Verse By Verse Through Luke
Chapter Twenty-Three
Luke 23:1 “And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.”
- The whole multitude of “them” was the chief priests, scribes, elders, and council (Luke 23:66-71; cf. Matthew 27:1-2, Mark 15:1, and John 18:28).
Luke 23:2 “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.”
- They accused Jesus of many things (Mark 15:3).
- Perverting the nation (Luke 23:5). This is the Greek word [διαστρέφω; Strong’s # 1294] translated “to turn away” (Acts 13:8), “pervert” (Acts 13:10), and “perverse things” (Acts 20:30). So, they are accusing Jesus of teaching false doctrine to the Jews. Like was done to Paul (Acts 24:1-9).
- Their false accusations continued by adding that Jesus had forbidden giving tribute to Caesar. This too was clearly a lie (Luke 20:20-25). Jesus payed taxes not to offend (Matthew 17:24-27).
- They added a misconstrued motive - saying He himself is Christ a King. This will be where Pilate begins his questioning of Jesus. Later, we will see that this tactic is used by the Jews against those preaching Christ as a tactic as well (Acts 17:3-10).
Luke 23:3 “And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.”
- Pilate’s inquiry and Jesus’ responds “Thou sayest…” (Matthew 27:11 and Mark 15:2).
- More details: John 18:33-37
Luke 23:4 “Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.”
- Pilate knew Jesus was not guilty of anything (Mark 15:9-10 and John 18:38) and will say that again later (Luke 23:14).
- No one could find fault with Jesus, for He had no faults (II Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 7:25-27, I Peter 2:21-24, I Peter 3:18, and I John 3:5).
Luke 23:5 “And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.”
- We will continue to see the Jews be adamant in their desire to see Jesus suffer (Luke 23:23).
- Their accusation is essentially that Jesus was a trouble maker. Later, they will choose to set free a trouble maker to see Jesus crucified (Luke 23:25).
- Think about how speaking the truth and seeking to save the lost is considered, by sinners, to be making trouble . Sinners often hate those who teach the truth (I Kings 18:17-18, I Kings 21:20, I Kings 22:1-38, II Chronicles 24:20-21, II Chronicles 36:14-16, Proverbs 15:12, Isaiah 29:21, Amos 5:10, Amos 7:13-16, Matthew 23:34, John 3:19-21, John 7:7, John 8:31-59, Acts 5:25-42, Acts 7:51-58, Galatians 4:16, etc.).
Luke 23:6 “When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.”
- Galilee was a region. Nazareth was in Galilee (Mark 1:14).
- Jesus was “of Nazareth” (Matthew 2:23, Acts 2:22, Acts 3:6, Acts 4:10, etc.).
Luke 23:7 “And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.”
- This is not good considering what type of man Herod was (Mark 6:14-29).
- Note, this is not the same Herod who sought to kill Jesus when He was a baby (Matthew 2:13-15).
- Herod had wanted to meet Jesus (Luke 9:7-9).
- He wanted to see some miracle. Don’t think for a moment that this means he was interested in Jesus as a teacher. Miracles didn’t convert (John 12:36-43).
Luke 23:9 “Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.”
- Jesus knew who was questioning Him (Luke 13:31-32).
- He is not going to waste truth on this old fox (Matthew 7:6).
- Besides that, Isaiah prophesied of Jesus’ approach (Isaiah 53:7).
Luke 23:10 “And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.”
- Jesus foretold His suffering many things of the chief priests and scribes (Matthew 16:21).
- They wanted to destroy Jesus (Luke 19:47).
- False witnesses don’t care about truth (Proverbs 12:17 and Proverbs 14:5).
- Think about what this meant for the disciples going forward (John 15:18-21; cf. Acts 4:1-5:42 and Acts 6:10-15).
Luke 23:11 “And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.”
- Jesus had already been through something like this (Luke 22:64-65).
- He will go through something like this again (Matthew 27:27-31).
Luke 23:12 “And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.”
- They were at “enmity” between themselves prior to this. Meaning: “hostility; by implication a reason for opposition: - enmity, hatred” (Strong’s # 2189).
- This does not necessarily mean Herod and Pilate agree concerning Jesus. Herod mocked Jesus at this point. Pilate found no fault in Jesus (Luke 23:4).
- At the feast (Matthew 27:15 and Mark 15:6).
