John 19:31

“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, etc.] That is, either of the passover, as in (<431914>John 19:14) which was the Chagigah or grand festival in which they offered their peace offerings and slew their oxen, and feasted together in great mirth and jollity; or of the sabbath, the evening of it, or day before it, as in (<411542>Mark 15:42) that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day; which was now drawing near: according to the Jewish law, (<052122>Deuteronomy 21:22,23) the body of one that was hanged on a tree was not to remain all night, but to be taken down that day and buried; though this was not always observed; (see <102109>2 Samuel 21:9,10). What…”

“BURIAL OF CHRIST. (Joh 19:31-42) the preparation--sabbath eve. that the bodies should not remain--over night, against the Mosaic law (Deu 21:22-23). on the sabbath day, for that sabbath day was an high day--or "great" day--the first day of unleavened bread, and, as concurring with an ordinary sabbath, the most solemn season of the ecclesiastical year. Hence their peculiar jealousy lest the law should be infringed. besought Pilate that their legs might be broken--to hasten their death, which was done in such cases with clubs.”

“The preparation - John 19:14. That the bodies ... - The law required that the bodies of those who were hung should not remain suspended during the night. See Deuteronomy 21:22-23. That law was made when the punishment by crucifixion was unknown, and when those who were suspended would almost immediately expire. In the punishment by crucifixion, life was lengthened out for four, five, or eight days. The Jews therefore requested that their death might be hastened, and that the land might not be polluted by their bodies remaining suspended on the Sabbath day. Was an high day - It was: The Sabbath. It was the day on which the paschal feast properly commenced. It was called a high day because…”

“Lest the bodies should remain on the cross on the Sabbath - Which they would have accounted a profanation of any Sabbath, but of that in particular. For that Sabbath was a great day - Being not only a Sabbath, but the second day of the feast of unleavened bread (from whence they reckoned the weeks to pentecost:) and also the day for presenting and offering the sheaf of new corn: so that it was a treble solemnity. John 19:34”

“19:31-33 The Jewish authorities, eager to complete the crucifixion before Sabbath began at dusk, asked Pilate to break the legs of the men. Breaking the legs with a mallet was common: It promoted asphyxiation and hemorrhaging, because the victim could no longer push up to breathe.”

“because: Joh 19:14, Joh 19:42; Mat 27:62; Mar 15:42 that the: Deu 21:22, Deu 21:23 that sabbath: Lev 23:7-16 their: Lactantius says that it was a custom to break the legs of criminals upon the cross; which was done, we are told, at the instep with an iron mallet; and appears to have been a kind of coup de grace, the sooner to put them out of pain. Joh 19:1; Pro 12:10; Mic 3:3 John 19:32”