Mat 27:55-61, Luk 23:50-56, Joh 10:31-42 | Family

‏ Matthew 27:55-61

The even; evening--some time after three o'clock. Sometimes there are friends of Christ among the rich, and in circumstances where we should least expect them. They may be associated with the wicked, and yet through grace be kept from being partakers of their sins. On the other hand there may be hypocrites, and the basest of men, connected with the people of God. It is not wise or safe to judge of bodies of men by certain individuals who belong to them--to approve or condemn the whole on account of the character and conduct of a part. His own new tomb; thus Christ according to prophecy, was "with the rich in his death." Isa 53:9.

‏ Luke 23:50-56

A counsellor; a member of the great Jewish council. 50-56. Christ's burial. Mt 27:57-61. Deed of them; the doings of the council in condemning Christ.

Waited for the kingdom of God; the reign of Jesus as the Messiah. Mt 3:2. That day was the preparation; the preparation for the solemnities of the next day, which was the Sabbath.

‏ John 10:31-42

Makest thyself God; claimest to be divine, equal with the Father. Your law; the Old Testament scriptures. Ps 82:6. Unto whom the word of God came; who were appointed and commissioned to act as his agents in ruling and administering justice in his stead among men.

Cannot be broken; cannot be set aside as speaking improperly when it calls magistrates gods on account of their office. The term is always used in such a connection as shows that they were but men. Sanctified; set apart to the office of the Redeemer of lost men.

Sent into the world; to do the work of the Messiah.

Because I said, I am the Son of God; the argument is from the less to the greater: If mere men were called gods because the word of God came to them, how much more may he who is one with the Father, and whom the Father has set apart and sent into the world as the Saviour of men, call himself the Son of God. He goes on to show that his works justify him in taking to himself this title. The works of my Father; divine works--the works of God.

Believe me not; admit not my claim to be the Son of God. Jesus Christ, by the performance of divine works, proved himself to be divine, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Saviour of men. His claiming this character, therefore, instead of being blasphemy, as the Jews asserted, was acting in accordance with truth; and lovers of truth who embrace him in this character, know that it belongs to him. They pay him divine honors, not in derogation of, but to the glory of the Father. Php 2:10,11; Heb 1:6; Re 5:12,13. Believe not me; that is, my declaration concerning myself.

The Father is in me, and I in him; that we are one, as I declared to you, verse Joh 10:30. They sought again to take him; because he still claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God, truly divine--because he claimed to be what John, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, at the beginning of this gospel declared him to be, God--in the language of Paul, "over all, God blessed for ever." Ro 9:5.