Darkness at the Crucifixion (Matthew 27:45-46)
Matthew 27:45-46 describes a period of darkness during Jesus' crucifixion and his cry from the cross:
"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" [1]
This darkness, lasting from noon until three in the afternoon, is also recorded in Luke 23:44-45 and Mark 15:33 [2, 5, 11]. Commentators note that this event was miraculous, as a solar eclipse could not have occurred during Passover, when the moon is full [6]. The darkness is interpreted as a symbol of God's judgment, specifically the arrival of the day of the Lord, as seen in prophetic texts like Amos 5:18, 20 and 8:9-10 [7]. It also signifies sorrow [8]. Matthew Henry suggests it fulfilled prophecies such as Amos 8:9, "I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day" [9].
Following this period of darkness, Jesus cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" [1]. This cry is also found in Mark 15:34 [5]. This statement is cross-referenced with Hebrews 5:7, which speaks of Jesus offering up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears [3, 4]. The theme of Jesus' innocence is prominent throughout the narrative of his suffering, as highlighted in Matthew 27:4 and other passages [10]. The crucifixion itself is presented as a period of terrible suffering for Jesus [12].
Sources
- Matthew “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. -- Matthew 27:45”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Luke.23.44 → Matt.27.45 (confidence: 12 votes)”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Heb.5.7 → Matt.27.46 (confidence: 15 votes)”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Matt.27.46 → Heb.5.7 (confidence: 43 votes)”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Matt.27.46 → Mark.15.34 (confidence: 35 votes)”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Darkness — is spoken of as encompassing the actual presence of God, as that out of which he speaks,--the envelope, as it were, of divine glory. (Exodus 20:21; 1 Kings 8:12) The plague of darkness in Egypt was miraculous. The darkness "over all the land," (Matthew 27:45) attending the crucifixion has been attributed to an eclipse, but was undoubtedly miraculous, as no eclipse of the sun could have taken place at that time, the moon being at the full at the time of the passover. Darkness is also, as in the expression "land of darkness," used for the state of the dead, (”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 27:45: 27:45 Darkness symbolizes the judgment of God or, more specifically, the arrival of the day of the Lord (see Amos 5:18, 20; 8:9-10; also Jer 4:27-28; 13:16; 15:9).”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 23:44: 23:44 Darkness symbolizes sorrow as well as God’s judgment (Ps 23:4; Isa 8:22; 9:1-2).”
- Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 15:33: Here we have an account of Christ's dying, how his enemies abused him, and God honoured him at his death. I. There was a thick darkness over the whole land (some think over the whole earth), for three hours, from noon till three of the clock. Now the scripture was fulfilled (Amo 8:9), I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day; and Jer 15:9, Her sun is gone down while it is yet day. The Jews have often demanded of Christ a sign from heaven; and now they had one, but such a one as signified the blinding of their eyes. It wa”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 27:4: 27:4 an innocent man: Jesus’ innocence is a dominant theme in the narrative of his suffering (see 23:35; 26:55-56, 59-60; 27:18-19, 24; see also Luke 23:47).”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 23:44: Darkness over all the earth - See the note on Mat 27:45. The darkness began at the sixth hour, about our twelve o'clock at noon, and lasted till the ninth hour, which answered to our three o'clock in the afternoon.”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 17:25: 17:25 suffer terribly: Jesus would soon suffer crucifixion (see study note on 9:22).”