Why did the Scribes and Pharisees curse Jesus on the Cross?
English: Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 27:35–44 “When they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there” ( vv. 35–36 ). Like the other three evangelists, Matthew does not describe the process of crucifixion in detail, probably because the practice is well-known to his first-century audience. No Roman punishment is more painful or degrading than to be crucified; therefore, Rome normally reserves the cross for non-citizens, crucifying those with full citizenship only when the Caesar himself prescribes it. The Jews under Rome’s rule regard the cross as particularly abhorrent, and the rabbis later forbid its use in self-governing Jewish communities . In Jesus ’ case, however, the religious leaders are elated to see Him disgraced on the cross. He is crucified outside Jerusalem in deference to Jewish sensibilities ( Heb. 13:12 ), on a major thoroughfare so as to warn others n