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Monthly Question Page
Q. Can you please explain why in Matthew it says, “They stripped Him, and put on Him a SCARLET robe” (27:28), but in John it says, “a PURPLE robe” (19:2)?
A. The answer is really very simple. There is no contradiction here, and no mistake in translation. There could easily have been two robes in which the Lord was arrayed and mocked at different times during His trial. In keeping with the character of the inspired writers each only mentions the color that is in keeping with their presentation, and aspects of the Lord Jesus which they are called on to record.
Matthew presents the Lord as the Jewish Messiah, the King of the Jews. As scarlet was the Jewish color of royalty, he is the one that records that particular robe.
On the other hand, John writes from the Gentile perspective. Purple being the royal color of the gentiles (particularly the Romans in this case), he records the incident of the purple robe.
In these two robes, as well as other numerous indications, we see both Jew and Gentile united in their rejection of the Son of God. Thankfully, there is a day coming when He will be universally owned as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).
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