Book of Luke

Chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Luke Chapter 23

Luke 23:1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
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.

Even today lawyers and prosecutors want to win a case. In order to win they must exaggerate facts, some even pay false witnesses or strongly urge them to testify on behalf of their client or on behalf of the state in the case of prosecution. Twisting arms, bribery and lying to accuse people falsely is nothing new.

Jesus was accused of perverting the nation, forbidding tribute to Caesar and calling Himself Christ the King.

If someone went around claiming to be Christ today, people would most likely ignore him especially here in the United States. He would hardly be arrested unless he would break some law and endanger society. We know from earlier passages in Luke that Jesus did not forbid paying tribute money and even paid it on behalf of Him and the disciples. Telling people they were sinners in need of repentance surely could not pervert any nation but cleanse it.

Jesus came to make alive and yet He was condemned to death. Jesus came to free us from the bondage of sin. He came to give us eternal life. One day a life can be full of sin, despair and dullness but when that soul finds Jesus there is life, joy and peace. All of a sudden there is something to live for, things to do and the burden of sin is lifted away.

There may be trouble and tribulation. One could even lose their life in this world for the cause of Christ but no one who ever tasted the heavenly gift of the Holy Spirit and walk in that same Spirit ever regrets coming to Jesus Christ as savior. The joy in the Holy Spirit makes up for the sorrow. All men have sorrow but in Christ we have a helper to comfort us in our sorrow. In eternity we have an eternal life that can never be taken away from us.

Luke 23:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

Pilate knew that this man was not worthy of death. He knew that religious leaders accused Him falsely and were jealous. I doubt very much that these religious leaders cared about Jesus offending Caesar, they just wanted Him out of the way because He was a threat to their security and belief system that they used to control the people.

Why were so many persecuted for printing the word of God during the Middle Ages? Because once people could read God's word themselves they would know that the religious leaders were deceiving them. They just might discover that the way to God was not through any organized church hierarchy but through faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Being born again by the spirit is something that occurs within the inner soul and spirit of man or woman. It is not a ritual, religious act or outward ordinance. It is not those things that saves but the new birth that saves the soul. It changes the life of the recipient.

We hear the word of God about Jesus Christ, we believe it, we repent or turn from sin, we receive Jesus as savior, we then become Born again by the spirit of God. It is not something that is an outward ordinance depending on a priest, minister or rabbi. It is between the individual and Jesus Christ. Jesus brings us back into fellowship with God.

Sin separates us from God. God cannot live among sin. Our sin has to be done away with. That is why Jesus came to pay the price for the sins we committed. When we accept His sacrifice on our behalf, we are born again by His spirit.

We are not saved by joining a church, being baptized, partaking of communion, or any other outward religious ritual or ordinance. We are saved when we are born again by God's Spirit. Baptism is an outward ordinance we do to show what has already taken place in our soul. The water itself does not save the soul but the Spirit of God which is the living water does save the soul.
Baptism is beautiful and signifies the washing away of our sins but it is the Spirit of God, the living water that actually washes away our sins. The blood of Jesus covers our sins and removes them forever. That is why it is so important that we don't return to sin and undo the work Jesus did on our behalf. If we do sin we need to go and ask forgiveness right away, forsaking that sin and not allowing it to take root in our lives again.

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.
6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
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.

It is obvious that Pilate didn't want the blood of Jesus on his hands and he was trying his best to pass the buck to Herod.

Luke,23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

Herod wanted to see the man he heard so much about to see if the things were true.

Luke 23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

If Jesus would have performed miracles and answered the right questions, He could have escaped being crucified. Jesus kept quiet here for you and for me. He remained silent so that the plan of God could be accomplished and He would make the way for all who believe to be saved and have eternal life. He kept quiet for our sakes and for the sake of all who would believe even in this present day and hour. We have much to be thankful for.

Luke 23:10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
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.
12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

Pilate and Herod knew Jesus was innocent but desired to please the people more than spare Jesus. But that is what had to happen to fulfill prophecy and usher in the plan of salvation God made to redeem mankind back to Himself.

Luke 23:16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

They were hoping a beating in front of witnesses would be enough to satisfy the lust to see Jesus suffer. It did not satisfy them for they wanted Him dead.

Luke 23:17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

They preferred a known murderer rather than God's only Son. This is just an example of what Jesus really did. He died in place of the one that deserved death because Barabbas was worthy of death according to the law.

Luke 23:19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
22 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.
23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

Before we condemn Pilate here, we must remember that it is not easy to stand up against an angry crowd and declare an opposing opinion.

Remember Peter just after Jesus was arrested. He couldn't stand up and acknowledge Jesus in front of the crowds. It isn't easy and it is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit unless one is a natural born person who has no fear.

Luke 23:25 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.
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.
27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

These women showed no fear. That should tell us something. They didn't care who knew that they loved this man the crowds hated.

Luke 23:28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

Truly this is still true today, we must weep for the children that are still lost and have not received or even heard the gospel.

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.

Jesus saw the future destruction of Jerusalem, He saw the sufferings of the Jewish people. He could see Adolph Hitler and others who would destroy millions of Jewish people. This is why Jesus wept over Jerusalem. He could see that they were rejecting their salvation and the salvation of their descendants.

Luke 23:30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

Tribulation will be so bad, people will desire to be crushed by the mountains.

Luke 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 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.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

This should be our attitude toward our enemies.

Luke 23:35 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.

What they missed was that this Jesus could have come down at any time. He chose not to save Himself so that He could save us.

Luke 23:36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

Any ordinary person would have called on the angels and destroyed all by fire but not our Lord.

Luke 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

This one act of faith in Jesus, saved that man's soul. He didn't have time to be baptized in water or any other ritual. He was saved by faith. He acknowledged that he was a sinner and needed the Lord.

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
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.
47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51 (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.
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
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.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

This fulfilled Isaiah's prophesy

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.