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Luke Chapter
Twenty-three
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Son of Man the Savior’s being Judged,
Crucifixion and Burial
II. He was judged by Herod (v.8-12).
III. He was judged by Pilate again and the condemnation
was made (v.13-25).
IV. Simon bore the cross for Him and the women mourned
and lamented Him (v.26-31).
V. He was hanged on the cross with two criminals
(v.32-43).
VI. The scene of His death (v.44-49).
VII. He was buried in a new tomb (v.50-56).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Luke. 23:1 “Then the whole multitude
of them arose and led Him to Pilate.”
YLT: “And having risen,
the whole multitude of them did lead him to Pilate,”
The
Background: at that time, the
Jews were under the dominion of the
“Pilate” was the fifth governor in the
Literal Meaning:
“then the whole multitude of them arose”
“the whole multitude of them” refer to the members of the Judaic council
because the people had not been gathered at that time.
It had been the morning on Friday (See 22:66). It was illegal for the council to
hold a meeting at night. Therefore they held a meeting purposely in the morning
and condemned the death of Jesus officially (See
Mark. 14:64) and immediately led Him to the Roman
governor.
“Led Him to Pilate”
In order to
“put Him to death” (See Mark. 14:55), the council had to deliver Him to Pilate the governor
and let him condemn Jesus and put Him to death according to the law of the
Luke. 23:2 “And 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.’”
YLT: “and began to accuse
him, saying, ‘This one we found perverting the nation, and forbidding to give
tribute to Caesar, saying himself to be Christ a king.’”
Meaning of Words: “pervert”: agitate,
distort, mislead.
Literal Meaning: “we found this
fellow perverting the nation” means that He colluded with rioters.
“And forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar”
means that He resisted the government decree.
“Saying that He Himself is Christ, a
King” means that He rebelled against the government publicly.
Please note that the Judaic council
condemned Him to death for His calling Himself “the Son of God” (See 22:70-71;
Mark. 14:64). However, the Roman governor usually did not ask about the
religious disputes of the Jews and therefore the council did not accuse Jesus
of the religious charge and the council brought a false political charge
against Him. If Jesus called Himself “a king of the Jews”, it means that He was
against the Roman Government and committed the rebellion. The Jewish religious
leaders fabricated the groundless sin with the purpose of killing the Lord
Jesus and it completely shows their hypocrisy and deceit in religion.
Luke. 23:3 “Then Pilate asked Him,
saying, ‘Are You the King of the
Jews?’ He answered him and said, ‘It is as you say.’”
YLT: “And Pilate
questioned him, saying, `Thou art the king of the Jews?’ and he answering him,
said, `Thou dost say [it].’”
Literal Meaning: “Are You the King of
the Jews?” Pilate condemned Jesus to death for the reason of “the King of the
Jews” later (See v.38).
“He answered him and said, ‘It is as you
say.’” “It is as you say” is the strong affirmation. Though Jesus acknowledged
that He is the King, He said that His kingdom was not of the world (See John.
18:33-38). And therefore Pilate did not think that He committed the rebellion
and declared that he found no fault in Him again and again (See v.4, 14, 22).
Luke. 23:4 “So Pilate said to the
chief priests and the crowd, ‘I find no fault in this
YLT: “And Pilate said
unto the chief priests, and the multitude, `I find no fault in this man;’”
Literal Meaning: “I find no fault in
this Man” means that he declared that Jesus did not commit any political crime.
Enlightenment in the Word: the Lord Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world (John. 1:29). And therefore such a High Priest was fitting
for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners (Heb. 7:26).
Luke. 23:5 “But they were the more
fierce, saying, ‘He stirs up the people,
teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from
YLT: “and they were the
more urgent, saying `He doth stir up the people, teaching throughout the whole
of Judea having begun from
Literal Meaning: “throughout all
Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place” From this sentence we could know
that “throughout all Judea” includes the districts of Galilee and
In this verse they accused Jesus of
stirring up the people and rising in rebellion throughout all
Luke. 23:6 “When Pilate heard of
YLT: “And Pilate having
heard of
Literal Meaning: “he asked if the Man
were a Galilean” This question was caused by “beginning from
Luke. 23:7 “And as soon as he knew
that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in
YLT: “and having known
that he is from the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him back unto Herod, he
being also in
The
Background: the area of
Literal Meaning: “he sent Him to
Herod” According to the position and authority of Pilate, he did not need to
send Jesus to Herod the king. He did so and it was only a diplomatic way to
please the other party (See v.12). Probably, Pilate may not want to deal with
this groundless case (See v.14; Matt. 27:18-19).
“Who was also in
Luke. 23:8 “Now when Herod saw Jesus,
he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because
he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by
Him.”
YLT: “And Herod having
seen Jesus did rejoice exceedingly, for he was wishing for a long [time] to see
him, because of hearing many things about him, and he was hoping some sign to
see done by him,”
Literal Meaning: “for he had desired
for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him.” Herod
had not met Jesus, however, he heard of all that was done by Jesus (See 9:7-9)
and he said that he would kill Him (See 13:31).
“And he hoped to see some miracle done
by Him.” Herod may mean that since He did miracle to save others and couldn’t
He do miracle to save Himself?
Enlightenment in the Word: Herod “hoped to see some miracle done by Him”. But
the Lord disregarded him (See v.9). If we have the intention of “seeing
miracle” in the spiritual pursuit------unusual feeling, vision that could be
seen by eyes and etc, we will have neither part nor lot in “Christ crucified”
(See 1Cor. 1:22-23).