- Their custom (John 18:39-40).
- The Romans appeased the Jews (Acts 24:27 and Acts 25:9).
- Pilate found no fault in Jesus (John 18:38 and John 19:4).
- The Jews hated Jesus without cause (John 15:18-25).
Luke 23:18-19 “And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)”
- They chose Barabbas over Jesus (Matthew 27:16-23, Mark 15:7-14, and John 18:40).
- They rejected Jesus (John 19:15).
- Think about what this means for them (Exodus 23:7, Proverbs 17:15, and Isaiah 59:1-4).
Luke 23:20-25 “Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.”
- He tried to reason further with the Jews (John 19:12).
- His wife was involved in his thinking too (Matthew 27:19).
- Pilate caved to their will (Mark 15:15).
- He should not have given them their will (Exodus 23:1-2).
- They denied Jesus and chose a murderer (Acts 3:14).
- They were even bold and stupid in accepting the guilt of killing the innocent (Matthew 27:24-26).
Luke 23:26 “And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.”
- Cf. Matthew 27:32 and Mark 15:21
- Jesus had carried the cross for a period of time before this (John 19:16-17).
Luke 23:27 “And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.”
- Cf. Matthew 27:55-56
Luke 23:28 “But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.”
- Daughters of Jerusalem is a phrase Solomon, by inspiration, used multiple times (Song of Solomon 1:5, Song of Solomon 2:7, Song of Solomon 3:5, Song of Solomon 3:10, Song of Solomon 5:8, Song of Solomon 5:16, and Song of Solomon 8:4).
- Jesus was more concerned about them and their children than Himself (Matthew 20:28, Romans 15:1-3, and Philippians 2:3-8).
Luke 23:29 “For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.”
- The days are coming… (Luke 21:23-24, Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9:1-2, Acts 22:1-4, and I Corinthians 7:25-35).
Luke 23:30 “Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.”
- Jesus uses language here that Hosea used concerning judgment on Israel (Hosea 10:1-8).
- Think about when things are so bad that people would rather die than face what is happening (Jeremiah 7:30-8:3 and Revelation 9:6).
Luke 23:31 “For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”
- “For” ties to what was said in verses 29-30.
- When the tree is green it is alive and well. When it is not, when it is dried up, it is dead. What fits that and this context?
- As long as Jesus was in the world, He was the light of the world (John 9:5). He wasn’t staying though (John 12:35-36).
- If they would kill Jesus, what do you think they’ll do once He is gone (John 15:18-21, John 16:1-3, and John 16:33)?
Luke 23:32-33 “And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”
- Jesus was to be numbered with the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12).
- So, He was crucified in the midst (John 19:18) of two thieves (Matthew 27:38 and Mark 15:27-28).
- Calvary is also called “Golgotha” (Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, and John 19:17). It is the same Greek word “κρανίον” (Strong’s # 2898).
Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
- Jesus practiced what He preached (Matthew 5:43-45 and Luke 6:27-28).
- He shows compassion on the ignorant (Hebrews 4:14-5:10).
- They were ignorant to what they were doing (Acts 3:17), but that did not excuse them from the sin (Acts 2:36-38 and Acts 3:19).
- Think about Jesus saying go and learn what it mean to have mercy (Matthew 9:9-13; cf. Hosea 6:4-6).
- To be able to pray for those killing you, it certainly to show mercy (Acts 7:51-60).
- They parted [to partition thoroughly] His clothes and cast lots (Matthew 27:35-36, Mark 15:24, and John 19:23-24; cf. Psalms 22:18).
Luke 23:35-37 “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.”
- The onlookers and passerby's (Matthew 27:38-43 and Mark 15:29-32).
- They will later give him vinegar (John 19:28-30; cf. Psalms 69:21).
Luke 23:38 “And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
- cf. Matthew 27:37, Mark 15:26, and John 19:19
- Notice the response of the chief priests to this being written (John 19:21-22).
- The charge against Jesus was that He took upon Himself the title of a King (Luke 23:1-5). In the previous verse we saw this thrown in His face (Luke 23:37).
- They had mocked Him (Matthew 27:29 and Mark 15:17-18).
- Some of the Jews certainly did not want Him to be their king (John 19:15).
- Like it or not, He is the KING of KINGS (I Timothy 6:14-15).
