Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, December 21st, 2025
the Fourth Week of Advent
the Fourth Week of Advent
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THE MESSAGE
Matthew 27:40
This verse is not available in the MSG!
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Christian Standard Bible®
and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
King James Version (1611)
And saying, Thou that destroyest the Temple, & buildest it in three dayes, saue thy selfe: If thou be the Sonne of God, come downe from the Crosse.
And saying, Thou that destroyest the Temple, & buildest it in three dayes, saue thy selfe: If thou be the Sonne of God, come downe from the Crosse.
King James Version
And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
English Standard Version
and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
New American Standard Bible
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
New Century Version
saying, "You said you could destroy the Temple and build it again in three days. So save yourself! Come down from that cross if you are really the Son of God!"
saying, "You said you could destroy the Temple and build it again in three days. So save yourself! Come down from that cross if you are really the Son of God!"
Amplified Bible
and they said [tauntingly], "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself [from death]! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
and they said [tauntingly], "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself [from death]! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
Legacy Standard Bible
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
Berean Standard Bible
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
Contemporary English Version
shouted, "So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God's Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
shouted, "So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God's Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
Complete Jewish Bible
and saying, "So you can destroy the Temple, can you, and rebuild it in three days? Save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the stake!"
and saying, "So you can destroy the Temple, can you, and rebuild it in three days? Save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the stake!"
Darby Translation
and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou art Son of God, descend from the cross.
and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou art Son of God, descend from the cross.
Easy-to-Read Version
and said, "You said you could destroy the Temple and build it again in three days. So save yourself! Come down from that cross if you really are the Son of God!"
and said, "You said you could destroy the Temple and build it again in three days. So save yourself! Come down from that cross if you really are the Son of God!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
And saying, Thou that destroyest ye Temple, & buildest it in three dayes, saue thy selfe: if thou be ye Sonne of God, come downe fro ye crosse.
And saying, Thou that destroyest ye Temple, & buildest it in three dayes, saue thy selfe: if thou be ye Sonne of God, come downe fro ye crosse.
George Lamsa Translation
And saying, O you who can tear down the temple and build it in three days, deliver yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross.
And saying, O you who can tear down the temple and build it in three days, deliver yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross.
Good News Translation
"You were going to tear down the Temple and build it back up in three days! Save yourself if you are God's Son! Come on down from the cross!"
"You were going to tear down the Temple and build it back up in three days! Save yourself if you are God's Son! Come on down from the cross!"
Lexham English Bible
and saying, "The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
and saying, "The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
Literal Translation
and saying, You the one razing the temple and building it in three days, if You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
and saying, You the one razing the temple and building it in three days, if You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
American Standard Version
and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.
and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Bible in Basic English
You who would give the Temple to destruction and put it up again in three days, get yourself free: if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
You who would give the Temple to destruction and put it up again in three days, get yourself free: if you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Hebrew Names Version
and saying, "You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
and saying, "You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
International Standard Version
and saying, "You who were going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days - save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"Matthew 26:61,63; John 2:19;">[xr]
and saying, "You who were going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days - save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"Matthew 26:61,63; John 2:19;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and saying, Destroyer of the temple, and builder of it in three days ! deliver thyself, if thou art the Son of Aloha, and come down from the cross.
and saying, Destroyer of the temple, and builder of it in three days ! deliver thyself, if thou art the Son of Aloha, and come down from the cross.
Murdock Translation
and said: Destroyer of the temple, and builder of it in three days, deliver thyself; if thou art the Son of God, and come down from the cross.
and said: Destroyer of the temple, and builder of it in three days, deliver thyself; if thou art the Son of God, and come down from the cross.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And saying: Thou that destroyedst the temple, & buyldest it in three dayes, saue thy selfe. If thou be the sonne of God, come downe from the crosse.
And saying: Thou that destroyedst the temple, & buyldest it in three dayes, saue thy selfe. If thou be the sonne of God, come downe from the crosse.
