Gall & Vinegar - Poison & Pain: Reject the Poison, Endure the Pain.

- Coming Soon.

When we consider the final hours of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, we discover that His suffering wasn't just physical. It was also a profound spiritual battle. The culmination of His earthly ministry, the climax of His sacrifice, was underscored by intricate details laden with deep-rooted spiritual implications. Two of these details, which may seem minor but hold deep truths, are the offerings made to Him: "two cups", one gall, the other vinegar.

But why these offerings? And why at such a pivotal moment in the history of redemption?

To the casual reader, the offerings might seem like a mere addition to the cruel taunts thrown at Jesus. Yet, they're more than that. These were not just random gestures but had historical, prophetic, and symbolic significance, which spanned back to the Old Testament prophecies.

Let's embark on a journey, diving deep into the scriptures to unearth the significance of these two offerings. More than just understanding the historical and theological implications, let's introspect and discern how these symbols of gall and vinegar speak to our individual lives as disciples of Christ today.

The narrative of the cross is not merely a story of physical suffering; it's a goldmine of spiritual lessons. As we dig deeper, we'll uncover how the choice between gall and vinegar can shape our path as followers of Christ, guiding us in our daily battles and choices.

Understanding Gall and Vinegar: A Gesture Beyond Mockery

When studying the crucifixion narrative of Jesus Christ, the two offerings of gall and vinegar might initially seem like mere details. Still, in the ancient world context, they were laden with historical, medicinal, and symbolic significance.

Gall - as a Numbing Agent

Strong's Definitions (Gall)

H7219: rôʼsh, roshe; or rôwsh; a poisonous plant, probably the poppy (from its conspicuous head); generally poison (even of serpents):—gall, hemlock, poison, venom.

G5521: cholḗ, khol-ay'; "gall" or bile, i.e. (by analogy) poison or an anodyne (wormwood, poppy, etc.):—gall.

The first offering, "wine mingled with gall" (Matthew 27:34, KJV), was provided earlier during Jesus' crucifixion. Historically, gall was often mixed with wine to create a crude analgesic. This mixture was given to prisoners to numb some of their pain and perhaps to cloud their minds. Some ancient writings outside the Bible, reference the offering of a stupefying potion to those being crucified, arguably as a gesture of mercy.

By refusing to drink this mixture, Jesus consciously endured the full brunt of the crucifixion's pain with no relief or mitigation. It was a choice to embrace His suffering for humanity's redemption fully, His Father's will. "Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:10,11, KJV). Peter's action here can be seen as a parallel to the offering of gall, as well as his statement in the following scripture.

"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Matt 16:21-23, KJV)

Jesus in the above scripture demonstrates how we are to react or treat anything that brings us at loggerheads to the will of our heavenly Father or offers to numb us to His will, aka the flesh and its desires. Some of these desires are satiated by the offerings of the world or worse, the offerings of lukewarm Christians and Churches. "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8:5 KJV). The Greek word translated as savourest in Matt 16:23 is the same word translated here as mind in the above verse.

We are to treat these things as a satanic incursion into our lives and we are to resist them. Jesus did not savor the first offering, a cup of gall mingled with vinegar, a pain killer. Jesus, however, after tasting the contents of the cup, rejected it. "They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink." (Matthew 27:34 KJV). Peter before his conversion, was busy savoring the contents of a strange cup. He minded the things of the flesh because He was in the flesh. He needed to go through Gethsemane (the winepress) like Jesus did. We all have to do this in order to know the will of God.

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." (Luke 22:31-34 KJV) Jesus predicted Peter's betrayal and prayed that his faith did not fail through this trial, "his sifting by Satan". May the Lord being "the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2 KJV), intercede likewise for us, and us, one another.

When we willfully turn away from the will of God and imbibe a strange cup, savor its contents, and are satiated by it, and refuse to repent, we become that unfruitful servant, a withered branch, salt without savor, not even fit for the dunghill but to be cast out.

"Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven." (Deuteronomy 29:18-20 KJV)

Vinegar – A Common Soldier's Drink

Strong's Definitions (Vinegar)

H2558: chômets, kho'-mets; vinegar:—vinegar.

G3690: óxos, oz-os; vinegar, i.e. sour wine:—vinegar.