The Mock Adulation of the Soldiers (27:27-31).
Having been sentenced and committed to crucifixion Jesus now became fair game. It was not often that the soldiers had a royal claimant that they could do what they liked with. So they gathered their comrades-at-arms together, tore off his clothes, put on Him a scarlet robe and a crown of thorns, put a reed in His right hand and then mocked Him as ‘a king'. Then when they had had enough of their folly, they took back the robe, dressed Him in His own clothing, (which they would shortly be taking off Him when He needed it no longer), and took the reed which had been His ‘sceptre' and beat Him over the head with it. These were the world's last actions towards the King of Kings, before they sent Him back to God. But it is possibly to be seen as significant that they allowed Him to retain His crown. In God's providence it was left there as God's last reminder to those who would believe.
Analysis of Matthew 27:27-31.
a Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered to Him the whole band (Matthew 27:27).
b And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe (Matthew 27:28).
c And they plaited a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand (Matthew 27:29 a).
d And they knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:29 b).
c And they spat on Him, and took the reed and smote Him on the head (Matthew 27:30).
b And when they had mocked Him, they took off from Him the robe, and put on Him his own clothes (Matthew 27:31 a).
a And they led him away to crucify him (Matthew 27:31 b).
Note that in ‘a' they take Jesus into the Praetorium (to make ready for His crucifixion), and in the parallel they lead Him out to be crucified. In ‘b' they strip Him and put on Him a scarlet robe, and in the parallel they take off the scarlet robe and redress Him (note the small chiasmus). In ‘c' they plait a crown of thorns and put it on His head and put a reed in His right hand, and in the parallel they spit on Him, take the reed out of His hand and smite Him on the head (note again the small chiasmus). Centrally in ‘d' they pay Him false honour, and not knowing how right they are, and how their words will ring out through the ages, mock Him with the cry, ‘Hail, king of the Jews'.