Matthew 27:40

“And saying, thou that destroyest the temple, etc.] The Vulgate Latin, and Munster’s Hebrew Gospel, read, “the temple of God”; and add “ah!” here, as in (<411529>Mark 15:29), and so Beza says it is read in a certain copy. They refer to the charge of the false witnesses against him, who misrepresenting his words in (<430219>John 2:19), declared that he gave out that he was able to destroy the temple of Jerusalem, and rebuild it in three days time; wherefore it is added, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. They reproach him with it, and suggest, that these were vain and empty boasts of his; for if he was able to do any thing of that kind, he need not hang upon the tree, but could…”

“Thou that destroyest the temple ... - Meaning, Thou that didst boast that thou couldst do it. This was one of the things that had been falsely charged on him. It was intended for painful sarcasm and derision. If he could destroy the “temple,” they thought he might easily come down from the cross. return to 'Top of Page'”

“27:40 if you are the Son of God: This taunt recalls Jesus’ temptation at the very beginning of his public ministry (4:1-11), in which the devil appealed to Jesus’ privileged status in order to tempt him to avoid suffering (see also 16:21-23).”

“saying: Gen 37:19, Gen 37:20; Rev 11:10 that destroyest: Mat 26:61; Luk 14:29, Luk 14:30; Joh 2:19-22 If: Mat 27:54, Mat 4:3, Mat 4:6, Mat 26:63, Mat 26:64 come: Mat 16:4; Luk 16:31 Matthew 27:41”