What is the meaning of Matthew 27:50? When Jesus had cried out again • Matthew places this moment at the climax of the crucifixion—after darkness, after the mockery, and after the earlier cry “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (Matthew 27:46). • The word “again” lets us know this is at least the second audible cry, revealing deliberate, conscious action, not a fading whimper. Jesus remains fully aware and purposeful, fulfilling Psalm 22:1 and 22:24. • Luke parallels the scene with “Father, forgive them” and “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:34, 46). John records “It is finished” (John 19:30). These combined cries form a tapestry of atonement, forgiveness, and completed redemption. in a loud voice • The volume matters. After hours of brutal suffering, a strong shout testifies that His life is not drained away by Roman power but offered willingly (John 10:17-18). • Hebrews 5:7 reminds us He “offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears,” pointing to a Messiah who prays passionately and is heard because of His reverence. • The loudness would draw every nearby ear, making the moment unmistakable for the centurion who soon confesses, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). He yielded up • “Yielded” is voluntary language. Jesus is not a victim swept away by circumstance; He is the sovereign Savior laying down His life at the exact Passover hour the Father appointed (Acts 2:23). • John 19:30 adds, “He bowed His head and gave up His spirit,” echoing Isaiah 53:12—“He poured out His life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors.” • The curtain of the temple will tear the very next verse (Matthew 27:51), confirming His sacrifice is accepted and access to God is now open. His spirit • Scripture differentiates between body and spirit. Jesus’ body remains on the cross, but His spirit departs to the Father, guaranteeing conscious existence beyond death (Luke 23:46). • Stephen later mirrors this confidence: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). • Ecclesiastes 12:7 affirms, “the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it,” underscoring that life truly belongs to the Creator, and Jesus demonstrates that reality perfectly. summary Matthew 27:50 shows Jesus acting deliberately and powerfully in His final moments. He cries out once more—loud enough for all to hear—then voluntarily releases His spirit to the Father, proving His authority over life and death. The verse assures us that the cross was not a tragic accident but the triumphant fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, opening the way for sinners to be reconciled to God through the finished work of Christ. |
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