Luke 23:39 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”
- cf. Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32
- Railed: “to vilify; specifically to speak impiously: - (speak) blaspheme (-er, -mously, -my), defame, rail on, revile, speak evil” (Strong’s # 987). Also translated “blasphemeth” (Matthew 9:3) or “blasphemy” (Matthew 26:65).
Luke 23:40 “But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?”
- The other thief shows some understanding. Whether or not he knew it, he was using the principles Jesus taught against hypocritical judgment (Matthew 7:1-5 and Luke 6:37-42).
- Fear has it’s role in obedience (Deuteronomy 6:2, Deuteronomy 8:6, and Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Luke 23:41 “And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”
- This thief is confessing his sins (Proverbs 28:13 and Ezekiel 18:20-32).
- He understands he is a sinner (Deuteronomy 5:19).
- Is it possible he has heard John teaching or Jesus teaching? If so, think about what he MIGHT have learned (Matthew 3:1-12).
- The next verse (Luke 23:42) makes it very possible, even likely, that he has heard teaching.
Luke 23:42 “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”
- There is no clear evidence that this thief was a disciple of John or Jesus at some point in time. Having said that, it is very possible with what we are seeing that he had at least heard their teaching (Matthew 4:17 and Mark 1:14-15).
- It is also possible he followed the Lord for a period of time as there were those who walked away (John 6:60-71).
- Just be careful. “Possible” and “sure” are not related. What is clear, either from an understanding of the Law of Moses or from learning at the feet of someone in his present time; he gets what it is to confess sin and change.
Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
- Jesus had previously declared He could forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12; cf. John 5:20-29).
- We also know that Jesus will not grant forgiveness wherein there is not repentance (Luke 13:1-5).
- Lest one forget, this is the very reason Jesus came into this world (I Timothy 1:13-16).
- We learned earlier in this letter to Theophilus that there is a realm wherein there is peace and torment divided by a great gulf (Luke 16:19-31).
- Jesus went to Hades [translated incorrectly as “Hell” in the KJV] for three days when He died (Acts 2:22-36 and I Peter 3:18-4:6).
Luke 23:44 “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.”
- Cf. Matthew 27:45 and Mark 15:33
- In light of various Scriptures, this should have caused something in the minds of the Jews (Exodus 10:21-23, Joel 2:31, Amos 5:18, etc.).
Luke 23:45 “And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.”
- Cf. Matthew 27:51 and Mark 15:38
Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”
- More details are stated in other accounts (Matthew 27:46-56, Mark 15:34-41, and John 19:25-30).
- *Note: Jesus was not literally forsaken as Matthew and Mark record (cf. John 8:16, John 8:28-29, John 16:32, Hebrews 13:5-6, etc.). This was simply to put the Jews in mind of the twenty-second Psalm.
Luke 23:47 “Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.”
- More details are available on this centurion (Matthew 27:54 and Mark 15:39).
- The evidence was clear for him. As Jesus told Philip, the works done were clear evidence (John 14:8-11).
Luke 23:48 “And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.”
- Apparently, when they smote their breasts, this is some sort of reaction indicative of sorrow or some deep inward feeling (Luke 18:13).
Luke 23:49 “And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.”
- There were those following (Luke 23:27), including the women (Matthew 27:55-56 and Mark 15:40-41).
Luke 23:50-52 “And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.”
- Cf. Matthew 27:57-58, Mark 15:42-45, and John 19:38
- He was a “good man.” That says a lot (Psalms 37:23, Proverbs 12:2, and Luke 6:43-45).
- Being a “good man,” he of course would not have consented to what they did to Jesus (Proverbs 1:10-15).
Luke 23:53 “And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.”
- The body of Jesus, not Jesus (James 2:26), was taken down and wrapped in linen.
- In the sepulchre (Isaiah 53:9), a new tomb (Matthew 27:59-60, Mark 15:46, and John 19:38-41).
Luke 23:54 “And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.”
- Preparation for the Passover (John 19:14, John 19:31, and John 19:42; cf. Exodus 12:15-20, Leviticus 23:1-16, and Numbers 28:16-31).
Luke 23:55 “And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.”
- Cf. Matthew 27:61 and Mark 15:47
Luke 23:56 “And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”
- Exodus 31:14 and Leviticus 23:1-3
- They will bring these spices to the sepulchre (Luke 24:1).
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