Matthew 27 — Clausal Layout (English)

independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended

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The dawn council delivers Jesus to Pilate 27:1–2

Now when morning had come,participial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on ἔλαβον; dawn makes the night verdict formal

all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesusindependent — συμβούλιον λαμβάνειν — Matthew's idiom (12:14; 22:15; 27:7; 28:12); πάντες: the leadership entire

so as to put him to death;purpose — ὥστε + infinitive of intended result — the council's single agenda

and binding him,participial — preposed participle — he goes to Rome already fettered; leans on ἀπήγαγον

they led him awayindependent — the transfer to the praetorium

and handed him over to Pilate the governor.independent — παραδίδωμι — the passion's keyword passes to Rome; τῷ ἡγεμόνι, Matthew's running title for Pilate

The end of Judas and the price of blood 27:3–10

vv. 3–5 — the remorse, the returned silver, the noose

Then Judas, the one betraying him, seeingparticipial — preposed circumstantial — ὁ παραδιδούς, the participle that has named him since 10:4; leans on ἔστρεψεν

that he was condemned,content — the verdict registered — the betrayal's outcome now irreversible

seized with remorse,participial — μεταμέλομαι — regret, not the Gospel's μετανοέω; the second preposed participle

returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,independent — the τριάκοντα ἀργύρια of 26:15 (Zech 11:12) come back

saying:participial — the speech-frame of the confession

'I have sinnedcontent — one bare verb — the betrayer's own verdict on himself

in betraying innocent blood.'participial — means participle — αἷμα ἀθῷον opens the chapter's blood-chain (vv. 6, 8, 24, 25)

But they said:independent — the priests' reply — cold procedure

'What is that to us?content — verbless dismissal — the guilt disowned

You see to it.'content — σὺ ὄψῃ — the evasion Pilate will return to them in the plural (v. 24)

And flinging the pieces of silver into the temple,participial — Zech 11:13 — 'I threw them into the house of the LORD'; leans on ἀνεχώρησεν

he withdrew,independent — ἀναχωρέω — Matthew's verb of retreat, here terminal

and going away,participial — preposed participle — leans on ἀπήγξατο

hanged himself.independent — ἀπήγξατο — the verb of Ahithophel, David's betrayer (2 Sam 17:23 LXX); contrast Acts 1:18

vv. 6–8 — the scruple, the potter's field, the standing name

And the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver,participial — preposed participle — the money handled, the guilt not; leans on εἶπαν

said:independent — the deliberation over tainted coin

'It is not lawful to put them into the treasury,content — κορβανᾶς — the temple fund (cf. Deut 23:18): scrupulous about coin, careless of blood

since it is the price of blood.'cause — τιμὴ αἵματος — their own mouths concede the innocent blood of v. 4

And taking counsel,participial — the idiom of v. 1 again — a council to launder blood-money; leans on ἠγόρασαν

they bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers.independent — ὁ κεραμεύς — Zech 11:13's potter; Jer 18–19 and 32 supply potter, field, and purchase

Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.independent — aetiology — ἕως τῆς σήμερον, the narrator's own day (cf. 28:15); Acts 1:19 gives Ἁκελδαμάχ

vv. 9–10 — the last formula quotation: the thirty silver and the potter's field

Then was fulfilled what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet:independent — indicative τότε ἐπληρώθη (as at 2:17) — no ἵνα where human sin does the fulfilling; ascribed to Jeremiah, worded chiefly from Zech 11:12–13: the attribution crux

'And they took the thirty pieces of silver,content — Zech 11:12 — the shepherd's wage counted out

the price of the one priced,phrase modifier — verbless apposition — τιμή/τιμάω cognates pile up: the 'valuing' of the priceless

on whom the sons of Israel set a price,relative — the valuation laid at Israel's own door

and they gave them for the potter's field,content — Zech 11:13 bent toward Jer 32:6–9's field-purchase — the citation's Jeremian coloring

as the Lord directed me.'comparative — καθὰ συνέταξεν — Exodus's obedience-formula (Ex 9:12 LXX); even this deed under direction

The governor's question and the great silence 27:11–14

Now Jesus stood before the governor;independent — the scene resumes from v. 2 around the Judas panel — the prisoner at the tribunal

and the governor questioned him,independent — the Roman examination opens on the political charge

saying:participial — pleonastic speech-participle

'Are you the king of the Jews?'content — emphatic σύ — you, of all people? the title that will stand over the cross (v. 37)

