They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my
vesture.--Psalm xxii. 18.
The circumstances attending the disposal of the garments of the
crucified Jesus, are in themselves trifling and insignificant,
but when viewed in connexion with this prophecy, it is no longer
a matter of little importance. It is equally necessary that the
small, as well as the great and conspicuous parts of prophecy
should be fulfilled; and it is highly satisfactory to trace, amid
the more minute events connected with the life and death of Jesus,
so striking a correspondence with the Old Testament prophecies
of the Messiah. In fact, if these were wanting, the whole, as an
evidence, would be incomplete. How satisfactory is it to find, in
this instance, the very raiment of Jesus become a witness for the
truth that he is the Messiah. It was not the disciples, or friends
of Jesus, who parted his garments among them, and cast lots upon his
vesture: but it was the Roman soldiers, who, ignorant of the Jewish
prophecies, could not be supposed to have divided the garments among
them in that particular way, for the express purpose of fulfilling
this prophecy; which might have been imagined, had it been the
disciples instead of the soldiers. These men, alike ignorant and
unconcerned about the fulfilment of prophecy, could not even be
anxious to possess the garments of Jesus from their intrinsic worth;
no, it was only the humble dress of a poor jew: nor were they led
to attach any particular value to the clothes, from love to its
late wearer, for whom they felt neither affection or respect. It is
probable they were severally desirous to possess some part of the
apparel, that they might exhibit it as a trophy that they shared in
the destruction of the King of the Jews.