Luke Chapter 23
CONTENTS
1. The multitude led Jesus to Pilate. They began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” (v.1-2)
2. Pilate asked Jesus, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” So, Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” But they were even more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.” (v.3-5)
3. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod who was also in Jerusalem at that time (v.6-7)
4. Herod was exceedingly glad when he saw Jesus, for he had desired for a long time to see Jesus, having heard many things about Him. He hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Pilate questioned Jesus with many words, but He answered him nothing (v.8-9).
5. The chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Herod with his men treated Jesus with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him with a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate (v. 10-11). That very day, Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other (v.10-12).
6. Pilate called the chief priests, the rulers, and the people together, and said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed, nothing deserving of death has been done by Him. I will therefore chastise Him and release Him” (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast). (v.13-17)
7. They all cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”-who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder. (v.18-19).
8. Pilate therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” (v.20-21)
9. Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.” (v.22) But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So, Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison, but he delivered Jesus to their will (v.23-25)
10. As they led Jesus away, they laid hold of a certain man Simon a Cyrenaic who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus (v. 26).
11. A great multitude followed Him and the women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?” (v. 27-31)
12. There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (v. 32-34)
13. They divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then one of the criminals who was hanged, blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” (v.34ff-39)
14. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (v.40-43)
15. Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last (v. 44-46).
16. When the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly, this was a righteous Man.” And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things (v. 47-49).
17. Behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock where no one had ever lain before. That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near (V. 50-54).
18. The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment (v.55-56).
COMMENTARY
1. Jesus was falsely accused of perverting the nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Rome, and claiming to be Christ a King. The first charge was that He was disturbing the peace. The other two charges were that he was inciting challenges against Rome.
The second was a blatant lie, while the third was true but not in the threatening sense that the prosecutors suggested. Subsequently a three-part Roman procedure was held against Jesus at these trial charges, examination and verdict (V. 2-4).
2. Pilate told the chief priests and the crowd that he found no fault in Jesus. But the crowd grew fiercer, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea beginning from Galilee to this place.” Then Pilate asked of Jesus if He were a Galilean.
On learning that Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate sent Him to Herod who had jurisdiction over Galilee. Herod who had come to Jerusalem at that time, questioned Jesus but He answered him nothing. Jesus remained silent probably because He had been declared innocent and yet was subjected to trial (Acts 8:32-33).
The chief priests and scribes vehemently accused Him. Herod with his men of war treated Jesus with contempt, mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Arraying Jesus in a gorgeous robe was a sarcastic rebuttal to Jesus’ claim that He was King. That very day, Pilate and Herod became friends; previously they had been at enmity with each other (v. 5-12).
3. Pilate again examined Jesus in the presence of the chief priests, rulers and people, but found no fault in Him concerning those things of which they accused Him. Neither did Herod. Thus, he had Jesus sent back to them. Indeed, nothing deserving of death had been done by Him.
So, Pilate said, “I will therefore chastise Him and release Him.” But they cried out at once, saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas.” Barabbas had been thrown into prison for rebellion made in the city, and for murder.
Pilate, therefore wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him, I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.” But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. Their voices prevailed.
So, Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released to them Barabbas, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison, but he delivered Jesus to their will.
On the day of Pentecost, apostle Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said this to the multitude of the Jews in Jerusalem, “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified and put to death.” (Acts 2:23)
The Jews were lawless in demanding Jesus be crucified (Acts 3:13-15). Pilate too did not uphold the law to set Jesus free, after having determined that no fault deserving death had been done by Him. Instead, he sought to please the people when he delivered Jesus to them to the will of the Jews but released Barabbas a convicted criminal who rebelled against the land and was a murderer.
4. As Jesus was led out of the city to Golgotha, a Cyrenian named Simon was compelled to bear the cross of Jesus after Him. The women who followed behind mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?” (v.26-31)
Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem which took place forty years later by the Romans in AD 70. He told the women not to weep for Him, but weep for themselves and for their children. Jesus spoke of the destruction earlier, as recorded in Luke 19:41-44.
Green wood referred to Jesus Christ the living tree. If that is what is done to Jesus the living tree, what will not be done to the dead one? If He were not spared, how much more would dead wood be not spared.