And Jesus said:independent — his only word to Rome

'You say so.'content — the poised σὺ λέγεις (cf. 26:25, 64) — affirmation laid back on the asker's own words, neither yes nor no

And while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders,phrase modifier — ἐν τῷ + infinitive — forward-leaning time-frame on ἀπεκρίνατο

he answered nothing.independent — the silence of Isa 53:7 begins

Then Pilate says to him:independent — historic present — the probing turns vivid; Matthew's structuring τότε

'Do you not hearcontent — οὐκ expecting yes — surely you hear this

how many things they testify against you?'content — indirect exclamatory πόσα — the mounting testimony

But he did not answer him, not even to a single word,independent — πρὸς οὐδὲ ἓν ῥῆμα — the silence total, itemized

so that the governor was greatly amazed.purpose — ὥστε + infinitive — actual result (typed pur; no result key): wonder before the silent prisoner

Barabbas or Jesus — the dream, the cry, the hand-washing 27:15–26

vv. 15–18 — the amnesty custom and the choice posed

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd one prisoner,independent — pluperfect εἰώθει — the narrator's aside on the Passover amnesty

whom they wanted.relative — the crowd's pick — the custom that will free the notorious

And they had at that time a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.independent — ἐπίσημος — 'marked'; a noted strand of witnesses reads Ἰησοῦν Βαραββᾶν, sharpening 'which Jesus?' (vv. 17, 22)

So when they were gathered,participial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on εἶπεν

Pilate said to them:independent — the choice put to the crowd

'Whom do you want me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?'content — θέλετε + deliberative subjunctive — the alternative posed as if the answer were safe

for he knewcause — narrator's γάρ — the ground of the maneuver

that they had handed him over out of envy.content — διὰ φθόνον — the motive diagnosed: envy, not justice

v. 19 — the dream on the judgment seat

And while he was sitting on the judgment seat,participial — genitive absolute — the warning lands mid-verdict, on the βῆμα itself; leans on ἀπέστειλεν

his wife sent word to him,independent — Matthew's insertion — the one voice raised for Jesus in the whole trial

saying:participial — the speech-frame of the warning

'Have nothing to do with that righteous man,content — verbless idiom (μηδὲν σοὶ καί…) — δίκαιος: the chapter's verdict on Jesus, from a pagan dreamer

for I have suffered much today in a dream because of him.'cause — κατ' ὄναρ — the revelatory dreams of chs. 1–2 return at the passion

vv. 20–23 — the incited crowd chooses

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowdsindependent — ἔπεισαν — the mob managed from above

to ask for Barabbaspurpose — ἵνα after πείθω — the persuasion's double aim: first the release

and to destroy Jesus.purpose — ἀπολέσωσιν — the verb of Herod (2:13) and the Pharisees' plot (12:14): the long design's last step

And the governor, answering,participial — preposed pleonastic participle — leans on εἶπεν

said to them:independent — the question renewed

'Which of the two do you want me to release for you?'content — ἀπὸ τῶν δύο — the choice forced to its either/or

And they said:independent — the crowd answers as coached (v. 20)

'Barabbas.'content — verbless — one name; the notorious over the Christ

Pilate says to them:independent — historic present — the exchange quickens

'Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?'content — deliberative subjunctive — the fate handed to the crowd

They all say:independent — historic present; πάντες — the unanimity v. 25 will make total

'Let him be crucified!'content — third-person passive imperative — the cross named for the first time in the chapter

But he said:independent — the protest of innocence

'Why, what evil has he done?'content — γάρ in a question — no crime found, and none named

But they kept shouting all the more,independent — iterative imperfect — argument answered by volume

saying:participial — the speech-frame of the chant

'Let him be crucified!'content — the chant verbatim — repetition is the crowd's only reason

vv. 24–26 — the hand-washing, the blood cry, the handover

So Pilate, seeingparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἀπενίψατο

that he was accomplishing nothingcontent — the object of the seeing — persuasion spent

but rather that a riot was starting,content — θόρυβος — the tumult the leaders had feared to cause (26:5) now serves them

taking water,participial — second preposed participle — leans on ἀπενίψατο

washed his hands before the crowd,independent — the rite of Deut 21:6–7 and Ps 26:6 — innocence claimed by gesture, not by verdict

saying:participial — the speech-frame

'I am innocent of this blood;content — ἀθῷος — Judas's word (v. 4) on Pilate's lips; some witnesses read 'this righteous blood'

you see to it.'content — ὑμεῖς ὄψεσθε — the priests' evasion (v. 4) returned in the plural; no one will hold the blood

