus, indicating extreme contempt. This public ridicule was intended to completely discredit Jesus and affirm their earlier judgment that He was a blasphemer unworthy of the Messiah title. This fulfillment of Psalm 22 further underscores their profound spiritual failure.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "In the same way the chief priests, with the teachers of the law and the elders, mocked him": This phrase powerfully underscores the tragic irony. The very leaders who claimed spiritual authority and diligently upheld God's law joined the most heinous act of scorn against the one who embodied that Law. Their mocking demonstrates their deep spiritual depravity, their preference for worldly power over divine truth, and their active participation in the ultimate rejection of God's Anointed One, thereby sealing their condemnation and fulfilling ancient prophecies of the Messiah's suffering.

Matthew 27 41 Bonus section

The unified front of the chief priests (Sadducees), teachers of the law (Pharisees), and elders (representing various groups within the Sanhedrin) is noteworthy. These factions were often at odds doctrinally and politically, yet they found common ground in their animosity toward Jesus. This unusual coalition underscores the extreme threat they perceived in Jesus, as He challenged not just their interpretations but the very foundation of their power and spiritual authority. Their public mocking also served as a clear message to the Jewish populace, affirming their consensus that Jesus was indeed a blasphemer and an imposter, and further inciting hostility against Him among those susceptible to their influence. This also fulfilled prophecies, demonstrating God's sovereign hand at work even amidst humanity's darkest sin.

Matthew 27 41 Commentary

Matthew 27:41 marks a truly lamentable moment in the Passion narrative. Here, the highest religious authorities of Israel — those tasked with discerning truth and guiding God's people — not only condemned Jesus to death but also actively participated in His public degradation. Their mocking reveals not merely disagreement, but venomous contempt and utter spiritual bankruptcy. The irony is stark: they, who sought to uphold the purity of God's name, were blaspheming the Son of God by ridiculing His claims and His power. Their behavior mirrors that of common criminals and hardened soldiers, highlighting how hardened hearts can stoop to the lowest levels of depravity when confronting divine truth they refuse to accept. Their scorn was not born of ignorance but of willful rebellion against light, demonstrating how religious formality without true faith leads to the darkest of sins.