Roman General Titus besieged the city of Jerusalem for almost five months before he succeeded to capture it. During the days of the siege, the people suffered greatly. The corpses of the children who died were eaten as food, for the people were experiencing extreme hunger.
5. Two criminals were also led to be crucified with Jesus at Golgotha, one on His right hand and the other on the left. On the cross, Jesus prayed, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Those who put Jesus to death acted in ignorance, not really understanding who it was they were killing. Jesus’ example of interceding for His executors was followed by Stephen the first disciple to be martyred (Acts 7:60).
6. An inscription was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin and Hebrews: ‘THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS’. Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The chief priests said to Pilate, “Do not write ‘the King of the Jews’, but he answered, “What I have written, I have written.” (John 19:19-22) Jesus is the King, but His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36-37).
7. One of the criminals crucified with Jesus on Golgotha blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
‘Paradise’ means garden or park. It was used with such a meaning in the Greek Old Testament in Ecclesiastes 2:5; Song 4:13. The Septuagint used paradise for the Garden of Eden. In later Jewish thought, Paradise is the place of the righteous dead.
In Jesus’ parable of the rich man and beggar Lazarus, the latter went to Abraham’s bosom in Paradise. Jesus promised the criminal on the cross that he would that day be with Him in Paradise. This again indicates a pleasant place for the righteous among the dead. The promise of Paradise in Revelation 2:7 speaks of the restitution of the Edenic paradise, an everlasting home for the believers who are saved.
8. There was darkness over all the earth about the sixth to the ninth hour (12noon to 3pm). The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn into two.
The veil in the temple separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The veil being torn into two demonstrates that God had opened up access to Himself through Jesus Christ (Heb.6:19; 10:19-20). It was in a vision seen by the people, that the veil was torn from top to bottom, for graves were opened and many of the saints who had died were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many (Matt. 27:51-53).
Jesus was the first to rise from the dead (Acts 26:23). The saints who came out of the graves, after His resurrection could not in reality have risen, at the instant Jesus died on the cross. For before Christ’s resurrection, there could not have been the resurrection of the dead. Neither was the veil been torn into two from top to bottom in the temple an actual happening but one which appeared in a vision.
9. Jesus drew His last breath. He cried aloud, saying, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” The centurion saw what happened and glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. But all His acquaintances and the women who followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things.
The women who followed Jesus from Galilee included Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Clopas, and the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus. The whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts. Their sadness was because Jesus whom they reckoned as a Prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and who they hoped was the one to redeem Israel had been crucified and had died (24:19-20).
10. Joseph of Arimathea, a council member, a good and just man who had not consented to their deed and decision, and himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He took it down and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.
That was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. The crucifixion of Jesus was on Friday and His body was taken down before the Sabbath drew near (sunset that Friday evening) and buried in a tomb hewn from the rock. Jesus rose early on the first day of the week (Sunday) which meant that He was buried in the tomb for probably less than forty hours. Thus, the Holy One did not see corruption, nor His soul left in Hades (Acts 2:27; 13:32-35).
TEACHINGS
1. To this we were called, because Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His footsteps. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously (I Pet. 21-23).
2. Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try us but rejoice to the extent that we partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, we may also be glad with exceeding joy (I Pet. 4:12-13).
3. Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and seek His grace and mercy. Confess our sins before Him and He will restore us to salvation and eternal life (Heb. 4:14-16, I John 1:8-10).
4. Harden not our hearts in unbelief nor collaborate with those who are enemies of the cross; those who deny Jesus Christ and ready to crucify Him again on the cross (Heb. 3:14; 6:4-8).
5. Christ Jesus had consecrated a new and living way for us through the veil that is His flesh, so that we may have boldness to enter the Holiest by His blood.
Also having Him as the High Priest over His house, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (Heb. 10:19-23).
6. Arimathea went before Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus Christ. He took it down from the cross, embalmed it with spices and buried it in a tomb hewn from the rock which no one had lain before. That was his love for Jesus because of faith.
He risked his life to make known his allegiance to Jesus Christ before the council and Pilate. We too ought to have courage to witness for Him if we claim to have faith and love in Jesus Christ. Before His enemies, let us walk in righteousness and do the right thing.
