44. Why did the soldiers cast lots for Christ's garment?

When the soldiers cast lot for the Saviour's garment (John 19:24) they had no design to fulfill a prediction of the Old Testament. They had probably never heard of the prophecy.

They simply perceived that if they tore the garment into four pieces they would spoil it, and it would be of no value. It was the most natural course for such men to cast lots for it.

The evangelist, in writing that it was done "that the Scripture might be fulfilled" meant that in God's providence the fulfilment took place. The soldiers were unconsciously doing the thing that it was pre­dicted they would do.

John was anxious to show that Christ was the predicted Messiah, and he mentions this incident to show that the de­tails of the prophetic writings were fulfilled in him.