And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and struck him on the head.
All Commentaries on Matthew 27:30 Go To Matthew 27
Jerome
AD 420
He had been styled King of the Jews, and the Scribes and Priests had brought this charge against Him, that He claimed sovereignty over the Jewish nation; hence this mockery of the soldiers, taking away His own garments, they put on Him a scarlet cloak to represent that purple fringe which kings of old used towear, for the diadem they put on Him a crown of thorns, and for the regal sceptre give Him a reed, and perform adoration to Him as to a king.
All these things we may understand mystically. For as Caiaphas said that “it isexpedient that one man should die for the people,” not knowing what he said, so these, in all they did, furnished sacraments to us who believe, though they did them with other intention. In the scarlet robe He bears the bloody works of the Gentiles; by the crown of thorns He takes away the ancient curse; with the reed He destroys poisonous animals; or He held thereed in His hand wherewith to write down the sacrilege of the Jews.
