‏ Luke 23

Christ before Pilate and Herod; Christ Accused and Insulted

After Jesus was condemned as a blasphemer by the Jewish council, they wanted Him put to death. However, they did not have the power to execute Him, so they brought Him to the Roman governor, Pilate. The religious leaders changed their accusations to make Jesus look like a threat to the Roman government, hoping Pilate would agree to their plan.

v. 1–2: The whole group of leaders took Jesus to Pilate. They accused Him of stirring up the people, telling them not to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming to be a king (Luke 23:2 ^a). These charges were false. Jesus had actually taught people to pay their taxes (Luke 20:25 ^b). The leaders only wanted to get rid of Jesus, so they lied about Him.

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v. 3: Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You say so.” (Luke 23:3 ^c). Jesus admitted He was the Messiah, but not a king who would fight against Rome. His kingdom was spiritual, not political.

v. 4: Pilate told the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this man.” (Luke 23:4 ^d). Pilate saw that Jesus was not guilty of any crime against Rome.

v. 5: The leaders became even more angry and insisted that Jesus was stirring up trouble everywhere, from Galilee to Jerusalem. They had no real evidence, but tried to make Pilate afraid by saying Jesus was dangerous.

v. 6–7: When Pilate heard that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent Him to Herod, who was the ruler of that region and was in Jerusalem at the time (Luke 23:6–7 ^e). Pilate hoped Herod would take responsibility for the case.

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v. 8–9: Herod was glad to see Jesus because he had heard about Him and wanted to see a miracle. He asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus did not answer (Luke 23:8–9 ^f). Jesus refused to perform miracles just to satisfy Herod’s curiosity.

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v. 10: The chief priests and scribes stood by and accused Jesus strongly in front of Herod (Luke 23:10 ^g). They were determined to have Him condemned, no matter what.

v. 11: Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus. They dressed Him in a fancy robe to make fun of Him as a “king,” then sent Him back to Pilate (Luke 23:11 ^h). Herod did not find Jesus guilty, but he did not defend Him either.

v. 12: On that day, Pilate and Herod became friends, even though they had been enemies before (Luke 23:12 ⁱ). They united in their treatment of Jesus. This shows how people who disagree can join together against the Lord and His truth.

Barabbas Preferred to Christ

This passage shows the tragic moment when the crowd, influenced by the chief priests, demanded the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. Pilate, though convinced of Jesus’ innocence, gave in to the pressure of the mob and delivered Jesus to be crucified. This act of injustice highlights the depth of human sin and the willingness of Jesus to suffer for us.

v. 13–14: Pilate gathered the chief priests, rulers, and the people. He told them that after examining Jesus, he found no fault in Him. Pilate declared that Jesus had done nothing deserving of death (Luke 23:14 ^j). Even though Pilate recognized Jesus’ innocence, he lacked the courage to release Him.

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v. 15: Pilate mentioned that he had sent Jesus to Herod, who also found no reason to condemn Him. Herod mocked Jesus but did not consider Him a threat. Pilate hoped this would convince the people that Jesus was not guilty (Luke 23:15 ^k).

v. 16–17: Pilate proposed to release Jesus after having Him chastised. This was an act of compromise, as Pilate sought to satisfy the angry crowd while sparing Jesus’ life. However, Jesus had done no wrong, so even this punishment was unjust (Luke 23:16–17 ^l).

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v. 18–19: The crowd rejected Pilate’s offer and shouted, “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas!” Barabbas was a criminal who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder. Yet, the people chose him over Jesus, the innocent Savior (Luke 23:18–19 ^m).

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v. 20–21: Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, tried again to reason with the crowd. But they cried out even louder, “Crucify him, crucify him!” (Luke 23:20–21 ⁿ). Their hatred for Jesus blinded them to the injustice they were demanding.

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v. 22: Pilate asked the people for the third time, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him.” Pilate offered again to chastise Jesus and release Him, but the crowd grew more insistent, shouting for Jesus to be crucified (Luke 23:22 ^o).

v. 23–24: The voices of the people and the chief priests prevailed. Pilate, fearing the mob and unwilling to stand up for justice, gave in to their demands. He sentenced Jesus to be crucified, going against his own judgment (Luke 23:23–24 ^p).

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v. 25: Pilate released Barabbas, the man guilty of rebellion and murder, because the people had asked for him. But he delivered Jesus to their will, knowing they hated Him and intended to kill Him cruelly (Luke 23:25 ^q). This exchange—Jesus, the righteous one, taking the place of a guilty man—symbolizes the heart of the gospel: Jesus suffered and died so that sinners could go free.

The Crucifixion

This passage describes how Jesus, the Lamb of God, was led away to be crucified. Everything happened quickly—Jesus was tried by the Jewish leaders, sent to Pilate, then to Herod, and back to Pilate again. In just a few hours, He was sentenced, mocked, beaten, and finally led out to die. The enemies of Jesus hurried to finish their evil work, afraid that His friends might try to help Him. Even in these terrible moments, Jesus showed compassion and spoke words of warning and comfort.

v. 26: As Jesus was led away, the soldiers made a man named Simon from Cyrene carry His cross (Luke 23:26 ^r). Simon may have been a follower of Jesus, and carrying the cross was meant to shame him. The soldiers did this because Jesus was so weak from suffering that He might have died before reaching the place of crucifixion. This act was a small kindness, but it was also cruel, as it was forced upon Simon.

v. 27: A large crowd followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and wept for Him (Luke 23:27 ^s). Some were His friends, but others were people who felt sorry for Him because they knew He was innocent. Even people who did not fully believe in Him were moved by His suffering. Jesus’ death touched the hearts of many, even those who did not yet trust Him as Savior.

v. 28: Jesus turned to the women and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children” (Luke 23:28 ^t). He told them not to cry for Him, but to cry for themselves and their families. Jesus knew that terrible times were coming for Jerusalem because the people had rejected Him.

v. 29–30: Jesus warned that soon people would say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed” (Luke 23:29 ^u). In those days, people would wish they had no children, because the coming destruction would be so terrible. They would even wish for the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the disaster (Luke 23:30; Hosea 10:8 ^v). This was a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and a warning about God’s judgment.

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v. 31: Jesus said, “If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” (Luke 23:31 ^w). He meant that if He, the innocent and righteous one, suffered so much, then the guilty would suffer even more. If God allowed such things to happen to His own Son, what would happen to those who rejected Him? This is a warning to all people to take God’s justice seriously and to turn to Him for mercy.

The Crucifixion

This section describes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, highlighting the suffering he endured, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the responses of those around him. It also records Jesus’s prayer for his enemies and the remarkable conversion of the repentant thief, illustrating both the depth of human sin and the greatness of God’s mercy.

v.32–33: Jesus was led to be crucified along with two other men who were criminals. They were taken to a place called Calvary, or Golgotha, which means "the place of the skull." Jesus was placed on a cross between the two criminals, as if he were the worst among them. This fulfilled the prophecy that he would be “numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12 ^x).

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v. 34: As Jesus was being crucified, he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Even while suffering, Jesus showed compassion for those who were hurting him. He asked God to forgive his enemies, showing the greatness of his love and fulfilling the prophecy that he would make intercession for transgressors (Isaiah 53:12 ^y). This teaches us to pray for those who mistreat us (Matthew 5:44 ^z).

v.35–38: As Jesus hung on the cross, the people watched, and the rulers mocked him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also mocked him, offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him was a sign: “This is the King of the Jews.” They insulted Jesus for claiming to be the Savior and King, not realizing that his death was the way he would save others.

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v. 39: One of the criminals who was crucified next to Jesus mocked him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” Even in his suffering, this man did not respect Jesus and only cared about escaping his own pain.

v.40–41: But the other criminal rebuked the first, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” This second criminal admitted his own guilt and recognized that Jesus was innocent and did not deserve to die.

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v. 42: Then the repentant criminal turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Even though he was dying, he showed faith in Jesus as the true King and asked for mercy.

v. 43: Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus promised the repentant thief that he would be saved and taken to heaven immediately after death. This shows that anyone who repents and believes in Jesus, no matter how late, will be accepted by him and given eternal life.

This passage reveals the depth of Christ’s suffering and his willingness to forgive even those who were killing him. It also shows that salvation is available to all who turn to Jesus in faith, even at the last moment. The crucifixion is both a picture of human sin and God’s amazing grace.

The Crucifixion

This section describes the events that happened during the crucifixion of Jesus. It highlights the supernatural signs that took place, the words Jesus spoke as he died, and the reactions of those who witnessed his death. These events show the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice and how it affected everyone present.

v. 44-45: At about noon, darkness covered the whole land until three in the afternoon. The sun stopped shining, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. This darkness was not normal; it lasted for three hours, showing that something extraordinary was happening. The tearing of the temple veil showed that the old rules separating people from God were ending. Now, because of Jesus, everyone can come boldly to God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16 ^aa).

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v. 46: Jesus cried out loudly, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46 ^ab). He used words from King David in the Psalms (Psalm 31:5 ^ac). By doing this, Jesus showed that he trusted God completely, even in death. He called God “Father,” showing that his suffering was over and that he was at peace. Jesus offered himself willingly as a sacrifice for our sins (Isaiah 53:10; Matthew 20:28 ^ad; Hebrews 9:14 ^ae). He trusted God to raise him from the dead and bring his soul and body back together. Jesus’ example teaches us to trust God with our souls, both in life and in death.

v. 47: The Roman centurion in charge of the soldiers saw everything that happened. He praised God and said, “Certainly this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47 ^af). Even though he was not a Jew, he recognized that Jesus was innocent and that God was showing his power. In other Gospels, the centurion also says, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54 ^ag).

v. 48: Many people had come to watch the crucifixion. When they saw what happened, they felt deep sorrow and regret. They beat their chests and went home, troubled by what they had seen (Luke 23:48 ^ah). Some of these people may have earlier shouted for Jesus to be crucified, but now they were afraid and sorry. However, their feelings did not last long, and they soon returned to their normal lives, forgetting what they had witnessed (James 1:24 ^ai).

v. 49: Jesus’ friends and followers, including the women who had come with him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching everything (Luke 23:49 ^aj). They were afraid to come closer because they might be arrested too. This fulfilled what was written about suffering alone (Job 19:13; Psalm 88:18 ^ak). The women watched but did not yet understand that these events were leading to Jesus’ resurrection. As Simeon had said, Jesus was a sign that would reveal the thoughts of many hearts (Luke 2:34-35 ^al).

The Burial of Christ

This section tells how Jesus was buried after his death. Jesus had to be brought not only to death, but also to the grave, fulfilling the words, “to the dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19; Psalm 22:15 ^am). The story shows God’s care in providing someone to give Jesus a proper burial, even when his closest friends could not do it themselves.

v. 50-51: A man named Joseph from Arimathea stepped forward. He was a good and just man, respected by everyone. Joseph was a member of the Jewish council, but he had not agreed with their decision to condemn Jesus. Instead, he was waiting for the kingdom of God, believing the promises about the Messiah (Luke 23:50-51 ^an). Joseph’s actions show that sometimes people who do not speak much about their faith may still do great things for Jesus when the time comes.

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v. 52-53: Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. He did not try to take the body by force, but asked respectfully. Joseph took Jesus’ body down from the cross and wrapped it in linen cloth. This was the Jewish custom, like wrapping a baby in swaddling clothes. The grave clothes are a reminder that believers will one day leave them behind when they are raised to new life (John 11:44 ^ao).

v. 53: Jesus was buried in a tomb cut out of rock, where no one had ever been laid before. This made the grave strong and secure, and it showed that Jesus’ burial was unique. He was buried in this way because he would rise again by his own power, defeating death as no one else ever had (Lamentations 3:2,9 ^ap).

v. 54: The burial happened on the day of Preparation, just before the Sabbath began (Luke 23:54 ^aq). The people had to hurry because the Sabbath was about to start, and they needed to get ready for it. Even though they were sad about Jesus’ death, they still prepared for the Sabbath, showing that honoring God’s day is important, even in times of sorrow.

v. 55: The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was laid in it (Luke 23:55 ^ar). Their love for Jesus was strong, and they wanted to make sure they knew where he was buried. This was not just curiosity, but deep affection for their Lord.

v. 56: After seeing the tomb, the women went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint Jesus’ body. They rested on the Sabbath, obeying God’s commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8 ^as). Their actions showed love, but also a lack of understanding that Jesus would rise again on the third day, as he had promised (Luke 23:56 ^at).