Normally the executioners of a criminal received his clothes following his death.591John spoke of the soldiers dividing Jesus' garments (plural). The Greek word translated "garments"is himatia. Usually when this word occurs in the singular it refers to the outer robe that most Jews wore. Here, because he used the plural, John evidently had in mind all of Jesus' outer garments including His robe, sandals, belt, and head covering. This would have resulted in each of the four soldiers receiving one piece of clothing. The tunic (Gr. chiton) that remained was a garment worn next to the skin, but it was not what we would think of as underwear. Since Jesus' tunic had been woven as one piece, the soldiers decided to cast lots to determine who would get it.
John alone among the evangelists noted that this procedure was another fulfillment of prophecy (Ps. 22:18). The poetic parallelism in the prophecy found literal fulfillment in this event. Men continued to carry out God's foreordained plan of salvation though unconsciously. This is another tribute to God's sovereignty. Even as Jesus' humiliation reached its depths, as enemies took even His clothes from Him, the Father controlled His destiny.
"That Jesus died naked was part of the shame which He bore for our sins. At the same time He is the last Adam who provides clothes of righteousness for sinners."592
