George Hutcheson
23 Then the souldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, (and made foure parts, to every souldier a part,) and also his coat; Now the coat was without seame, woven from the toppe throughout.
24 They said therefore among themselves; Let not us rent it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, they parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the souldiers did.
In the fourth branch of this part of the chapter, Christs suffering from the souldiers is recorded; That having stripped him of his garments when they fastened him to the Crosse, they do divide these garments which could be parted among them, and cast lots for his woven coat which could not be divided. All which was done according to that foregoing Prophecie, Psal. 21.18. which whatever accomplishment it had in David the type, yet it pointed ultimately at Christs sufferings. Not to seek any Allegory, we may from this purpose, Learn, 1. Instruments will not be wanting to crucifie Christ, if it were but for his old cloathes, and these but little worth; for, these souldiers crucifie him, though they got but his garments for their reward. 2. Christ did submit not only to be crucified, but to suffer naked, the souldiers dividing his garments and coat among them, hereby to teach us, 1. That all flesh are really naked before God by reason of sin, Exod. 32.25. 2 Chron. 28.19. and therefore our Surety behoved to suffer naked. 2. That he offered himself a real captive in his sufferings, that so he might fully satisfie justice, by being under the power of his enemies, till he redeemed himself by the strong hand, having fully paid the price; for, therefore did he submit to be stript naked, as Conquerours use to do with prisoners. 3. That by this suffering naked, he would expiate our abuse of apparel, and purchase to us a liberty to make use of suitable ralment, and such as becometh us in our station 4. That by this suffering naked, he would purchase unto them who flee to him, to be covered with righteousnesse and glory, and to walk with him in white for ever, and would point out the nakednesse of these, who not being found cloathed with his righteousnesse, shall not be cloathed upon with immortality and glory, 2 Cor. 5.2, 3. 5. He would also, by this, teach all his followers, to resolve on nakednesse in their following of him, as a part of their conformity with their Head, Job 1.21. Rom. 8.35. Heb. 11.37. and that therefore they should not doat much on their apparel when they have it. Doct. 3. A sight of God and his Will, in the trials of Christ and his followers, will make them very sweet unto them, and should be a mean to prevent stumbling; for this cause is it subjoyned, that it was done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, &c. 4. God hath a providence about the smallest circumstances of the suffering of Christ and his followers; for, Scripture had foretold, even concerning the parting of Christs garments, and casting lots for his vesture, to shew there was a providence in these things, though they were but very common. 5. When Christ and his people are very low, yet the Scripture stands firme, and will not be broken, if it were but about the matter of an old coat; And however Christ and his followers be put in the hands of wicked men, led by their wicked principles, yet the least circumstance of their sufferings are over-ruled by God, and men shall not transgresse the bounds set by him; for, this being foretold, These things therefore, (and no more then had been foretold) the souldiers did. And albeit they did this, and no more, freely, yet it was necessary, in regard of the prediction, that they did it, and went no further.