English Revised Version
and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.
and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.
World English Bible
and saying, "You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
and saying, "You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son God, come down from the cross.
Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son God, come down from the cross.
Weymouth's New Testament
and said, "You who would pull down the Sanctuary and build a new one within three days, save yourself. If you are God's Son, come down from the cross."
and said, "You who would pull down the Sanctuary and build a new one within three days, save yourself. If you are God's Son, come down from the cross."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
mouynge her heedis, and seiynge, Vath to thee, that distriest the temple of God, and in the thridde dai bildist it ayen; saue thou thi silf; if thou art the sone of God, come doun of the cross.
mouynge her heedis, and seiynge, Vath to thee, that distriest the temple of God, and in the thridde dai bildist it ayen; saue thou thi silf; if thou art the sone of God, come doun of the cross.
Update Bible Version
and saying, You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days: save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross.
and saying, You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days: save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross.
Webster's Bible Translation
And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.
And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.
New English Translation
and saying, "You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God's Son, come down from the cross!"
and saying, "You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God's Son, come down from the cross!"
New King James Version
and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
New Living Translation
"Look at you now!" they yelled at him. "You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
"Look at you now!" they yelled at him. "You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
New Life Bible
They said, "You are the One Who could destroy the house of God and build it up again in three days. Now save Yourself. If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
They said, "You are the One Who could destroy the house of God and build it up again in three days. Now save Yourself. If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
New Revised Standard
and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and saying - The man that taketh down the Temple and in three days buildeth it! Save, thyself! If thou art God's, Son, come down from the cross.
and saying - The man that taketh down the Temple and in three days buildeth it! Save, thyself! If thou art God's, Son, come down from the cross.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God and in three days dost rebuild it: save thy own self. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
And saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God and in three days dost rebuild it: save thy own self. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Revised Standard Version
and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and sayinge: Thou that destroyest the temple of God and byldest it in thre dayes save thy sylfe. If thou be ye sonne of God come doune from the crosse.
and sayinge: Thou that destroyest the temple of God and byldest it in thre dayes save thy sylfe. If thou be ye sonne of God come doune from the crosse.
Young's Literal Translation
and saying, `Thou that art throwing down the sanctuary, and in three days building [it], save thyself; if Son thou art of God, come down from the cross.'
and saying, `Thou that art throwing down the sanctuary, and in three days building [it], save thyself; if Son thou art of God, come down from the cross.'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and sayde: Thou that breakest downe the teple of God, and buyldest it in thre dayes, helpe thyself. Yf thou be the sonne of God, come downe from the crosse.
and sayde: Thou that breakest downe the teple of God, and buyldest it in thre dayes, helpe thyself. Yf thou be the sonne of God, come downe from the crosse.
Mace New Testament (1729)
and cry'd, you that could destroy the temple, and rebuild it in three days, now save thy self: if thou art the son of God, come down from the cross.
and cry'd, you that could destroy the temple, and rebuild it in three days, now save thy self: if thou art the son of God, come down from the cross.
Simplified Cowboy Version
sayin', "You claimed you were gonna destroy the church and rebuild it in three days! If you're the Boss's Son, come down off that cross and prove it, you coward!"
sayin', "You claimed you were gonna destroy the church and rebuild it in three days! If you're the Boss's Son, come down off that cross and prove it, you coward!"
