3. Those that were immediately to follow his death —
[He was to be pierced3. This was fulfilled in a very remarkable manner4; yet he was not to have a bone broken".
y Matthew alone quotes above thirty passages that refer to Christ.
z Ps. xli. 9. a John xiii. 18. b Zech. xi. 12, 13.
c Matt, xxvii. 6 — 10. d Ps. cxxix. 3. and Isai. liii. 5.
e Luke xxiii. 22. f Isai. 1. 6.
g Matt, xxvii. 26 — 30. h Ps. xxii. 16.
1 John xviii. 31, 32. Crucifixion was not a Jewish, but a Roman punishment : yet he was put to death for a crime of which the Roman law would not have taken cognizance.
k Isai. liii. 12. 1 Mark xv. 27, 28. m Ps. xxii. 6—8.
n Matt, xxvii. 41 — 43. ° Ps. xxii. 1. p Matt, xxvii. 46.
i Ps. Ixix. 21. r John xix. 28—30.
s Zech. xii. 10. l John xix. 34, 36.
u Exod. xii. 46. This was very unlikely to be fulfilled, seeing that many of his bones were out of joint, Ps. xxii. 14. and the bones of those who were crucified with him were broken.
This, too, received its accomplishments The manner in which his clothes were to be disposed of was also foretold *. The ful- filling of this strongly marked the overruling hand of God2.]
We may say of every the most minute circum- stance, as St. Matthew does3 — Infer —
1. How certainly is Jesus the true Messiah! [Such a variety of circumstances could not have concurred
but from the express determination of Providence. Let us then receive Jesus as the promised Messiah : let us welcome him with acclamations and hosannas : let us depend upon his death as a sure ground of hope ]
2. How cheerfully may we leave ourselves to God's disposal !
[How were the malice of Satan, the envy of the priests, the treachery of Judas, the cowardice of Pilate, &c. overruled for the effecting of the Divine purposes ! Thus may God over- rule the most adverse circumstances for our good. Let us then in all states rely on that gracious declaration b — .]
* John xix. 32, 33,36. y Ps. xxii. 18. z John xix. 23, 24. a Matt. xxvi. 56. b Rom. viii. 28.