I'd like your input...

[melinky]

This week in my Bible study, we are studying the book of Matthew. Since we also read most of it last week, reading from a different perspective, I thought I'd try a different translation this week, so I'm reading The Message translation.

As I was reading the Passion, there was one verse that I thought placed a different light on one of the parts of the story.

“From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
Some bystanders who heard him said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so he could drink. The others joked, “Don’t be in such a hurry. Let’s see if Elijah comes and saves him.”” (Matt. 27:45-49, MESSAGE)

I've read this passage many times, but when I read it today, I began to wonder if the "sour" wine was poisoned or laced with a drug that would cause a person to lose consciousness and thus speed up the process. When wine sours, doesn't it turn to vinegar? What was it's purpose and why would it have been offered to a dying man?

Thanks in advance,

Melinda

[rgrove]

Sounds like you're on the right track to me. Here's what I have in my commentaries and study notes:

Our Zondervan NIV Study Bible has your idea in it regarding v34. It says:

Tradition says that the women of Jerusalem customarily furnished this pain-killing narcotic to prisoners who were crucified. Jesus refused to drink it because he wanted to be fully conscious until his death (v.50).

So if the tradition is true, then this makes sense.

J. Vernon McGee says in his commentary:

Why? To fulfill prophecy - "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (Ps. 69:21)

Seeing as how Matthew's passion account is full of allusions to OT messianic prophecy I think this makes sense that it's a reference to Psalm 69:21. The ESV does have a text note pointing to this psalm at that verse.

John Broadus, the great 19th century Southern Baptist theologian, says in my favorite Matthew commentary on v34:

Mark, "wine mingled with myrh." The correct text in Matthew is clearly "wine;" it was probably change in many documents to agree with v. 48 below; and with Psalm 69:21. Talmud Bab. (the Babylonian Talmud) says (Lightfoot) that to criminals on the way to execution was given a drink consisting of wine mixed with a bit of frankincense to stupefy them, and that according to tradition, the noble women of Jereusalem furnished this at their own expense. This may be connected in our minds with the "daughters of Jerusalem," who had sorrowfully accompanied the procession (Luke 23:27). The term "gall" in Matt must be used generally to denote any bitter and nauseous substance, which in this case would be some bitter vegetable narcotic. It would seem (Keim, Plump.), that Matthews word sometimes denotes wormwood; see Septuigint of Deut. 29:18; Prov 5:4. Keim: "The drink might have been prepared from poppies or wormwood. Simpson, the discoverer of chloroform, thought of hashish, the Indian extract of hemp." Dr. A. Coles, "Life of our Lord in Verse," (New York, Appleton), suggests mandragora, mandrake, "which is said to have been employed by the ancients as an anaesthetic in surgical operations."

and v.48

The vinegar was probably a sort of sour wine, though vinegar itself (no doubt diluted with water) was used as a cooling drink. (Ruth 2:14) It was given mercifully, to refresh the sufferer's parched mouth. John shows (19:28) that it was done in consequence of his saying "I thirst". He had refused the stupefying draught at the beginning, but asked for this slight refreshment when near the end. Then he uttered a third word (John), "It is finished," and finally a fourth (Luke), "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

I like how he looks at the issue in harmony with the other gospels for v. 48 rather than independant from them. It seems to add a good bit of insight here.

Louis A. Barbieri, Jr in the Walvoord and Zuck's "Bible Knowledge Commentary" put out by Dallas Theological Seminary professors on v.34 says:

Jesus was then offered wine mixed with gall, a drink given to dull the senses and make the pain of crucifixion somewhat easier to bear. Jesus refused to drink the mixture, for He wanted to be in complete control of His senses even while hanging on the cross.

and says for v. 48

Some of those standing near the cross misunderstood Jesus' words. They heard "Eloi", but thought Jesus was trying to call for Elijah (Matt 27:47). In Greek the word "Elijah" sounds more like "Eloi" than it does in English. Thinking his lips and throat had become dry, someone thought a drink of wine vinegar would moisten His vocal cords so He could speak plainly. Others, however, said to leave Jesus alone and see if Elijah would come and deliver Him. Their jeers were obviously still being directed against Jesus.