Contextual Overview
35After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews . Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: "You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down from that cross!" 41The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: "He saved others—he can't save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We'll all become believers then! He was so sure of God—well, let him rescue his ‘Son' now—if he wants him! He did claim to be God's Son, didn't he?" Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery. 45From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around midafternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" 47Some 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."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
saying: Genesis 37:19, Genesis 37:20, Revelation 11:10
that destroyest: Matthew 26:61, Luke 14:29, Luke 14:30, John 2:19-22
If: Matthew 27:54, Matthew 4:3, Matthew 4:6, Matthew 26:63, Matthew 26:64
come: Matthew 16:4, Luke 16:31
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 2:23 - Go up Job 16:4 - shake mine Psalms 14:6 - Ye Psalms 22:7 - shake Psalms 109:25 - when they Psalms 119:42 - So shall Obadiah 1:12 - looked Matthew 12:40 - so Matthew 27:43 - I am Mark 14:57 - and bare Mark 15:29 - they Luke 2:34 - for a John 1:34 - this John 11:37 - Could Acts 4:27 - the people 2 Corinthians 1:19 - the Son
Cross-References
Genesis 27:11
"But Mother," Jacob said, "my brother Esau is a hairy man and I have smooth skin. What happens if my father touches me? He'll think I'm playing games with him. I'll bring down a curse on myself instead of a blessing."
"But Mother," Jacob said, "my brother Esau is a hairy man and I have smooth skin. What happens if my father touches me? He'll think I'm playing games with him. I'll bring down a curse on myself instead of a blessing."
Genesis 27:13
"If it comes to that," said his mother, "I'll take the curse on myself. Now, just do what I say. Go and get the goats."
"If it comes to that," said his mother, "I'll take the curse on myself. Now, just do what I say. Go and get the goats."
Genesis 27:15
Rebekah took the dress-up clothes of her older son Esau and put them on her younger son Jacob. She took the goatskins and covered his hands and the smooth nape of his neck. Then she placed the hearty meal she had fixed and fresh bread she'd baked into the hands of her son Jacob.
Rebekah took the dress-up clothes of her older son Esau and put them on her younger son Jacob. She took the goatskins and covered his hands and the smooth nape of his neck. Then she placed the hearty meal she had fixed and fresh bread she'd baked into the hands of her son Jacob.
Genesis 27:20
Isaac said, "So soon? How did you get it so quickly?" "Because your God cleared the way for me."
Isaac said, "So soon? How did you get it so quickly?" "Because your God cleared the way for me."
Genesis 27:21
Isaac said, "Come close, son; let me touch you—are you really my son Esau?"
Isaac said, "Come close, son; let me touch you—are you really my son Esau?"
Genesis 27:22
So Jacob moved close to his father Isaac. Isaac felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice but the hands are the hands of Esau." He didn't recognize him because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau's. But as he was about to bless him he pressed him, "You're sure? You are my son Esau?" "Yes. I am." Isaac said, "Bring the food so I can eat of my son's game and give you my personal blessing." Jacob brought it to him and he ate. He also brought him wine and he drank. Then Isaac said, "Come close, son, and kiss me." He came close and kissed him and Isaac smelled the smell of his clothes. Finally, he blessed him, Ahhh. The smell of my son is like the smell of the open country blessed by God . May God give you of Heaven's dew and Earth's bounty of grain and wine. May peoples serve you and nations honor you. You will master your brothers, and your mother's sons will honor you. Those who curse you will be cursed, those who bless you will be blessed. And then right after Isaac had blessed Jacob and Jacob had left, Esau showed up from the hunt. He also had prepared a hearty meal. He came to his father and said, "Let my father get up and eat of his son's game, that he may give me his personal blessing." His father Isaac said, "And who are you?" "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau." Isaac started to tremble, shaking violently. He said, "Then who hunted game and brought it to me? I finished the meal just now, before you walked in. And I blessed him—he's blessed for good!" Esau, hearing his father's words, sobbed violently and most bitterly, and cried to his father, "My father! Can't you also bless me?" "Your brother," he said, "came here falsely and took your blessing." Esau said, "Not for nothing was he named Jacob, the Heel. Twice now he's tricked me: first he took my birthright and now he's taken my blessing." He begged, "Haven't you kept back any blessing for me?" Isaac answered Esau, "I've made him your master, and all his brothers his servants, and lavished grain and wine on him. I've given it all away. What's left for you, my son?" "But don't you have just one blessing for me, Father? Oh, bless me my father! Bless me!" Esau sobbed inconsolably. Isaac said to him, You'll live far from Earth's bounty, remote from Heaven's dew. You'll live by your sword, hand-to-mouth, and you'll serve your brother. But when you can't take it any more you'll break loose and run free. Esau seethed in anger against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him; he brooded, "The time for mourning my father's death is close. And then I'll kill my brother Jacob." When these words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she called her younger son Jacob and said, "Your brother Esau is plotting vengeance against you. He's going to kill you. Son, listen to me. Get out of here. Run for your life to Haran, to my brother Laban. Live with him for a while until your brother cools down, until his anger subsides and he forgets what you did to him. I'll then send for you and bring you back. Why should I lose both of you the same day?" Rebekah spoke to Isaac, "I'm sick to death of these Hittite women. If Jacob also marries a native Hittite woman, why live?"