Luke. 23:9 “Then he questioned Him
with many words, but He answered him nothing.”
YLT: “and was questioning
him in many words, and he answered him nothing.”
Meaning of Words: “many”: competent,
ample.
The
Background: according
to the Roman law at that time, if the defendant did not defend for himself, he
would be condemned.
Literal Meaning: “but He answered him
nothing” It fulfills the words in Is. 53:7.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Once one is disregarded by the Lord (“he
answered him nothing”) and He gives him up, it is the most dreadful thing (See
Rom. 1:26, 28).
2) Who, when He was reviled, did not revile again; when He
suffered, he did not threaten; but committed Himself to God that judges
righteously (See 1Pet. 2:23). This is the
example of the Lord for us.
3) If one clearly
knows the will and guidance of God and commits himself unto God, he will have
rest in God and have no defense for himself in any difficult circumstance.
4) Believers should bridle their tongues and do not
say meaningless words, as it becomes saints.
Luke. 23:10 “And the chief priests and
scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.”
YLT: “And the chief
priests and the scribes stood vehemently accusing him,”
Meaning of Words: “vehemently”:
intensely, mightily.
Luke. 23:11 “Then Herod, with his men
of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous
robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.”
YLT: “and Herod with his
soldiers having set him at nought, and having mocked, having put around him
gorgeous apparel, did send him back to Pilate,”
Meaning of Words: “contempt”: despise,
least esteemed, set at nought; “gorgeous”: brilliant, bright, light, white.
Literal Meaning: “Herod, with his men
of war” “his men of war” refers to the members of the guard of the king instead
of the soldiers of the Roman Army.
“Treated Him with contempt and mocked
Him” Probably Herod was enraged by the attitude of the Lord Jesus that “He
answered with him nothing” (See v.9). However, he found no fault in Him (See
v.15) and he had to mock Him so as to give vent to his anger.
“Arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe.”
“Gorgeous” is used to describe the clothing of the rich (See James. 2:2) and
angels (See Acts. 10:30; Rev. 15:6; 19:8).
“And sent Him back to Pilate.” This
behavior shows that Herod admitted that He was sinless.
Luke. 23:12 “That very day Pilate and
Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity
with each other.”
YLT: “and both Pilate and
Herod became friends on that day with one another, for they were before at
enmity between themselves.”
Literal Meaning: the reason why
“previously they had been at enmity with each other” may be that Pilate had
killed Galileans and had mingled their blood with their sacrifice (See 13:1),
thus violating the royalty of Herod.
“That very day Pilate and Herod became
friends with each other.” The “sending” and “sending back” probably expressed their
esteem to each other and they honored each other.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The world usually becomes friends because they
are all hostile to Christ (e.g. the antitheists get united to oppose
Christianity). However, this kind of men shall be judged by God (See Rev.
16:2-11).
2) The devil could persuade wicked persons to set
aside their enmity in order to do evil (See Mark. 12:13; Ps. 83:5-7). However,
Christians couldn’t keep the worldly friendship in order to do good.
3) The coming of Christ has two-sided aims (See
2:14): making men have peace------“Pilate and Herod became friends”; glorifying
God ------“he glorified God” (v.47).
Luke. 23:13 “Then Pilate, when he had
called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,”
YLT: “And Pilate having
called together the chief priests, and the rulers, and the people,”
Meaning of Words: “called together”:
convoke; “rulers”: leaders, magistrates.
Luke. 23:14 “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;”
YLT: “said unto them, ‘Ye
brought to me this man as perverting the people, and lo, I before you having
examined, found in this man no fault in those things ye bring forward against
him;”
Literal
Meaning: “having examined Him
in your presence” “in your presence” is stressed in the original, showing that
they knew that Pilate had examined this case thoroughly.
Luke. 23:15 “no, neither did Herod,
for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done
by Him.”
YLT: “no, nor yet Herod,
for I sent you back unto him, and lo, nothing worthy of death is having been
done by him;”
Literal Meaning: “neither did Herod”
It shows that Herod who was familiar with the Jewish Law and custom did not
find fault in Him.
Luke. 23:16 “I will therefore chastise
Him and release Him’”
YLT: “having chastised,
therefore, I will release him,’”
Literal Meaning: “I will therefore chastise
Him” “Chastise” does not show the degrees of
seriousness of the punishment in the original and therefore it could be “beaten
slightly” or “whipped seriously”.
Luke. 23:17 “(for it was necessary for
him to release one to them at the feast).”
YLT: “for it was
necessary for him to release to them one at every feast,”
Literal Meaning: this was the special convention of “amnesty” at
that time with the purpose of showing the kindness of the rulers.
Luke. 23:18 “And they all cried out at
once, saying, ‘Away with this Man, and
release to us Barabbas’--”
YLT: “and they cried out
the whole multitude saying, ‘Away with this one, and release to us Barabbas,’”
Literal Meaning: probably the crowd thought that Jesus was
condemned by the council and no longer conformed to the image of “the Messiah” in their hearts. However,
Barabbas who was thrown into prison for a certain rebellion (See v.19) was contrarily shown as a national
hero. Therefore, the people had this request.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We have been “released” because the Lord had
been crucified for us. If Jesus was not destroyed, Barabbas would not be
released. Thank God, since the Lord Jesus was destroyed for us, we, the sinners
(Barabbas), could be released.
