“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head,
and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him,
and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”
(Matthew 27:29)
When Adam and Eve fell to the temptation of the serpent, the curse of sin and death infiltrated their world. But the curse did not stop with them. The beautiful earth that God created for man to inhabit also suffered. As God told Adam in Genesis 3:17-18, “cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles it shall bring forth to thee.”
Thorns are therefore representative of the curse of sin on the earth. Further, under the Mosaic Law, those who were hanged on a tree were cursed. For most capital offenses covered by Jewish Law, stoning was the form of punishment. But sometimes the dead body would be hung from a tree for all to see as a deterrent to further crime.
In Galatians 3:13, Paul references this law in relation to Jesus and His death on the cross, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” The cross of Christ is sometimes also referred to in Scripture as a “tree” as in Acts 5:30, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.” (See also Acts 10:39). In His passion and death, Christ bore both curses for us. First, He wore the mocking shame of the crown of thorns on His head. And then He actually became sin for us and bore the curse of the sin of the world in His body on that tree. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 plainly states, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
No curse remains, therefore, to haunt those redeemed by His blood.[1] For the throne of Christ’s passion was the cross, and His crown, the thorns. He carried both with Him into His death, that He may triumph over all those powers of darkness, sin, death, and hell (Colossians 2:15) at His resurrection. To be cursed is to be condemned, and Paul makes it clear in Romans 8:1 that “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” And why is that? Because Christ erased the curse when he satisfied the debt payment to God for our sin.
And not only was Christ made a curse for us; He bore that curse of sin willingly. As Hebrews 12:2 says, He endured the cross and the shame of the curse “for the joy that was set before him.” Christ’s example teaches us endurance for the joy ahead, knowing that the thorns of life, like persecution, loss, and doubt, in time will all yield to His resurrection power.
Contemplations
- Not alone in thorns. I am not alone in this cursed world of thorns and crosses, Lord. You walked that path before me, so You’re acquainted with my grief (Isaiah 53:3). I confess leaning on my strength, forgetting Your companionship. Shelter me in Your bosom amid trials (Psalm 124:6) until glory.
- Tempered joy. Remind me often of Your thorny crown, Lord. Temper my joy with the weight of Your sacrifice. And prepare me for the fullness of Your presence, where at Your right-hand I will enjoy pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).
- Rose among thorns. As a rose amid the thorns (Song of Solomon 2:2), Your beauty requires cross-bearing (Matthew 16:24). And yet how often do I avoid conflict, seeking ease over conquest. Strengthen me to triumph over sin that I may wear a crown of glory.
- Curse erased. No curse has power over me, Lord, for I have been redeemed by Your blood. Though Your throne was the cross and Your crown was one of thorns, You triumphed over darkness, death, and the grave (Colossians 2:15). This truth frees me from condemnation because I have passed, with You, from death to life (Romans 8:1).
Prayer (confession)
O holy God, You are the righteous judge who cursed sin yet sent Your Son to bear it. I come before You, a sinner entangled in thorns, confessing my part in the curse. Matthew 27:29 tells the story of mockers crowning Christ with thorns. And I grieve my sins that pierced His brow. Forgive me for living as if the curse remains, doubting the fullness of Your redemption.
I acknowledge thorns as sin’s emblem, from Eden’s ground (Genesis 3:17-18) to Calvary’s crown. My rebellion echoes that of Adam. I confess clinging to sin, ignoring the weight of the curse Christ bore. As Galatians 3:13 states, He became a curse when He was hanged on that tree (Deuteronomy 21:23; Acts 5:30). Cleanse me from unbelief that wants to question the efficacy of Christ’s substitution.
Christ was made sin for us, knowing none (2 Corinthians 5:21), that we may become His righteousness. I repent of self-righteousness, trusting my deeds over His blood. Forgive the pride that rejects the cross’s necessity, wanting to obtain glory without suffering.
In Song of Solomon 2:2, we read of the rose among thorns; knowing there is no beauty without pain. I sorrow for evading trials and demanding ease. Forgive my cowardice in fleeing conflict because I know that without triumph over sin, there is no victory over Satan in glory. Break my complacency; stir a zeal within me to bear the thorns I’m given for Your sake.
Romans 8:1 assures me that there is now no condemnation in Christ for those who are walking after the Spirit. And yet I confess grieving Your Spirit. Cleanse me from doubt that haunts my redeemed soul.
Isaiah 53:3 calls Christ a man of sorrows. And I add to His grief when I’m unthankful for the price He paid. I repent of minimizing Your sacrifice and living carelessly. Knowing that You reversed the curse, grant me the strength to live holy that I may reflect Your righteousness.
Break the chains of my sin and let the thorns of life remind me of the victory to come, as You bore my curse and offer peace to me in its place. Forgive my tendency to doubt You, Lord, and cleanse me thoroughly, that I may walk freely in Your love. Finally, renew my spirit so that it aligns with Yours. In confession I find healing, and in repentance, restoration.
O God, hear my cry. Wash me in Your blood and clothe me in Your righteousness. I plead Your forgiveness, desiring purity of heart.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture references for Matthew 27:29
Gen. 3:18, Num. 33:55, Song 2:2, Jer. 12:13.
[1] “Christ died for them, and gave them the greatest demonstration of friendship for them; therefore says he, John 15:13. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Hence we are often said to be redeemed by his blood.” Thomas Boston, The Whole Works of Thomas Boston: A Soliloquy on the Art of Man-Fishing, ed. Samuel M‘Millan, vol. 5 (Aberdeen: George and Robert King, 1849), 224.
