Matthew 27:42

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 27:42 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.
Matthew 27:42 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 27

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
42He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He saved others, himself he cannot save, etc.] This was not so much a concession of theirs, that he had done many saving works, as healing the sick, cleansing lepers, causing the blind to see, and the lame to walk, and raising the dead; but rather a suggestion, that these were only pretensions and illusions; that either they were not really done, or done by the help of the devil; since now he himself was in the utmost extremity, he could not save himself: but of this they might have been convinced by his striking many of them to the ground, that came to apprehend him in the garden, and of which these men were eyewitnesses; and he, as man, could easily have obtained of his Father more than…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He saved others - It does not seem probable that they meant to admit that he had actually saved others, but only that he “pretended” to save them from death by miracles, or that he claimed to be the Messiah, and thus affirmed that he “could” save them. This is, therefore, cutting irony. If he be the King of Israel ... - It may seem strange to some that Jesus did not vindicate by a miracle his claims to be the Messiah, and come down from the cross. But the time had come for him to make an atonement. He had given full and sufficient proof that he was the Christ. Those who had rejected him, and who mocked and taunted him, would have been little likely to admit his claims if he had come down…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“saved: Joh 9:24, Joh 12:47; Act 4:14 the King: Mat 27:37, Mat 2:2; Luk 19:38; Joh 1:49 Matthew 27:43”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification