The Crucifixion (Matthew 27:33–44; Mark 15:22–32; Luke 23:32–43; John 19:17–27)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 87 (on Matthew 27:33–44) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/npnf110.iii.LXXXIII.html

On His being crucified in the midst of the thieves, and the gall offered in mockery:

And they crucified Him in the midst of them, that He might share in their reputation. And they gave Him gall to drink, and this to insult Him, but He would not.

On the vinegar and the gall as the fulfilment of the Psalm:

The prophecy was fulfilled concerning Him. "For they gave me," it is said, "gall for my meat, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."

On the taunt "He saved others; himself he cannot save":

If "He is the king of Israel, let Him come down now from the cross. He saved others, Himself He cannot save," aiming hereby to bring discredit even on His former miracles.

On the two thieves, who at first both reviled Him:

For that thou mightest not think the thing had been done by any agreement, or that the thief was not a thief, by his insolence he showeth thee, that up on the cross he was a thief and an enemy, and at once was changed.

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St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book XII (on John 19:17–18) Source: trans. T. Randell, Library of Fathers, 1885. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_john_12_book12.htm

On His being numbered with the transgressors, crucified between two robbers:

Two robbers were crucified together with Christ, and this was owing to the malice of the Jews. For, as though to emphasize the dishonour of our Saviour's death, they involved the just Man in the same condemnation as the transgressors of the Law.

On the cross that was our due, which He bore in our stead:

The Cross, then, that Christ bore, was not for His own deserts, but was the cross that awaited us, and was our due, through our condemnation by the Law.

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Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

On Eighty-Three Different Questions and the Sermons (on Matthew 27:33–44) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvii.html

On the tree of the cross recovering what was lost at the tree in Eden:

Adam set at nought the commandment, taking the apple from the tree; but all that Adam lost, Christ found upon the cross.

On the cross as the most fearful of deaths, chosen that no death might be feared:

The Wisdom of God took upon Him man, to give us an example how we might live rightly. ... That no sort of death is to be feared by the man who lives aright, was to be shewn by this Man's cross. For of all the modes of death none was more horrible and fearful than this.

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St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 27:33–44) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvii.html

On the passers-by who reviled Him and wagged their heads:

"They revile him" because they passed by that way, and would not walk in the true way of the Scriptures. "They wagged their heads," because they had just before shifted their feet, and stood not upon a rock.

On the true sense of "He saved others; himself he cannot save":

Even the Scribes and Pharisees reluctantly confess that "He saved others." Your own judgment then condemns you, for in that He saved others, He could if He would have saved Himself.

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St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 27:33–44) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvii.html

On the place of the cross, set at the centre of the earth for all the nations:

Such is the place of the cross, set up in the centre of the earth, that it might be equally free to all nations to attain the knowledge of God.

On why He refused the wine mingled with gall:

He therefore refused the "wine mingled with gall, because the bitterness of sin is not mingled with the incorruption of eternal glory.

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St. Leo the Great (c. 400–461)

Sermon 55, On the Lord's Passion (on Matthew 27:33–44) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvii.html

On the taunts as a blindness already answered by the Prophets and the Psalms:

From what source of error, O Jews, have ye sucked in the poison of such blasphemies? ... Had ye indeed ever read, "I hid not my face from the shame of spitting;" ... They pierced my hands and my feet, they told all my bones. ... Where have ye ever read that the Lord came down from the cross? But ye have read, "The Lord hath reigned from the tree."