So Jacob moved close to his father Isaac. Isaac felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice but the hands are the hands of Esau." He didn't recognize him because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau's. But as he was about to bless him he pressed him, "You're sure? You are my son Esau?" "Yes. I am." Isaac said, "Bring the food so I can eat of my son's game and give you my personal blessing." Jacob brought it to him and he ate. He also brought him wine and he drank. Then Isaac said, "Come close, son, and kiss me." He came close and kissed him and Isaac smelled the smell of his clothes. Finally, he blessed him, Ahhh. The smell of my son is like the smell of the open country blessed by God . May God give you of Heaven's dew and Earth's bounty of grain and wine. May peoples serve you and nations honor you. You will master your brothers, and your mother's sons will honor you. Those who curse you will be cursed, those who bless you will be blessed. And then right after Isaac had blessed Jacob and Jacob had left, Esau showed up from the hunt. He also had prepared a hearty meal. He came to his father and said, "Let my father get up and eat of his son's game, that he may give me his personal blessing." His father Isaac said, "And who are you?" "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau." Isaac started to tremble, shaking violently. He said, "Then who hunted game and brought it to me? I finished the meal just now, before you walked in. And I blessed him—he's blessed for good!" Esau, hearing his father's words, sobbed violently and most bitterly, and cried to his father, "My father! Can't you also bless me?" "Your brother," he said, "came here falsely and took your blessing." Esau said, "Not for nothing was he named Jacob, the Heel. Twice now he's tricked me: first he took my birthright and now he's taken my blessing." He begged, "Haven't you kept back any blessing for me?" Isaac answered Esau, "I've made him your master, and all his brothers his servants, and lavished grain and wine on him. I've given it all away. What's left for you, my son?" "But don't you have just one blessing for me, Father? Oh, bless me my father! Bless me!" Esau sobbed inconsolably. Isaac said to him, You'll live far from Earth's bounty, remote from Heaven's dew. You'll live by your sword, hand-to-mouth, and you'll serve your brother. But when you can't take it any more you'll break loose and run free. Esau seethed in anger against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him; he brooded, "The time for mourning my father's death is close. And then I'll kill my brother Jacob." When these words of her older son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she called her younger son Jacob and said, "Your brother Esau is plotting vengeance against you. He's going to kill you. Son, listen to me. Get out of here. Run for your life to Haran, to my brother Laban. Live with him for a while until your brother cools down, until his anger subsides and he forgets what you did to him. I'll then send for you and bring you back. Why should I lose both of you the same day?" Rebekah spoke to Isaac, "I'm sick to death of these Hittite women. If Jacob also marries a native Hittite woman, why live?"
Genesis 32:6
The messengers came back to Jacob and said, "We talked to your brother Esau and he's on his way to meet you. But he has four hundred men with him."
The messengers came back to Jacob and said, "We talked to your brother Esau and he's on his way to meet you. But he has four hundred men with him."