Interesting take. My only concern here is that Jesus was speaking Aramaic on the cross "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani." Why would they mistake this with Greek? Perhaps I'm missing something, though. Or perhaps they both sound similar in Aramaic and the reasoning is still good, but they were confused about the Aramaic and not the Greek.

The great Puritan divine Matthew Henry says of v34:

1. By the drink they provided for him before he was nailed to the cross, Mat_27:34. It was usual to have a cup of spiced wine for those to drink of, that were to be put to death, according to Solomon's direction (Pro_31:6, Pro_31:7), Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish; but with that cup which Christ was to drink of, they mingled vinegar and gall, to make it sour and bitter. This signified, (1.) The sin of man, which is a root of bitterness, bearing gall and wormwood, Deu_29:18. The sinner perhaps rolls it under his tongue as a sweet morsel, but to God it is grapes of gall, Deu_32:32. It was so to the Lord Jesus, when he bare our sins, and sooner or later it will be so to the sinner himself, bitterness at the latter end, more bitter than death, Ecc_7:26. (2.) It signified the wrath of God, that cup which is Father put into his hand, a bitter cup indeed, like the bitter water which caused the curse, Num_5:18. This drink they offered him, as was literally foretold, Psa_69:21. And, [1.] He tasted thereof, and so had the worst of it, took the bitter taste into his mouth; he let no bitter cup go by him untasted, when he was making atonement for all our sinful tasting of forbidden fruit; now he was tasting death in its full bitterness. [2.] He would not drink it, because he would not have the best of it; would have nothing like an opiate to lessen his sense of pain, for he would die so as to feel himself die, because he had so much work to do, as our High Priest, in his suffering work.

and of v48

IV. The cold comfort which his enemies ministered to him in this agony, which was like all the rest.
1. Some gave him vinegar to drink (Mat_27:48); instead of some cordial-water to revive and refresh him under this heavy burthen, they tantalized him with that which did not only add to the reproach they were loading him with, but did too sensibly represent that cup of trembling which his Father had put into his hand. One of them ran to fetch it, seeming to be officious to him, but really glad of an opportunity to abuse and affront him, and afraid lest any one should take it out of his hands.

John Wesley said in his notes on the NT of v34:

They gave him vinegar mingled with gall - Out of derision: which, however nauseous, he received and tasted of. St. Mark mentions also a different mixture which was given him, Wine mingled with myrrh: such as it was customary to give to dying criminals, to make them less sensible of their sufferings: but this our Lord refused to taste, determining to bear the full force of his pains.

and of v. 48

One taking a sponge, filled it with vinegar - Vinegar and water was the usual drink of the Roman soldiers. It does not appear, that this was given him in derision, but rather with a friendly design, that he might not die before Elijah came. Joh_19:28.

And John Gill, highly regarded for his knowledge of Hebrew customs, tradition and teaching, notes on v. 34:

They gave him vinegar to drink,.... It was a custom with the Jews (o) when

"a man went out to be executed, to give him to drink a grain of frankincense in a cup of wine, that his understanding might be disturbed, as it is said, Pro_31:6. "Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of heavy hearts"; and the tradition is, that the honourable women in Jerusalem gave this freely; but if they did not, it was provided at the charge of the congregation.

The design of it was to cheer their spirits, and intoxicate their heads, that they might not be sensible of their pain and misery. But such a cup was not allowed Christ at the public expense, nor were the honourable women so compassionate to him; or if it was sent him, the soldiers did not give it him, but another potion in the room of it; indeed Mark says, they gave him "wine mingled with myrrh",

and v. 48

not to revive his spirits, or hasten his death, as some have thought, but in contempt of him, and to mock him, he having signified that he was athirst,

So, from where I'm sitting, your sounds pretty consistent with all of them (although they do have their disagreements). ;D

In Christ,
Ron

[Soulfyre]

It would be hard for me to add to your excellent summary, rgrove!

God bless and keep you and yours always in His redeeming grace,

Matthew (soulfyre)

[Kenny]

Soulfyre said:

It would be hard for me to add to your excellent summary, rgrove!

God bless and keep you and yours always in His redeeming grace,

Matthew (soulfyre)

That's what I said!