And all the people, answering,participial — πᾶς ὁ λαός — no longer ὄχλος but λαός, the covenant word; leans on εἶπεν

said:independent — the answer history has trembled at

'His blood be on us and on our children!'content — verbless blood-formula (2 Sam 1:16; Jer 26:15) — the chapter's blood-chain closes in self-imprecation; a verse tragically abused against the Jewish people, in Matthew a bounded narrative irony

Then he released Barabbas for them,independent — the guilty freed

but Jesus — having him scourged —participial — φραγελλόω (Lat. flagellare) — the participle carries the object of παρέδωκεν; the lashing that preceded crucifixion

he handed him overindependent — παρέδωκεν — the chain complete: Judas to priests, priests to Pilate, Pilate to the cross

to be crucified.purpose — the sentence in a purpose clause — Rome's verb takes over

The soldiers' mockery 27:27–31

Then the governor's soldiers, taking Jesus into the praetorium,participial — preposed circumstantial — indoors, out of the crowd's sight; leans on συνήγαγον

gathered the whole cohort around him.independent — hyperbolic 'whole' σπεῖρα, nominally 600 — a garrison's sport

And stripping him,participial — preposed participle — leans on περιέθηκαν

they put a scarlet cloak on him,independent — χλαμὺς κοκκίνη — a trooper's red cloak standing in for imperial purple (Mark's πορφύρα)

and twisting together a crown of thorns,participial — preposed participle — στέφανος, the victor's wreath, in thorn; leans on ἐπέθηκαν

they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand,independent — crown and mock-scepter — the regalia complete

and kneeling before him,participial — preposed manner participle — the obeisance that is unwittingly due; leans on ἐνέπαιξαν

they mocked him,independent — ἐμπαίζω — the third passion-prediction's own verb (20:19), now enacted

saying:participial — the speech-frame of the acclamation

'Hail, King of the Jews!'content — the Ave Caesar parodied — Pilate's question (v. 11) become a barracks liturgy

And spitting on him,participial — Isa 50:6 — the servant spat upon; leans on ἔλαβον

they took the reedindependent — the scepter reclaimed as a rod

and kept striking him on the head.independent — iterative imperfect — the homage turned to blows

And when they had mocked him,conditional — temporal ὅτε (typed cnd; no temporal key) — the sport concluded

they stripped the cloak off himindependent — the costume reclaimed

and put his own clothes on him,independent — re-clothed for the road — the garments soon to be diced for (v. 35)

and led him awayindependent — ἀπήγαγον — the verb of v. 2 resumed: the last remove

to crucify him.purpose — εἰς τό + infinitive — the purpose stated without comment

Golgotha — crucified between two robbers 27:32–38

vv. 32–34 — Simon conscripted; the drugged wine refused

And as they were going out,participial — preposed participle — outside the city (cf. Heb 13:12); leans on εὗρον

they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name;independent — a pilgrim from North Africa pulled from the crowd

this man they pressed into serviceindependent — ἀγγαρεύω — the requisition-verb of 5:41: the forced mile at its darkest

to carry his cross.purpose — αἴρω τὸν σταυρόν — the discipleship phrase of 16:24, enacted under compulsion

And coming to a place called Golgotha,participial — preposed participle — forward-leaning on ἔδωκαν (v. 34)

which means Place of a Skull,phrase modifier — the Aramaic name glossed for Greek readers

they gave him wine to drink, mingled with gall;independent — χολή — Ps 69:21's own word ('gall for my food'), sharpening Mark's myrrh toward the psalm

and having tasted it,participial — preposed participle — leans on ἠθέλησεν

he would not drink.independent — the narcotic refused — death met with senses unclouded (cf. 26:29)

vv. 35–38 — the dividing, the watch, the titulus, the two robbers

And having crucified him,participial — the crucifixion itself in a subordinate participle — no description at all

they divided his garments among themselves,independent — Ps 22:18 — the psalm's wording absorbed uncited (the Byzantine citation-plus is omitted)

casting lots,participial — manner participle — the soldiers dice beneath the cross

and sitting down,participial — preposed participle — leans on ἐτήρουν

they kept watch over him there.independent — τηρέω, Matthew alone — these watchers become the confessors of v. 54

And above his head they put up the charge against him, written:independent — the titulus — the legal αἰτία posted over the cross