2) Since man had inherited sin from the father the
devil, all of us became servants of sin (See John. 8:34), and would die in our
sins (See John. 8:21, 24). However, Jesus the Son of God the Father in heaven
came to “release” us and we became really free (See John. 8:36).
3) Religionists would rather ask for the murder and
robber (See John. 18:40) than ask for the Lord Jesus, thus exposing the
darkness of religion. Today, many zealous religionists (including the extreme
Christians) often disregard morality and do not have witness in life.
4) The slogan of the cross is that “away with this
man!” The cross is to “get rid of” our old creation so that the new creation
could have more position in us.
5) The first and foremost aim of the cross is to
“get rid of” our constitution that has been judged to death by God. God’s
salvation brings men to zero and lets His life become more and more abundant.
Luke. 23:19 “who had been thrown into
prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.”
YLT: “who had been,
because of a certain sedition made in the city, and murder, cast into prison.”
Meaning of Words: “Barabbas”: son of
father, son of Abba; “rebellion”: revolt;
Literal Meaning: “Barabbas”, this man might be a leader of the
Canaanite, which was a Jewish revolutionary organization. He was cast into
prison for having committed a murder in a revolt (See v.25).
Spiritual Meaning: “Barabbas” typifies that sinners were of their
father the devil which was a murderer from the beginning and was a liar, and
the father of it (John. 8:44).
Luke. 23:20 “Pilate, therefore,
wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.”
YLT: “Pilate again then
wishing to release Jesus called to them,”
Meaning of Words: “wish”: intend,
desire; “call out”: address, cause, summon.
Luke. 23:21 “But they shouted, saying,
‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’”
YLT: “but they were
calling out, saying, `Crucify, crucify him.’”
The
Background: the
“Crucifixion” was the cruel torture used by the
Literal Meaning: “crucify Him!”------It fulfilled the prophecy that the Lord had said
previously (See Matt. 20:19; 26:2).
Luke. 23:22 “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.’”
YLT: “And he a third time
said unto them, `Why, what evil did he? no cause of death did I find in him;
having chastised him, then, I will release [him].’”
Literal Meaning: “what evil has He
done?” The governor asked this question at the end of the judgment, showing that
he could not inquire any sin of the Lord and admitted He was innocent. Pilate
held that He was the “innocent man” all the time (See Matt.27:24; Mark. 15:5,
9, 12; John 18:38; 19:4, 6, 12).
Enlightenment in the Word: Pilate declared three times that he could not find
fault in the Lord Jesus (See v.4, 14), showing that He who knew no sin was made
to be sin for us (2Cor. 5:21)
in order to redeem sinners.
Luke. 23:23 “But they were insistent,
demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men
and of the chief priests prevailed.”
YLT: “And they were
pressing with loud voices asking him to be crucified, and their voices, and
those of the chief priests, were prevailing,”
The
Background: “that He be
crucified” it
is said that when the Jews killed the lamb of the Passover in old days, they
tied the four limbs of the lamb on the wooden framework of the cross and let it
shed its blood and be dried up unto death.
Therefore the Lord was “crucified”, thus fulfilling that He was the type of the
lamb of the Passover (See Is. 53:7-8; 1Cor. 5:7;
John. 1:29). The cruel torture of the cross was only used for a short time around the time when the Lord
Jesus was on the world in the history of the
Literal Meaning: “And the voices of
these men and of the chief priests prevailed.” It means that Pilate surrendered
to the demonstration of all the people and ignored the truth and conscience in
order to take his rights, interests and position into consideration.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Pilate is indeed a typical politician. On one
hand he shirked his responsibility------“he sent Him to Herod” (v.7) and on the
other he took the opinion of all the people into consideration------“the voices
of these men and of the chief priests prevailed”. If we want to be witnesses of
Christ, we should learn a lesson from him.
2) If the voices of the flesh “prevail” in the
church, Christ will suffer grievance innocently. And therefore we should try
our best to open our mouth to bear witness to Christ so that the voice of
Christ would be as the sound of many waters (Rev.1:15) that would overcome
every voice of the flesh and Christ would have all the positions in the church.
Luke. 23:24 “So Pilate gave sentence
that it should be as they requested.”
YLT: “and Pilate gave
judgment for their request being done,”
Literal Meaning: Pilate’s giving such
sentence fully exposes the darkness and corruption of politics.
Luke. 23:25 “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.”
YLT: “and he released him
who because of sedition and murder hath been cast into the prison, whom they
were asking, and Jesus he gave up to their will.”
Literal Meaning: “to their will”: let
the Lord Jesus be crucified according to their will (See v.23). It not only
fulfilled the Lord’s own word concerning how He should die (See Matt. 20:19)
but also fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament (See Deut. 21:23; Num.
21:8-9; Gal. 3:13).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The deeds of Pilate are the typical representative
of the world (especially politicians)------they confuse what is right, ignore
the truth and only try to please the people.
2) Many leaders of the Christianity often would
rather sacrifice the principle of the truth and adopt expediency in order to gratify
the crowd, and however it makes our Lord undergo loss.
3) Pilate disobeyed his conscience and sacrificed
the Lord Jesus for the purpose of gratifying the crowd. It was a great warning!
We shall never run counter to our conscience and sacrifice the Lord Jesus that
we believe for the sake of gratifying the world.
4) If we want to be strong to the end to bear
witness of Christ, we cannot often make everyone glad. If we seek to please men
only, we are not bondmen of Christ (Gal. 1:10).
5) Thank the Lord. Since He was “delivered”, the
condemned prisoners like us were “released”. What the salvation!
