What does Matthew 27:42 mean?

Insults coming from Jewish religious leaders would have been the most galling to hear (Matthew 27:35–41). Of all people in the world, they ought to have known the truth of who Jesus was (John 5:39–40). And yet, not only have they denied His identity as the Messiah, but they condemned Him to death (Matthew 26:63–66). As He hangs mutilated on a cross, they go so far as to mock even the healing miracles He has done in Israel.

Their reference to saving others likely means the countless people Jesus healed from diseases, afflictions, and demon possession. Their meaning is either to dismiss that such miracles happened, or that Jesus' supposed power to heal was not really a sign of divinity. These acts were impossible to deny, however, since so many people saw them take place, including many of the religious leaders themselves (John 11:45–46; Matthew 9:1–8)? These men saw Jesus' benevolent displays of God's power as threats to their own meager power.

These Jewish religious leaders are making light of their lack of faith in Jesus as the King of Israel. They sarcastically claim if He would come down from the cross, they would believe in Him. Given their rejection of prior miracles and other evidence, even that is unlikely (John 5:39–40).

Their use of language is ironic. By not saving Himself from the cross, Jesus is saving many others from their sins (Matthew 26:53–54; Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Matthew made it clear from the beginning of his book that this is what Jesus came to do: "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The Hebrew name Yeshua, Iēsous in Greek, or Jesus in English, literally means "The Lord is Salvation."

A further irony is that because Christ stayed on the cross, faith in Him will become the way for every person to come into a true relationship with God (Philippians 2:8). If He were to rescue Himself, now, to earn the belief of these men, it would undo God's intended plan for sinners to be welcomed into the family of God.