'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.'content — Matthew alone adds the name — 'This is Jesus': the charge is, ironically, the truth

Then two robbers are crucified with him,independent — historic present — λῃσταί, brigands of Barabbas's kind; numbered with transgressors (Isa 53:12)

one on the right and one on the left.phrase modifier — verbless — the places the sons of Zebedee asked for (20:21, 23)

The threefold mockery 27:39–44

vv. 39–40 — the passers-by

And those passing by kept reviling him,independent — ἐβλασφήμουν — the blasphemy charge (26:65) inverted onto the mockers

wagging their headsparticipial — Ps 22:7 — the scorners' gesture from the psalm

and saying:participial — the speech-frame of the first taunt

'You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days,content — verbless jeer — the garbled temple-saying of 26:61 thrown back

save yourself!content — σῴζω — the taunt's imperative, the word of his healings and his name (1:21)

If you are the Son of God,conditional — the tempter's protasis verbatim (4:3, 6) — forward-leaning on κατάβηθι; the last temptation is the cross

come down from the cross.'content — the apodosis — the descent demanded as proof

vv. 41–43 — the chief priests with scribes and elders

Likewise also the chief priests, mocking him with the scribes and elders,participial — preposed circumstantial — the second wave, the professionals; leans on ἔλεγον

kept saying:independent — iterative imperfect — they mock to one another, not to him

'Others he saved;content — fronted Ἄλλους — an unwitting confession of his work

himself he cannot save.content — truer than they know — saving others is why he does not save himself (20:28)

He is the King of Israel;content — the title shifted from Pilate's 'of the Jews' to Israel's own idiom — in scorn

let him come down now from the cross,content — third-person imperative — νῦν: the sign demanded on their schedule

and we will believe in him.content — sight demanded before faith — the Gospel's order inverted

He has trusted in God;content — Ps 22:8 — the psalm's mockers speak their assigned lines (cf. Wis 2:18–20)

let him rescue him now,content — Ps 22:8 continued — ῥυσάσθω, 'let him deliver him'

if he wants him;conditional — backward protasis, anchored — Ps 22:8's ὅτι θέλει αὐτόν made a sneering condition

for he said:cause — the mockers' γάρ — the sonship claim cited as the charge

'I am the Son of God.'content — ὅτι recitative; Θεοῦ fronted — cf. 26:63–64: the trial's claim requoted at the cross

v. 44 — the robbers

And in the same way even the robbers who were crucified with him kept reviling him.independent — the third wave — even the co-crucified (contrast Luke 23:39–43); the rejection total

The darkness and the cry — the death of Jesus 27:45–50

Now from the sixth hour darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.independent — Amos 8:9 — sun down at noon; judgment-darkness over γῆ, land or earth

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice,independent — ἀναβοάω φωνῇ μεγάλῃ — a shout, not a whisper; his first word since v. 11

saying:participial — the speech-frame of the only word from the cross

'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?'content — Ps 22:1 — Hebraizing Ηλι (against Mark's Aramaic Ελωι), easing the Elijah-mishearing of v. 47; the psalm prayed, not merely fulfilled

that is:phrase modifier — Matthew's gloss-formula on the transliterated cry

'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'content — rare vocative Θεέ — the dereliction real, yet still 'my God': abandonment addressed to the Abandoner

And some of those standing there, hearing it,participial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἔλεγον

saidindependent — the mishearing begins

that this man is calling Elijah.content — Ηλι heard as Ἠλίας — the rescuer-prophet (Mal 4:5) heard where God is being addressed

And immediately one of them, running,participial — the first of four preposed participles stacked before the verb

and taking a sponge,participial — the second

filling it with sour wine,participial — ὄξος — the soldiers' posca; Ps 69:21's second cup, after the gall of v. 34

and putting it on a reed,participial — the fourth — leans on ἐπότιζεν

gave him to drink.independent — conative imperfect — 'tried to give'

But the rest said:independent — the deathbed made a spectacle; after this verse major witnesses insert the spear-thrust of John 19:34 — omitted with the editions

'Wait, let us seecontent — ἄφες + hortatory subjunctive

whether Elijah is coming to save him.'content — indirect question; future participle σώσων — σῴζω again (vv. 40, 42): the rescue that will not come

But Jesus, crying out again with a loud voice,participial — the second great cry — strength where the crucified should have none; leans on ἀφῆκεν

yielded up his spirit.independent — ἀφῆκεν active — not 'expired' but 'let go': the death willed, not merely suffered (cf. John 19:30)

