Matthew 27:39 — Meaning and Application

Heart Emotional Intelligence

When you read, “they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,” you’re watching Jesus experience something you may know too well: being mocked in your most vulnerable moment. This is not distant theology; it is the Savior entering the very heart of your humiliation, rejection, and misunderstanding. People didn’t just ignore Him—they used His suffering as an occasion for cruelty. Perhaps you’ve felt that sting: others minimizing your pain, blaming you, or turning away with a sigh and a shake of the head. Notice this: Jesus stayed. He did not come down from the cross to silence their voices. He remained in the place of shame so that, forever, you would know there is no depth of embarrassment, abuse, or misunderstanding where He is absent. If your heart whispers, “No one gets what I’m going through,” this verse gently answers, “Jesus does.” Your tears, your anger, your confusion are not faithlessness; they are the very places He chooses to draw near. Let this scene tell you: you are not alone in the mockery you’ve endured. The One who was reviled now holds you, without a single trace of contempt in His gaze.

Mind Theological Wisdom

Matthew notes that “those who passed by” reviled Jesus. This is not the inner circle of accusers—the priests and elders—but ordinary people moving along the road. Crucifixions were intentionally placed near public routes, so the condemned became living billboards of Rome’s power. Here, the true King is exposed to common contempt. “Reviled” translates a verb meaning to blaspheme, to hurl abusive speech. “Wagging their heads” echoes Psalm 22:7: “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads.” Matthew is quietly telling you: what David suffered in part, Christ fulfills in whole. The mockery that surrounds Jesus is not an accident of history; it is the script of redemptive suffering being played out. Notice also the irony: those who “pass by” think they are simply observers, yet they are unknowingly participating in the very salvation they despise. Their insults become part of the atoning humiliation of the Son. For you, this text exposes how easily the human heart joins the crowd against God’s ways. It invites you to ask: when Christ’s path looks weak or shameful, do you stand with Him—or drift with the passersby?

Life Practical Living

Crowds are powerful—and often wrong. In Matthew 27:39, people are just “passing by,” yet they join in mocking Jesus, wagging their heads like they know the whole story. They don’t. They just see a man on a cross and assume failure. You will face this too. In your marriage, parenting, career, or faith, people who know almost nothing about your situation will offer contempt, cheap opinions, or quiet mockery. Some will only see your “cross” season—your losses, your limits, your worst day—and draw conclusions. Here’s what to learn: 1. **Don’t let spectators define your worth.** Bystanders don’t carry your load, don’t know your calling, and won’t answer for your life before God. Their reaction is noise, not guidance. 2. **Expect misunderstanding when you obey God.** Jesus was exactly where the Father wanted Him, and it looked like defeat. Obedience may look foolish to casual observers. 3. **Guard your own tongue.** Notice how easy it was for “those who passed by” to join the mockery. Don’t become that person in someone else’s darkest hour. Your job is to be faithful, not applauded. Let God, not the crowd, have the final word on your life.

Soul Eternal Perspective

The scene in this verse is quieter than the nails, less violent than the scourging—yet it pierces just as deeply. “They that passed by” were not soldiers or officials, but ordinary people… people like you. They did not merely ignore Him; they reviled Him and “wagged their heads,” a gesture of contempt that says, “You are beneath my concern.” This is humanity’s response to a crucified Savior: not only hostility, but casual dismissal. Eternity hangs on the cross, and they are just “passing by.” Let this verse hold a mirror to your soul. How often do you “pass by” Jesus—through distraction, indifference, or subtle mockery of His claims—while still thinking yourself neutral? There is no neutrality here. Their heads move, but their hearts are fixed in unbelief. Yet even as they ridicule Him, He hangs there for them. For mockers. For the indifferent. For those who only glance at Him on their way to somewhere else. The question is not what they did, but what you are doing now: Are you passing by the crucified Christ, or pausing to behold, to bow, and to belong?