“And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
My Notes
What Does Matthew 27:37 Mean?
"THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS." The accusation written above Jesus' head on the cross is simultaneously a legal charge and an unintentional declaration of truth. Pilate meant it as mockery and bureaucratic record-keeping. God meant it as proclamation. The sign says exactly what is true: this is Jesus. He is the king. Of the Jews — and of everything.
The Roman practice of posting the criminal's charge above the cross served as a warning: this is what happens to people who commit this crime. In Jesus' case, the crime is kingship — claiming to be a king in territory Rome governs. The charge is political: rival king.
All four Gospels record the inscription with slight variations, but all include "King of the Jews." John adds that it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin — the three languages of the ancient world. The accusation is multilingual because the truth it accidentally proclaims is universal.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does the irony of the cross's sign — accusation that's actually truth — change your view of the crucifixion?
- 2.What does it mean that the cross is both an instrument of death and a coronation platform?
- 3.Why was the sign written in three languages?
- 4.What 'accusation' against you might actually be a declaration of your true identity?
Devotional
The sign above the cross is the most ironic sentence in human history. Pilate wrote it as a charge. God meant it as a coronation announcement. THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
The Romans put a sign on every cross stating the crime. For Jesus, the crime is being king. The accusation is the truth. The charge is the calling. The thing they're killing Him for is the thing He actually is.
Pilate didn't believe it. The soldiers didn't care. The crowd read it as mockery. But the sign tells the truth more accurately than any sermon that day. On the worst instrument of death the Roman Empire possessed, the truth is written in plain language: this man is the king.
John records that the sign was written in three languages: Hebrew (for the Jews), Greek (for the educated world), and Latin (for the empire). The accidental coronation announcement is delivered to every linguistic group present. Nobody can claim they didn't see it. The truth is posted in your language, whatever your language is.
The cross is the throne. The accusation is the title. The instrument of death is the coronation platform. Everything Rome intended to mock, God intended to declare. THIS IS JESUS THE KING.
The sign is still up. The truth hasn't been taken down. And it's still written in every language.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Then were there two thieves crucified with him,.... Which seems contrary to one of their canons, which runs thus; .
,…
And set up over his head - John says Joh 19:19 that Pilate wrote the title and put it upon the cross. Probably Pilate…
and set up over his head his accusation written It was the Roman custom to place on the cross over the criminal's head,…