The torn veil, the opened tombs, the centurion's confession 27:51–54

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom in two,independent — ἰδού + divine passive — torn from the top: God's side; the way opened (cf. Heb 10:19–20)

and the earth was shaken,independent — σείω — Matthew's earthquake-motif (8:24; 21:10; 28:2, 4): creation registers the death

and the rocks were split,independent — σχίζω again — veil and rock torn by the same verb

and the tombs were opened,independent — Ezek 37:12–13 — 'I will open your graves'; the divine passives continue

and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,independent — Matthew's most disputed pericope — the death itself already raises the dead; κεκοιμημένων, the sleep of Dan 12:2

and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection,participial — μετὰ τὴν ἔγερσιν αὐτοῦ — the clause guarding Christ's priority as firstfruits (1 Cor 15:20); leans on εἰσῆλθον

they entered the holy cityindependent — ἡ ἁγία πόλις (4:5) — Jerusalem still 'holy' after the blood cry of v. 25

and appeared to many.independent — ἐμφανίζω — the sign narrated deadpan; the layout keeps it as narrated, not argued

And the centurion and those with him keeping watch over Jesus, seeing the earthquake and the things that took place,participial — the watchers of v. 36 — in Matthew the whole squad sees; leans on ἐφοβήθησαν

were greatly afraid,independent — ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα — the fear of theophany (17:6)

saying:participial — the confession-frame

'Truly this was the Son of God!'content — θεοῦ υἱός anarthrous but fronted — Gentile executioners confess what the mockers made a taunt (vv. 40, 43)

The women watching from afar 27:55–56

And there were many women there, looking on from a distance,independent — periphrastic imperfect — the faithful watchers where the Twelve have fled (26:56)

who had followed Jesus from Galilee,relative — ἀκολουθέω — the discipleship verb, held by the women

ministering to him;participial — διακονέω — the service-verb (20:26–28) that names their following

among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.relative — the witnesses named — the two Marys anchor cross, burial (v. 61), and empty tomb (28:1)

The burial by Joseph of Arimathea 27:57–61

And when evening had come,participial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning on ἦλθεν; burial before sundown

there came a rich man from Arimathea, Joseph by name,independent — πλούσιος — Matthew's word where Mark has 'council member': Isa 53:9, 'with a rich man in his death'

who had himself also become a disciple of Jesus;relative — μαθητεύω — Matthew's discipling-verb (13:52; 28:19)

This man, going to Pilate,participial — preposed participle — the bold request; leans on ᾐτήσατο

asked for the body of Jesus.independent — σῶμα — the request that spares Jesus the criminals' pit

Then Pilate ordered it to be given.independent — ἀποδοθῆναι — 'given back,' as if owed; Rome's last ruling on the case

And Joseph, taking the body,participial — preposed participle — leans on ἐνετύλιξεν

wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,independent — σινδὼν καθαρά — Matthew alone notes the cleanness: purity about the defiled corpse

and laid it in his own new tomb,independent — καινῷ αὐτοῦ — new, and his own: Matthew's additions; no prior dead, no confusion of bodies

which he had cut in the rock,relative — a sealed single-entrance chamber — the stage set for the guard and for 28:2

and rolling a great stone to the door of the tomb,participial — λίθον μέγαν — 'great,' Matthew's touch; preposed on ἀπῆλθεν

he went away.independent — the burial complete — one word of departure

And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.independent — periphrastic — the two Marys mark the spot; the chain of witness runs unbroken to 28:1

The guard at the tomb 27:62–66

And on the next day,phrase modifier — dative of time — forward-leaning on συνήχθησαν; the Sabbath itself, unnamed

which is the day after the Preparation,relative — the periphrasis avoids saying 'Sabbath' of this errand to Pilate

the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate,independent — the Pharisees' only appearance in the passion — the old coalition reassembled at the tomb

saying:participial — the anxious petition

'Sir, we remembercontent — the enemies remember the three-day saying — the disciples have forgotten it

that that deceiver said while still alive:content — ὁ πλάνος — 'the deceiver'; ἔτι ζῶν concedes the death is real

'After three days I rise.'content — the predictions of 16:21; 17:23; 20:19 quoted back — futuristic present ἐγείρομαι

Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day,content — ἀσφαλίζω — the securing-verb that tolls through vv. 64–66

lest his disciples come and steal himpurpose — μήποτε — the theft-theory feared here is the one bribed into circulation at 28:13

and say to the people:purpose — τῷ λαῷ — the same λαός that took the blood (v. 25)

'He has risen from the dead,'content — the feared announcement — verbatim the angel's word at 28:7

and the last deception will be worse than the first.'purpose — πλάνη echoes πλάνος — for Matthew the real deception is the guards' bought story (28:15)

Pilate said to them:independent — the last exchange with Rome

'You have a guard;content — κουστωδία (Lat. custodia) — 'take a guard' or 'you have your own': the Latinism kept ambiguous

go, make it securecontent — asyndetic double imperative — Pilate washes his hands of this too

as you know how.'comparative — ὡς οἴδατε — dry: however secure you can make it

And they, going,participial — preposed participle — leans on ἠσφαλίσαντο

made the tomb secure,independent — the third ἀσφαλίζω — sealed against the very act that needs no open door (28:2, 6)

sealing the stone, with the guard.participial — σφραγίσαντες — the seal of Dan 6:17 on the lions' den; every precaution now serves the resurrection's evidence

Analysis. Matthew 27 runs on Mark 15's paratactic rails — flush-left aorists with preposed participles and genitive absolutes leaning forward on their verbs (Πρωΐας δὲ γενομένης, συνηγμένων οὖν αὐτῶν, Καθημένου δὲ αὐτοῦ, Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης), all speech hanging blue beneath its verb of saying — but nearly everything Matthew adds tightens one theme: responsibility for innocent blood. The tags trace the chain the layout exposes: Judas's αἷμα ἀθῷον (v. 4), the priests' τιμὴ αἵματος (v. 6), the Ἀγρὸς Αἵματος named ἕως τῆς σήμερον (v. 8), the wife's dream-warning about τῷ δικαίῳ ἐκείνῳ (v. 19), Pilate's Ἀθῷός εἰμι ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος τούτου (v. 24), and the people's τὸ αἷμα αὐτοῦ ἐφ' ἡμᾶς (v. 25) — with the evasion σὺ ὄψῃ / ὑμεῖς ὄψεσθε handed from priests to Judas and from Pilate to people: everyone consigns the blood to someone else, and no one is clean. Into the Judas panel Matthew sets his last formula quotation (vv. 9–10), shaped as at 2:17: indicative τότε ἐπληρώθη flush left — no ἵνα where human sin does the fulfilling — with the citation as content beneath λέγοντος, ascribed to Jeremiah though worded chiefly from Zech 11:12–13 with Jeremian motifs (potter, field, purchase), the famous attribution crux named without being solved. The Psalm 22 substructure carries the cross: parted garments (v. 35), wagging heads (v. 39), the leaders' πέποιθεν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν, ῥυσάσθω νῦν (v. 43 = Ps 22:8, the chapter's one near-verbatim taunt-citation), and the ninth-hour cry itself (v. 46 = Ps 22:1) — Hebraizing Ηλι ηλι rather than Mark's Aramaic Ελωι, easing the Ἠλίαν mishearing of v. 47, with Matthew's gloss (τοῦτ' ἔστιν) hanging beneath the glossed cry; the gall of v. 34 and the ὄξος of v. 48 sound Ps 69:21, and εἰ υἱὸς εἶ τοῦ θεοῦ (v. 40, paraphrased v. 43) replays the tempter's protasis of 4:3, 6 at the cross. Cruxes kept honest: Σὺ λέγεις (v. 11) keeps its studied poise, affirmation laid back on the asker; ἀφῆκεν τὸ πνεῦμα (v. 50) is active — he lets his spirit go, a willed death, not mere expiry; the opened tombs and raised saints (vv. 51–53) stand as bare coordinate divine passives, with μετὰ τὴν ἔγερσιν αὐτοῦ guarding the risen Christ's priority — Matthew's most disputed pericope, laid out as narrated, not argued; the centurion's θεοῦ υἱός (v. 54) is anarthrous but emphatically fronted, the taunt of vv. 40 and 43 returned as confession; the 'Jesus Barabbas' reading at vv. 16–17 and the spear-thrust interpolation after v. 49 are noted and not printed; and the guard pericope (vv. 62–66), Matthew's own, closes the chapter on πλάνος/πλάνη — the 'last deception' the priests fear becomes the irony of 28:11–15, since the sealed and watched tomb only strengthens the witness it was hired to prevent.