Luke. 23:26 “Now as they led Him away,
they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the
country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.”
YLT: “And as they led him
away, having taken hold on Simon, a certain Cyrenian, coming from the field,
they put on him the cross, to bear [it] behind Jesus.”
Literal Meaning: “a certain man,
Simon a Cyrenian.”------ “Cyrenian” was the name of a place
in
“And they laid hold of a certain man”. It indicates forcing men to serve by threatening ways.
“And on him they laid the cross that he might bear
it”, the cross
was often taken by the prisoner himself. Probably, Jesus was too weak to bear
the cross at that time.
Spiritual
Meaning: “he might bear it after Jesus”: to have communion with
His suffering and to fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ
in the flesh (See Col. 1:24).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The whole family of Simon of Cyrenian was saved because he took the cross
of the Lord (See Rom. 16:13). Believers “were laid on” the cross under the
sovereignty of God, however, the “being
laid on” is
the way of being blessed.
2) “Being laid on”, it means going against our interests, natural feelings
and etc. However, many precious spiritual lessons are usually hidden
in many things we dislike.
3) Whoever partakes in the cross of Christ, he will partake in the salvation of Christ.
Luke. 23:27 “And a great multitude of
the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.”
YLT: “And there was
following him a great multitude of the people, and of women, who also were
beating themselves and lamenting him,”
Meaning of Words: “mourn”: beat the
breast, the expression of grief; “lament”: bewail, mourn.
Luke. 23:28 “But Jesus, turning to
them, said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do
not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
YLT: “and Jesus having
turned unto them, said, `Daughters of
Literal Meaning: “Daughters of
“But weep for yourselves and for your
children” It means that they themselves and their children shall suffer greater
tribulation.
Enlightenment in the Word: every time we see the Lord on the cross, we should
remember our sins------“weep for yourselves and for your children’------because
of the Lord on the cross and weep for ourselves and repent and turn to the
Lord.
Luke. 23:29 “For indeed the days are
coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren,
wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!'”
YLT: “for, lo, days do
come, in which they shall say, Happy the barren, and wombs that did not bare,
and paps that did not give suck;”
The
Background: in ancient times,
the Jewish women regarded that they were blessed to bear children and the
barren would be regarded as unfortunate.
Literal Meaning: “For indeed the days
are coming” indicate the days of the desolation of
Luke. 23:30 “Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, ‘Fall
on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’”
YLT: “then they shall
begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, Cover us;”
Literal Meaning: men prefer to die in
a moment in order to free themselves because they could not suffer the
continuous tribulation (See Hos. 10:8; Rev. 6:16).
Luke. 23:31 “For if they do these
things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?’”
YLT: “for, if in the
green tree they do these things in the dry what may happen?’”
Literal Meaning: this verse may be a
proverb at that time and the Lord Jesus stated this in order to mean that: “the
green wood” should not be burnt and now it is burnt------the sinless Jesus
should not suffer the death and now He was sentenced to death by the Roman
regime. “The dry” should be burnt------the Jews who had been condemned by the
Roman regime because of the rebellion (including the common Jews who had been
involved because of the rebellion) shall suffer more in future. The Lord Jesus
said in prophecy that God will execute the judgment to the Jews when women mourned
Him because He was about to suffer death.
Spiritual Meaning: “the green wood”
symbolizes the Lord Jesus------He is living and full of life.
“The dry” symbolizes the Jews
(especially those who are of the Jewish faith)------they lacked the juice of life
and therefore they were dead.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord Jesus is a “green wood” and the juice
of life is full in Him. The suffering of the cross just presses out His
abundant juice and He becomes our provision. He whoever is joined unto the Lord
and abides in Him shall bring forth much fruit (John. 15:5).
2) Those who have erred concerning the faith are
“the dry”------they are trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead
(See Jude. 12).
Luke. 23:32 “There were also two
others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.”
YLT: “And there were also
others two evil-doers with him, to be put to death;”
Literal Meaning: “There were also two
others, criminals” They may be the two thieves who were with Barabbas in the
insurrection (See Matt. 27:38; Mark. 15:7, 27).
Luke. 23:33 “And when they had come to
the place called
YLT: “and when they came
to the place that is called Skull, there they crucified him and the evil-doers,
one on the right hand and one on the left.”
Meaning of Words: “
Literal Meaning: “called Skull” It
was said that the shape of this hill was like the skull of dead ones and thus
there was the name. “Skull” is “
“There
they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on
the left.” This sentence
shows that:
a) The prophecy is fulfilled that “He
was numbered with the transgressors” (See 22:37);
b) He was on the tree with the position of a sinner
and therefore He His own self bore our sins (See 1Pet. 2:24).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The natural mind and old concepts of us are “the
skulls of dead ones”. We should crucify them in “Skull” and never let them stir
up trouble.
2) Christ crucified is the center of mankind and
all and He will draw all to Him (See John. 12:32).
3) Men’s fates depend on Christ crucified. If one
receives Him, he will be saved and have eternal life; if one refuses Him, he
will perish and enter the everlasting fire.
4) He, on the cross, destroyed, through death, him
that had the power of death, that is, the devil and deliver them (i.e. robbers)
who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (See Heb.
2:14-15).
Luke. 23:34 “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ And they divided His garments and cast lots.”
YLT: “And Jesus said,
`Father, forgive them, for they have not known what they do;’ and parting his
garments they cast a lot.”
The
Background: “and they divided
His garments and cast lots” According to the Roman tradition, the belongings of
those who were put to death belonged to those who carried out the death
sentence.