2 Kings 14:7
Amaziah roundly defeated Edom in the Valley of Salt to the tune of ten thousand dead. In another battle he took The Rock and renamed it Joktheel, the name it still bears.
Amaziah roundly defeated Edom in the Valley of Salt to the tune of ten thousand dead. In another battle he took The Rock and renamed it Joktheel, the name it still bears.
2 Chronicles 21:8
During Jehoram's reign, Edom revolted from Judah's rule and set up their own king. Jehoram responded by setting out with his officers and chariots. Edom surrounded him, but in the middle of the night he and his charioteers broke through the lines and hit Edom hard.
During Jehoram's reign, Edom revolted from Judah's rule and set up their own king. Jehoram responded by setting out with his officers and chariots. Edom surrounded him, but in the middle of the night he and his charioteers broke through the lines and hit Edom hard.
2 Chronicles 21:10
Edom continues in revolt against Judah right up to the present. Even little Libnah revolted at that time. The evidence accumulated: Since Jehoram had abandoned God , the God of his ancestors, God was abandoning him. He even went so far as to build pagan sacred shrines in the mountains of Judah. He brazenly led Jerusalem away from God, seducing the whole country.
Edom continues in revolt against Judah right up to the present. Even little Libnah revolted at that time. The evidence accumulated: Since Jehoram had abandoned God , the God of his ancestors, God was abandoning him. He even went so far as to build pagan sacred shrines in the mountains of Judah. He brazenly led Jerusalem away from God, seducing the whole country.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And saying, thou that destroyest the temple,.... The Vulgate Latin, and Munster's Hebrew Gospel, read, "the temple of God"; and add "ah!" here, as in Mark 15:29, and so Beza says it is read in a certain copy. They refer to the charge of the false witnesses against him, who misrepresenting his words in John 2:19, declared that he gave out that he was able to destroy the temple of Jerusalem, and rebuild it in three days time; wherefore it is added,
and buildest it in three days, save thyself. They reproach him with it, and suggest, that these were vain and empty boasts of his; for if he was able to do any thing of that kind, he need not hang upon the tree, but could easily save himself:
if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. The Jews themselves say a that the following words were said to Jesus on the cross,
"if thou be the Son of God, why dost thou not deliver thyself out of our hands?''
As Satan before them, they put an "if" upon the sonship of Christ: and seeing his followers believed in him as the Son of God, and he had owned himself to be so before the sanhedrim, they require a sign of it by his power, and to do that which they believed no mere man in his situation could do; which shows, that they had no other notion of the Son of God, but that he was a divine person: but his sonship was not to be declared by his coming down from the cross, which he could have easily effected, but by a much greater instance of power, even by his resurrection from the dead; and no other but that sign was to be given to that wicked and perverse generation.
a Toldos Jesu, p. 17.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Thou that destroyest the temple ... - Meaning, Thou that didst boast that thou couldst do it. This was one of the things that had been falsely charged on him. It was intended for painful sarcasm and derision. If he could destroy the “temple,” they thought he might easily come down from the cross.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 40. Thou that destroyest — Who didst pretend that thou couldst have destroyed the temple, and built it up again in three days. This malicious torturing of our Lord's words has been noticed before. Cruelty is obliged to take refuge in lies, in order to vindicate its infamous proceedings.
If thou be the Son of God — Or rather, Υἱος του Θεου A son of God, i.e. a peculiar favourite of the Most-High; not Ὁ Υἱος του Θεου, THE Son of God. "It is not to be conceived," says a learned man, "that every passenger who was going to the city had a competent knowledge of Christ's supernatural conception by the Holy Spirit, or an adequate comprehension of his character as the Messiah, and (κατ' εξοχην) THE SON OF GOD. There is not a single passiage where Jesus is designed to be pointed out as the MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD, where the article is omitted: nor, on the other hand, is this designation ever specified without the article, thus, 'Ὁ Υἱος του Θεου. See Matthew 16:16; Matthew 26:63; Matthew 28:19."
