THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 20 - Verse 28

Verse 28. Even as the Son of man, See Barnes "Mt 8:20".

Jesus points them to his own example. He was in the form of God in heaven, Php 2:6. He came to men in the form of a servant, Php 2:7. He came not with pomp and glory, but as a man in humble life. And since he came, he had not required them to minister to him. He laboured for them. He strove to do them good. He provided for their wants, fared as poorly as they did, went before them in dangers and sufferings, practised self-denial on their account, and for them was about to lay down his life. See Joh 13:4,5.

To give his life a ransom for many. The word ransom means, literally, a price paid for the redemption of captives. In war, when prisoners are taken by an enemy, the money demanded for their release is called a ransom. That is, it is the means by which they are set at liberty. So anything that releases any one from a state of punishment, or suffering, or sin, is called a ransom. Men are by nature captives to sin. They are sold under it. They are under condemnation, Eph 2:3; Ro 3:9-20,23; 1 Jn 5:19.

They are under a curse, Ga 3:10. They are in love with sin. They are under its withering dominion, and are exposed to death eternal, Eze 18:4; Ps 9:17; Ps 11:6; 68:2; 139:19; Mt 25:46; Ro 2:6-9.

They must have perished unless there had been some way by which they could be rescued. This was done by the death of Jesus; by giving his life a ransom. The meaning is, that he died in the place of sinners, and that God was willing to accept the pains of his death in the place of the eternal suffering of the redeemed. The reasons why such a ransom was necessary are,

1st. that God had declared that the sinner should die—that is, that he would punish, or show his hatred to all sin.

2nd. That all men had sinned; and if justice was to take its regular course, all must perish.

3rd. That man could make no atonement for his own sins. All that he could do, were he holy would be only to do his duty, and would make no amends for the past. Repentance and future obedience would not blot away one sin.

4th. No man was pure, and no angel could make atonement. God was pleased, therefore, to appoint his only-begotten Son to make such a ransom. See Joh 16:10; 1 Jo 4:10; 1 Pe 1:18,19; Re 13:8; Joh 1:29; Eph 5:2; Heb 7:27; Isa 53:1-12.

This is commonly called the atonement. See Barnes "Ro 5:11".

For many. See also Mt 26:28; Joh 10:16; 1 Ti 2:6; 1 Jo 2:2

2 Co 5:14,15; Heb 2:9.

{t} "but to minister" Lu 22:27; Joh 13:1-38, 4:14; Php 2:7

{u} "and to give" Isa 53:5,8,11; Da 9:24,26; 1 Ti 2:6; Tit 2:14; Heb 9:28

1 Pe 1:18,19; Re 1:5