Literal Meaning: “Father, forgive
them” “Them” were the Jews and Romans who put Him to death.
“They divided His garments and cast
lots.” It fulfilled the prophecy in Ps. 22:18.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Father, forgive them.” The Lord Jesus made
intercessions for the enemy. It not only shows His tolerance and forgiveness
but also shows that He makes intercessions according to His achievement that He
had bore the punishment for us. And therefore His intercessions are qualified
and effective.
2) The spirit of the cross of Christ shows the
infinite forgiveness to men------“Father, forgive them”. Today He is in heavens
and makes intercessions for us (Heb. 7:26). And therefore we should not lose
heart or faint and let us come boldly unto the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16).
3) “Father, forgive them.” Believers in whom is
filled with the spirit of Christ do not have grudge and complaint towards
others.
4) “For they do not know what they do.” Many religionists persecute Christians and think
that they render service to God (See John. 16:2). They do not know what they
do.
5) The world usually stresses on good works of the
Lord Jesus (“divided His garments”) and is unwilling to receive the life of
Christ (they crucified Him).
6) Believers always
attend to trifles and neglect the essentials. They are fervent in searching the
Bible, however, they are unwilling to come to the Lord to have life (See John.
5:39-40).
Luke. 23:35 “And the people stood
looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the
Christ, the chosen of God.’”
YLT: “And the people were
standing, looking on, and the rulers also were sneering with them, saying,
‘Others he saved, let him save himself, if this be the Christ, the choice one
of God.’”
Literal Meaning: “let Him save
Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” It shows men’s natural
religious concept and they think that God will deliver the one in whom God
delights from the outward harm and suffering.
The Lord Jesus was mocked by three
groups of people------the people, rulers and the criminal who was hanged (See
v.39). The key of the mockery is that if He is Christ (the Messiah), He should
have the power to save Himself and God won’t at least sit by and watch Him be
crucified unto death.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God’s will is to achieve His plan of salvation
through the death of the cross. Those who are held by God in His will always
“save others and themselves they cannot save”. And only those who do not save
themselves are able to save others. If He saves Himself, He could not save us.
2) Those who really have the power would be able
restrain themselves contrarily. The unbridled ones who walk as they please are
manifested that they are weak and powerless.
3) The death of the cross is the way to
resurrection------supply life through death------if death works in us, life
will work in others (See 2Cor. 4:11-12).
4) The cross is to deny oneself (See 8:34) and
therefore the meaning of the cross is to save others and not save oneself; he
whoever is self-centered needs to receive the dealing of the cross.
Luke. 23:36 “The soldiers also mocked
Him, coming and offering Him sour wine,”
YLT: “And mocking him
also were the soldiers, coming near and offering vinegar to him,”
Literal Meaning: “offering Him sour
wine” This behavior of the soldiers shows their mockery (See Matt. 27:47-49).
“Sour wine” refers to sour
wine mingled with gall (See Matt. 27:34)
and it has the function of narcosis. Once man drinks it, he would be like one
who had took the anesthetic which could release the pain (See Pro. 31:6-7).
However, the Lord did not take it (See Mark. 15:23), showing that He was
willing to bear the punishment of sins unto death (See Ps. 69:21).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord Jesus bore the suffering of the cross
Himself and refused any help or comfort from men. Those who truly take up the
cross never seek any help or comfort besides God.
2) He who feels painful in themselves and needs
comfort of others is not the one who takes up the cross.
3) The Lord Himself had tasted the suffering for
us, so He is able to be touched with our feelings (See Heb. 4:15).
Luke. 23:37 “and saying, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.’”
YLT: “and saying, ‘If
thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.’”
Literal Meaning: “If You are the King
of the Jews” “You” is stressed in the original.
Luke. 23:38 “And an inscription also
was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING
OF THE JEWS.”
YLT: “And there was also
a superscription written over him, in letters of Greek, and Roman, and Hebrew,
‘This is the King of the Jews.’”
Literal Meaning: “And an inscription
also was written over Him” “An inscription” refers to the one on which the sins
were written.
“THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS” In the sight of men, the inscription was
ironic to the Lord as well as the Jews (See John. 19:21). It also indicated
that He was crucified exactly for this cause.
Spiritual Meaning: according to the old
scripture and the records of the Gospel of John, the inscription was written in
Hebrew, Greek and Latin (See John. 19:20). Hebrew represents the religion,
Latin represents the politics and Greek represents the culture. These symbolize
that the Lord Jesus was rejected by the union of the religion, the politics and
the culture.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The life of king can only be manifested through
the death of the cross.
2) Men in the world become the king by attacking
cities or seizing lands, but believers reign in life (See Rom 5:17) by the
death of the cross.
Luke. 23:39 “Then one of the criminals
who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If
You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’”
YLT: “And one of the
evil-doers who were hanged, was speaking evil of him, saying, `If thou be the
Christ, save thyself and us.’”
Literal Meaning: “If You are the
Christ, save Yourself and us.” It shows that they he did not know the principle
of God and he thought that Christ could walk as He pleases (See John. 8:28). We
should know that the Lord Jesus did not come down from the cross and this is
the clear proof that He is Christ------the Son of God (See
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Though believers are the children of God, God
still does not always deliver us from sufferings. The apostle Paul deeply
pleased God, but Paul suffered much more than us.
2) Natural men do not know the spiritual principle.
The greatest power of the spiritual is to control and restrict themselves.
