Then were there two thieves crucified with Him, one on the right hand and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled Him … the thieves also … cast the same in His teeth. Matthew 27:38, 39, 44 KJV

At that time two robbers *were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him … The robbers … were also insulting Him with the same words. Matthew 27:38,39,44 NASB

The record of Matthew is stark and free of exaggerated drama. “They crucified Him” is stated in simple and graphic language. Then, it is added that along with Him they crucified two thieves, placing Him in the center.

Without undue attention being drawn to it, Matthew adds that those who passed by reviled “Him,” without mentioning the thieves. All attention was drawn to the center cross. Men who passed by thought Him more deserving of their abusive language and taunts than the thieves. They reviled Him!

By what standard could they possibly have thought that He would be more deserving of their mockery than the thieves? What did they see or surmise about Him that they would ignore men who were guilty of crimes against them and the state, and reserve all their abuse for Him?

The human heart is, at its root, anti-God. He had revealed God in His person and it evoked their bitter remonstrance; it elicited the instinctive hatred reserved for God. They reviled Him and ignored the thieves.

But then, as to add to the depths of His reproach, those who were crucified with Him began as well to “cast the same in His teeth.” The lowest strata of society turned and felt it had moral superiority to the One Who was crucified next to them! They began, joining in with the crowd, to heap blasphemy and mockery upon Him. The refuse of society vented their frustration and anger against Him. Convicted criminals felt superior to the Son of God at Calvary.

The tender heart of the Savior felt the abuse; His sensitive soul would have been wounded by the arrows of ungodly men. He was never hardened to sin; His soul was never inured to the evil in the hearts of men. He felt keenly their every word; but beyond their words, He knew their hearts and the depth of their reproach against God and that they were rejecting God. The reproaching of His Father would have been His deepest sorrow.

And yet – He prayed for those who reviled Him. And yet – He saved one of the thieves when he repented. No bitterness filled His heart; no rancor or vindictiveness ever surfaced or found a footing in His soul. He’s the One Who when reviled, He did not revile in return (1 Peter 2:23). He not only committed Himself to the righteous Judge but had compassion on the unrighteous around Him. His beauty is seen against the dark background of the cross.

Consider:

The stark, almost emotionless presentation of the scene of Calvary by the Gospel writers is a strong apologetic for their veracity. How would modern writers or followers of martyrs write of their suffering?

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