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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:
JUDGMENT, EXECUTION AND BURIAL

[“This Man Was Innocent”]
Key word: Execution

Luke 23:1-7 – To Pilate with Unfounded Charges

|| Matthew 27:11-14; 1018 Mark 15:2-5; 1019 John 18:29-38 1020

1018	Matthew 27:11-14: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

1019	Mark 15:2-5: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

1020	John 18:29-38: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on John.

LK23:1 Then the whole assembly rose and led Jesus before Pilate. LK23:2 And they began to accuse Jesus, saying: “We discovered this person 1021 subverting our nation, forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ himself, a king.”

1021	We discovered this person: A mix of falsehood and half-truths are presented against Jesus: a] sedition; b] tax rebel; c] claiming to be the Messiah; and, d] claiming to be a king.

LK23:3 So Pilate questioned Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And Jesus answered: “You said that.” 1022

1022	You said that: Or, KNX: your own lips have said it; RIE: the words are yours.

LK23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no guilt in this person.” LK23:5 However, they all kept insisting, “He incites the people by teaching throughout Judea, from Galilee all the way to here!” LK23:6 Having listened, Pilate asked if the person was a Galilean, LK23:7 and upon learning Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction he sent Jesus away to Herod as he was also in Jerusalem at the time.

Luke 23:8-12 – Before Herod

LK23:8 Now when Herod got to see Jesus 1023 he rejoiced greatly because for a long time he wanted to meet him for he heard about him and was hoping to witness some sign performed by Jesus.

1023	When Herod got to see Jesus: It is possible Luke interviewed Manaen for this information. Compare Acts 13:1.

LK23:9 And so Herod questioned him with many words but Jesus would not give an answer. LK23:10 So the chief priests and the Bible Copyists stood there passionately incriminating 1024 Jesus.

1024	Passionately incriminating: Or, vehemently accused, violent accusations, relentlessly denouncing.

LK23:11 After treating Jesus with contempt, Herod and his soldiers also ridiculed him by clothing him in bright clothing and sending him back to Pilate. LK23:12 Though previously there had been a lot of animosity between them on that very day Herod and Pilate became friends with one another.

Luke 23:13-25 – The Jewish Mob Demands Execution

|| Matthew 27:15-26; 1025 Mark 15:6-15; 1026 John 18:38-19:16 1027

1025	Matthew 27:15-26: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

1026	Mark 15:6-15: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

1027	John 18:38-19:16: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on John.

LK23:13 Now Pilate called together the chief priests, the officials and the people, LK23:14 telling them: “You brought this person to me as a revolutionary 1028 and after examining him I found nothing to the crimes you bring against him.

1028	Revolutionary: Or, TCN: charged with misleading; WEY: a charge of corrupting the loyalty of; MOF: an inciter to rebellion; PME: mischief-maker.

LK23:15 And neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us, and, look, he has done nothing worthy of death. LK23:16 And so after chastising 1029 him I will release him.”

1029	Chastising: Or, NEB: flogging.

LK23:17 [[Now he was obliged to release someone for them at the festival.]] 1030

1030	LK23:17: Omitted from some manuscripts.

LK23:18 But all together they shouted: “Take him away! Release Barabbas to us!” LK23:19 (He had caused some insurrection in the city and as a murderer was thrown into prison.) LK23:20 Again Pilate addressed the crowd because he wanted to release Jesus. LK23:21 However they continued to scream: “Impale 1031 him! Impale him!”