Those who are truly of spirit can do all things through Christ who strengthens
them (See Pill. 4:13). However, they do not do many things because they seek
the profit of others, but not their own profit (See 1Cor. 10:23-24, 33).
3) It is the manifestation of the Son of God that
He does not do what He is “able to do” (See John. 5:19, 30; 8:28). Moreover,
those who truly believe in God not only believe that God will do something for
them but also believe that God always does not do something for them. The
greatest faith is to commit oneself unto God and believe that whether God does
something or not depends on God Himself, and we shall merely thanks God for His
goodwill (See Matt. 11:25-27; 1Thess. 5:18).
Luke. 23:40 “But the other, answering,
rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God,
seeing you are under the same condemnation?”
YLT: “And the other
answering, was rebuking him, saying, `Dost thou not even fear God, that thou
art in the same judgment?”
Meaning of Words: “answering”:
respond; “condemnation”: judgment.
Literal Meaning: “but the other,
answering” “The other” criminal may also mock the Lord at first (See Matt.
27:44; Mark. 15:32) and later he was lightened by the Lord and confessed his
sins and repented because of the Lord’s words and attitude on the cross.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The effect of the cross would make the scorner
fears God.
2) Concerning the two who are on the two sides of
Jesus Christ, one is saved and the other perishes. Which side do you stand on
concerning the cross?
Luke. 23:41 “And we indeed justly, for
we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’”
YLT: “and we indeed righteously,
for things worthy of what we did we receive back, but this one did nothing out
of place;’”
Meaning of Words: “wrong”: improper,
out of place.
Literal Meaning: “for we receive the
due reward of our deeds” It is to confess his sins, implying his repentance.
Luke. 23:42 “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’”
YLT: “and he said to
Jesus, `Remember me, lord, when thou mayest come in thy reign;‘”
Literal Meaning: “then he said to
Jesus, ‘Lord’” It is written in the old scriptures that “he said to Jesus, ‘the
Lord’”.
“When You come into Your kingdom.” It is
written in some old scriptures that “when You come in Your kingdom”.
The prayer of this robber was short, but
it has the profound meaning. It shows that:
a) Though the body dies, the soul still
exists.
b) Death does not end all things. There
is judgment after death (Heb. 9:27).
c) Though the Lord Jesus suffered death,
He shall rise and be taken into the heaven and reign in the kingdom.
d) After the Lord has gained the
kingdom, He will come back.
e) If men repent, they could partake in
His kingdom.
f) Men’s prayers will be remembered by
the Lord.
Luke. 23:43 “And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in
YLT: “and Jesus said to
him, ‘Verily I say to thee, To-day with me thou shalt be in the paradise.’”
Meaning of Words: “
Literal Meaning: “today you will be
with Me in
The word of the Lord Jesus in this verse
reveals several important truths:
a) One’s being saved does not depend on
good works (See Eph. 2:9) because this robber did not have any chance to do
good.
b) One’s being saved does not depend on
baptism because he did not have any chance to be baptized.
c) One’s being saved depends on one’s
repenting and believing and calling upon the name of the Lord (See
d) Men still have the chance to be saved
before death and one shall be saved the moment he believes in the Lord.
e) Believers shall be with Christ after
they depart (See Pill. 1:23).
Luke. 23:44 “Now it was about the
sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.”
YLT: “And it was, as it
were, the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land till the ninth hour,”
Literal Meaning: “about the sixth
hour…until the ninth hour”: from twelve o’clock at noon to three o’clock in the
afternoon.
The Lord Jesus was crucified at the third hour
(nine o’clock in the morning) (See Mark. 15:25) and therefore there were six
hours from the third hour to the ninth hour (three o’clock in the afternoon).
In the first three hours, He suffered the pain of being persecuted and being
mocked by men. In the next three hours, He suffered the pain of being judged
and being forsaken by God.
Spiritual Meaning: “there was darkness
over all the earth” “Darkness”
symbolizes that God hid His face from Him and forsook Him. The Lord Jesus was
forsaken by God because He bore sins of men. It showed how horrible the sins
that He bore were.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) May all the believers realize the horribleness
of sins and preciousness of the presence of God.
2) “There was darkness over all the earth.”------It
showed our sin, sins and all dark and negative things were judged and dealt
with by God with the Lord on the cross.
Luke. 23:45 “Then the sun was
darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.”
YLT: “and the sun was
darkened, and the vail of the sanctuary was rent in the midst,”
The Background:
the veil
of the temple is the veil of inner layer dividing the holy place and the most
holy (See Exod. 26:33). In the
times of the Old Testament, no one could enter the most holy, except for the
high priest who entered in with blood through the veil once a year (See Heb. 9:7).
Literal
Meaning: “then the sun was
darkened” means “the sun did not shine”.
“And the veil of the temple was torn in
two.” The veil
in the temple, made of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen (See 2Chron. 3:14), was very thick and firm and was difficult to be broken. No wonder that when the
priests saw it, they felt it was far above the ordinary. There were even many
priest believing the Lord (See Acts 6:7).
Spiritual
Meaning: “the
veil of the temple”, it typified the body of the Lord. “Was torn in two”, it
typified that the body of the Lord was broken for us and therefore He opened a
new and living way so that we could have boldness to enter into the holiest by
Him and come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need (See Heb. 10:19-20; 4:16).
There was cherubim made on
the veil (See Exod. 26:31), which typified the entire creature. When the
veil was broken, the cherubim on it would also be broken at the same time, symbolizing
the all-inclusive death of Christ------when Christ died, the
entire old creature of us was also
crucified with Him on the cross together (See
Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6:6).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christ is our way (See John. 14:6);
only through Him are we able to come to God.
2) When the Lord breathed His last on
the cross (v.46), the veil of the temple
was torn in two from top to bottom, showing that the power of the cross would
not be manifested until the experience of the cross had come to the height.
Though we are often brought into the experience of the cross, we are unwilling
to die until we have breathed the last. No wonder that the great power of the
cross is difficult to be manifested sufficiently.
Luke. 23:46 “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.”
YLT: “and having cried
with a loud voice, Jesus said, `Father, to Thy hands I commit my spirit;’ and
these things having said, he breathed forth the spirit.”
Literal Meaning: “cried out with a loud voice” man was often totally
exhausted and breathed his last in a coma without any voice when he was
crucified on the cross. However, the Lord Jesus still had strength to cry out and it manifested that His death was
distinct from the common people (See v.47).
“Into Your hands I commit My spirit.” It
is quoted from Ps. 31:5.
“He breathed His last.” Note that all
the four Gospels do not mention that the Lord Jesus “died”, but that He
breathed His last (See Matt. 27:50; Mark. 15:37), or “He yielded up His spirit”
(See John. 19:30), showing that His death was not due to natural reasons or the
exhaustion of strength, but was that He yielded up His spirit unto God.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The life of the Lord was not taken by men. He
laid down His life for the sheep willingly (See John. 10:15, 18).
2) The moment the Lord Jesus said that “Father,
‘into Your hands I commit My spirit’”, He breathed His last and then He entered
the rest. It tells us a spiritual principle: if we suffer pain and awkwardness,
we should commit all unto God and then we could enjoy the rest of hearts.
3) This verse reveals the spirit of Christ of the
cross in two aspects: a) full commitment unto God------“Father, into Your
hands”; b) full death towards Himself------“He breathed His last”.
Luke. 23:47 “So when the centurion saw
what had happened, he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly
this was a righteous Man!’”
YLT: “And the centurion
having seen what was done, did glorify God, saying, ‘Really this man was
righteous;’”
Literal Meaning: “centurion” was the
officer who was present and supervised the soldiers executing the death
penalty. Since he often saw the condition when those who were crucified
breathing their last (See v.46 Literal Meaning), when he saw the unusual
phenomenon of the Lord Jesus, he firmly believed that he was not a common
person.
“Certainly this was a righteous Man!” The
appellation “a righteous Man” (See Matt. 27:54; Mark. 15:39) is actually equal
to “the Son of Man”. “A righteous Man” is the one who is close to God. Please
note that not only the centurion said that He is a righteous man, but also
Herod and Pilate (See v.14-15) and the robber who was hanged (See v.41) called
Jesus the righteous man.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The centurion said that, “Certainly this was a
righteous Man!” because he saw the testimony of Him who obeyed unto death. The
true power of the gospel is here.
2) The centurion represented the Gentile
unbelievers. Since they saw the effect of the Lord’s death, they had to admit
that, “Certainly this was a righteous
Luke. 23:48 “And the whole crowd who
came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and
returned.”
YLT: “and all the
multitudes who were come together to this sight, beholding the things that came
to pass, smiting their breasts did turn back;”
Literal Meaning: “And the whole crowd
who came together to that sight” refer to the multitudes who were against the
Lord Jesus and the indifferent spectators.
“Beat their breasts and returned.” “Beat
their breasts” denotes sorrow and regret. Obviously they were scared of the
thing which they partook in and returned with regret.
Enlightenment in the Word: the Lord is not mocked. All those who mock the Lord
shall “beat their breasts” and cry bitterly and regret deeply in their
lifetime.
Luke. 23:49 “But all His
acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from
YLT: “and all his
acquaintances stood afar off, and women who did follow him from
Literal Meaning: “all His
acquaintances” are different from “the whole crowd” in the previous verse.
“And the women who followed Him from
Luke. 23:50 “Now behold, there was a
man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man.”
YLT: “And lo, a man, by
name Joseph, being a counsellor, a man good and righteous,”
Literal Meaning: “there was a man named
Joseph, a council member” “a council member”
refers to his identity in the council.
Luke. 23:51 “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
YLT: “he was not
consenting to their counsel and deed from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who
also himself was expecting the reign of God,”
Literal Meaning: “He had not
consented to their decision and deed.” It indicates that he did not agree to
the condemnation of the council towards the Lord Jesus.
“He was from Arimthea, a city of the
Jews.” “Arimathea” was a small town in
“Who himself was also waiting for the
Enlightenment in the Word: the one who “is waiting for the
Luke. 23:52 “This man went to Pilate
and asked for the body of Jesus.”
YLT: “he, having gone
near to Pilate, asked the body of Jesus,”
Luke. 23:53 “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.”
YLT: “and having taken it
down, he wrapped it in fine linen, and placed it in a tomb hewn out, where no
one was yet laid.”
Literal Meaning: “wrapped it in
linen” means wrapping closely in the original.
“And laid it in a tomb that was hewn out
of the rock” This tomb was not
hewn under the earth but hew out of the rock. This sentence also fulfills the
words in Is. 53:9b.
Spiritual Meaning: the tomb where the Lord was buried was
originally hewn by Joseph for himself (See
Matt. 27:60). And therefore in a
sense, Joseph also buried himself. It typifies that the old men of
believers had been crucified with the Lord Jesus and buried into death by
baptism (See
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers are separated from the world by being
buried with the Lord.