1031

Impale: Or, crucify, execute. The Greek is STAUROU [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4717 (STAUROSON in some texts), to impale on a stake, post,… pole… crucify]. Crucify is the Latin-based word which means “impale” irrespective of the precise instrument, whether I, T, t, or x. Some scholars acknowledge that the Taw, or Egyptian cross was a sexual symbol and of pagan roots. Compare The Expanded Vines, “STAUROS… denotes, primarily, an upright pale or stake. On such malefactors were nailed for execution… The shape of [a two beamed cross] had its origins in ancient Chaldea, and was used as the symbol of The God Tammuz… By the middle of the 3rd century A.D. the churches had either departed from, or had travestied, certain doctrines of the Christian faith. In order to increase the prestige of the apostate ecclesiastical system pagans were received into the churches apart from regeneration by faith, and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols.” [Page 248, 1984 edition] Elsewhere Jesus is described as being executed on a “tree.” [Galatians 3:13]

LK23:22 Then a third time Pilate told them: “Why? What wrong did he do? I did not discover any crime worthy of death in him. So after chastisement I will release him.” LK23:23 But they kept insisting with loud shouting, demanding Jesus be executed, and so finally their voices prevailed. LK23:24 Then Pilate decided to submit to their demands. LK23:25 So Pilate released the one accused of insurrection and murder who had been thrown into prison as the one they clamored for. But he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Luke 23:26-31 – On the Way Jesus Speaks to Women

|| Matthew 27:31, 32; 1032 Mark 15:20-22; 1033 John 19:17 1034

1032	Matthew 27:31, 32: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

1033	Mark 15:20-22: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

1034	John 19:17: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on John.

LK23:26 Now as they led Jesus off, they impressed into service a certain Simon of Cyrene. He was traveling in from the countryside and so they put the stake 1035 on him to carry behind Jesus.

1035	Stake: Or, cross, pole. The Greek is STAURON. See notes above.

LK23:27 A large crowd of people were following Jesus along with some women who were mourning and grieving for him. LK23:28 But Jesus turned toward them and said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not cry for me, but cry for yourselves and for your children. LK23:29 Because, look, days are coming in which people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and those wombs that never bore children, 1036 and those breasts that never nursed!’

1036	Wombs that never bore children: Compare the curse of Moses upon Israel for failure to obey the commandments. [Deuteronomy 28]

LK23:30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Bury us!’ 1037 [Hosea 10:8]

1037	Bury us: Jesus borrows the wording of Hosea 10:8. [Isaiah 2:19] Compare also Revelation 6:16.

LK23:31 For if they do this while the tree is moist, what may happen when it is dry?” 1038

1038	When it is dry: Likely a reference to what would happen in 70 AD.

Luke 23:32-38 – The Crowd at the Execution

|| Matthew 27:39-43; 1039 Mark 15:24-28; 1040 John 19:17-24 1041

1039	Matthew 27:39-43: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

1040	Mark 15:24-28: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

1041	John 19:17-24: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on John.

LK23:32 Now two other criminals were also being led away to be executed with Jesus. LK23:33 When they reached the place called ‘Skull’, there they impaled Jesus with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. LK23:34 [[But then Jesus said: “Father forgive them for they do not realize what they are doing.”]] 1042 After separating his garments, they cast lots. [Psalm 22:19]

1042	Luke 23:34: Some texts omit this verse.

LK23:35 Now people were standing by watching and many were mocking Jesus. 1043 Also, the [Jewish] hierarchy said, “Others he saved! Let him save himself! If this is God’s Christ, the Chosen One!”

1043	Many were mocking Jesus: Compare Psalm 22.

LK23:36 Also the soldiers ridiculed Jesus and they approached and offered him vinegar. LK23:37 They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” LK23:38 Over his head there was also an inscription, THIS ONE IS KING OF THE JEWS.

Luke 23:39-43 – Promise of Paradise to a Thief

LK23:39 Then one of the criminals hanging near Jesus began to speak abusively to him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” LK23:40 But the other criminal responded with a rebuke and said: “Do you have no fear of The God, 1044 because you are condemned the same?

1044	Fear of The God: Indicating this criminal or thief did fear God, possibly a Jew.

LK23:41 We surely deserve it, 1045 for we did things worthy of this judgment, but this person did nothing wrong!”

1045	We surely deserve it: He is repentant.

LK23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, 1046 remember me whenever you arrive into your kingdom!” 1047

1046	Jesus: He confesses Christ.

1047	Kingdom: He believes Christ is King and so expresses his faith.

LK23:43 Jesus told him: “Today 1048 I tell you this truly, you will be with me in Paradise.”

1048

Today: There were no punctuation marks, such as commas, in 1st Century Greek which was written in block capital letters with no spacing. Some punctuate the phrase so that it appears both Jesus and the thief went to Paradise that day. This is not consistent with the rest of the Christian Bible where Jesus is in Hades or the grave for three days. The Greek is literally: I AM SAYING TODAY WITH ME YOU WILL BE IN THE PARADISE. Jesus uses the word “paradise” one more time in Revelation 2:7 where it means heaven. Paul makes a parallel between paradise and heaven in the only other occurrence at 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4. Though this is a strong suggestion that Jesus expected this repentant Jewish thief to be raised to heaven, however it is also possible Jesus refers to the original Edenic earthly paradise. [Genesis 2]

Luke 23:44-49 – The Death of Jesus

|| Matthew 27:45-50; 1049 Mark 15:33-37; 1050 John 19:25-30 1051

1049	Matthew 27:45-50: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

1050	Mark 15:33-37: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

1051	John 19:25-30: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on John.

LK23:44 Now it was already about noon and a darkness came over the whole land until three o’clock LK23:45 as the sunlight failed. 1052 Also, the curtain of the temple sanctuary was ripped down the middle. 1053

1052	Sunlight failed: Or, was darkened, eclipsed. The Greek is ECLEIPONTOS from which “eclipse” comes.

1053	Ripped down the middle: Or, torn in two. Indicating God’s displeasure with Jewish ritual and that his favor no longer rested on such Temple worship.

LK23:46 Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice: “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit!” 1054 And having said this, Jesus expired. 1055

1054	Spirit: The Greek is PNEUMA and may be compared to the word EXEPNEUSEN in the next phrase. [Compare Psalm 146:3, 4; Ecclesiastes 3:19-21; 12:7.] PNEUMA is rooted in “breath” or “wind.”

1055	Jesus expired: Or, KJV: gave up the ghost. The Greek means to breathe the last breath, or to expire as in the final exhale at death.

LK23:47 Witnessing this happen, the centurion began to glorify The God, saying, “Surely this person was innocent!” 1056

1056	Innocent: Or, righteous, good man. It is possible this explanation also arouses a degree of regret in the crowd judging from what follows.

LK23:48 Then all the crowds that had gathered at this spectacle, after observing all the things that had occurred, began beating their breasts in lamentation as they returned to Jerusalem. LK23:49 Now standing by at a distance were Jesus’ relatives and also those women who had followed him from Galilee and they all observed all these things.

Luke 23:50-56 – Joseph Buries Jesus

|| Matthew 27:57-61; 1057 Mark 15:42-47; 1058 John 19:38-42 1059

1057	Matthew 27:57-61: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

1058	Mark 15:42-47: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

1059	John 19:38-42: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on John.

LK23:50 Now, look, there was a man named Joseph – a member of the Jewish Council, a good and righteous man LK23:51 who had not agreed with the Jewish Council and their action – and he was from Arimathea, a Judean city. He was waiting for the Kingdom of The God. LK23:52 This man approached Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. LK23:53 He then took the body down, and after wrapping it in fine linen, he placed it in a memorial tomb carved out of rock where no one else had ever been laid. LK23:54 Now it was the Day of Preparation 1060 and the Sabbath eve was approaching. 1061

1060	Preparation: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

1061	Sabbath eve was approaching: Or, drew on, just dawning, about to begin. That is at about 6 PM or sunset. This would have been Friday at 6 PM.

LK23:55 Also the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus followed behind and saw the memorial tomb 1062 and how his body had been laid there.

1062	Memorial tomb: The Greek has the word memory embedded in it. Some believe these tombs of the Sanhedrin 70 have been discovered.

LK23:56 They returned with prepared aromatic spices and perfumed oils. Afterward they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Review Questions on Chapter Twenty-three