2) “Wrapped it in linen” The life of believers
should be clean, holy, gentle and even and believers should not let sin reign
in the mortal body (See Rom. 6:12).
Luke. 23:54 “That day was the
Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.”
YLT: “And the day was a
preparation, and sabbath was approaching,”
Literal Meaning: the Sabbath was from six o’clock after the sunset
of that day (Friday) to six o’clock after the sunset of the next day
(Saturday). Since the Jews could not act or work on the Sabbath at will, they
had to make preparations in the previous day, which was called “the Preparation
Day”.
Luke. 23:55 “And the women who had
come with Him from
YLT: “and the women also
who have come with him out of
Enlightenment in the Word:
these women represented common and weak believers who are despised by others.
They always followed and served the Lord quietly and when other disciples
forsook the Lord and fled (See Mark. 14:50), they kept following the Lord until
the cross, i.e. following the Lord until the death. Therefore they could bear
witness of His death and resurrection (See Acts. 3:15). If we want to be the
Lord’s witnesses, we have to follow Him until the death.
Luke. 23:56 “Then they returned and
prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to
the commandment.”
YLT: “and having turned
back, they made ready spices and ointments, and on the sabbath, indeed, they
rested, according to the command.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The savior the Lord Jesus accomplished the redemption
for human beings and all. It is the true rest for all that are chosen by God
and even the whole universe.
2) If we die with Christ and are buried with Him
(See Rom. 6:4), we shall be at rest and we shall no longer struggle and suffer
pain.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Those Who Crucify the Lord
II. Those who played the trick and did not care for
the justice (v.6-12).
III. Those who only feared to offend men and did
not fear to sin against God (v.13-25).
IV. Those who were dastardly and despised the
rights of men (v.26).
V. Those who only considered the things at present
and did not know the future (v.27-31).
VI. Those who committed sins and did evil and did
not care for their end (v.32-33).
VII. Those who did things and did not know what
they did (v.34-38).
VIII. Those who were stubborn to the end and did
not know the chances of salvation (v.39).
What Crucifies the Lord Jesus?
I. The old self (v.1-7)------the Judaic leaders and
Pilate only cared for their dignity.
II. The old way (v.8-11)------Herod was crafty and
played the trick.
III. The old world (v.13-15)------Pilate was greedy
for the world and did not walk justly.
IV. The old flesh (v.26)------men’s way is to take
up the cross by the flesh.
V. The old emotion (v.27-31)------the women wept
for their emotions instead of their own sins.
VI. The old sinners (v.32)------the two criminals
died for their own sins and the Lord died for the sins of all.
VII. The old greed (v.33-38)------the soldiers
divided His garments and cast lots.
VIII. The old hardness (v.39-43)------one of the
criminals who were hanged blasphemed the Lord.
IX. The old stubbornness (v.44-49)------though they
saw the cross with their eyes, they still could not partake in the salvation.
X. The old religion (v.50-55)------they buried the
body of the Lord in order to keep the religious ceremony.
XI. The old regulation (v.56)------they rested on
the Sabbath according to the commandment.
The Aim of Christ’s Birth (See 2:14)
I. Make men have peace------Herod and Pilate became
friends (v.12).
II. Make God have glory------glorify God (v.47).
Several Kinds of People Who Are on the Side
of the Cross------the Attitude of the World to Jesus the Savior
II. The women who mourned and lamented for the Lord
(v.27)------their emotions were easy to be excited.
III. The soldiers who divided His garments and cast
lots and mocked Him (v.34, 36)------they mocked and humiliated Him.
IV. The people stood looking on (v.35a)------they
were indifferent to Him.
V. The rulers who sneered at the Lord
(v.35b)------they mocked and sneered at Him.
VI. Pilate who wrote the inscription of the Lord
(v.38)------he said that He deserved the death.
VII. One of the criminals who were hanged
blasphemed Him (v.39)------he did not repent until death.
VIII. The criminal who confessed his sins and
prayed to the Lord before death (v.40-42)------he confessed his sins and
repented.
IX. The centurion who testified that the Lord was a
righteous Man (v.47)------he saw the scene of His death.
X. The whole crowd who beat their breasts and
returned (v.48)------they also saw the scene of His death.
XI. All His acquaintances and the women who
followed Him from
XII. Joseph, a council member, who buried the body
of the Lord (v.50-53)------he encouraged himself to confess that he believed in
the Lord.
Different Crosses
I. The cross of Simon (v.26)------the cross that is
forced to take up.
II. The cross of the women (v.27)------the cross of
sympathy.
III. The cross of the Lord Jesus (v.33a)------the
cross for the death of redemption.
IV. The cross of the robbers (v.33b)------the cross
that one deserves for his sins.
V. The cross of the soldiers (v.34, 36)------the
cross which they despise and regard as foolish.
VI. The cross of the people (v.35a)------the cross
of the cold onlookers.
VII. The cross of the rulers (v.35b)------the cross
which they regard as wrong.
The Spirit of the Cross of Christ
I. The infinite forgiveness to men------Father,
forgive them (v.34).
II. The full commitment unto God------Father, into
Your hands I commit My spirit (v.46a).
III. The full death to self------He breathed His
last (v.46b).
Joseph of Arimathea
II. He had not consented to their decision and deed
(v.51a).
III. He was waiting for the
IV. He went to Pilate boldly and asked for the body
of Jesus (v.52).
V. He did his utmost to bury the Lord (v.53).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren