LUKE 23

In today’s study our titles are; Verses 1-12 Jesus before Pilate and Herod. Verses 13-25 Jesus sentenced to die. Verses 26-49 The crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Verses 50-56 The burial of Jesus. Luke 23 and verse 1 reads.

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

His actual trial begins, it is after midnight and Pilate knew the chief priests had held an illegal trial in their synagogue. For it was illegal for the Hebrews to have trial at night.

Luke 23:2] And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

They come to Pilate with false accusations. On the contrary, Jesus said to give unto Caesar what is Caesars and to God, what is Gods. Also saying, Jesus said he was Christ a King, when Jesus never said that. These accusations will change little by little showing they are lies.

Luke 23:3] And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

This is the most important question Pilate has for Jesus, because if he did claim to be a King, then Pilate would have no problem crucifying Jesus because there is but only one king and that was Caesar. Jesus answered, I didn’t say that, you said that. Let’s get this straight. Jesus is not king of the Jews but rather KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, King of all Israel.

Luke 23:4] Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

The Kenites will take off their masks, their disdain for the LORD cannot be hid. You will see the accusations will now differ just a little.

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.

First this word Jewry is a made-up word, it should have been translated Judaea. Second, notice the change in the charges, now they say Jesus stirred up the people. Jesus stirred up the people with Truth. Pilate notices Jesus is from Galilee and under the rule of Herod. Herod G2264 gives a great commentary on all four King Herod’s. They are called Tetrarchs of Galilee and Peraea and are given the right of appointing the Jewish high priests, together with the care and oversight of the temple at Jerusalem.

Luke 23:6] 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.
[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.
[9] Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

Fulfilling prophecy from Isaiah 53 and verse 7 reads.

Isa.53:7] 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.

There will be many prophecies coming to pass in this chapter. Back to Luke 23 and verse 10 reads.

Luke 23:10] And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

Remember it was Herod who appointed the chief priests, not God.

Luke 23:11] And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

Back to Isaiah 53 and verse 3 reads.

Isa.53:3] 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.

Back to Luke 23 and verse 12 reads.

Luke 23:12] And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

This too in a way is prophecy fulfilled. Let’s go to Psalms 2 and verse 1 reads.

Psa.2:1] Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
[2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
[3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
[4] He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
[5] Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Notice it begins with the first advent and ends with the second advent, Wrath. They will fulfill the first prophecy in God’s Word, Genesis 3 and verse 15 reads.

Gen.3:15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

They will bruise his heels, first advent and he will bruise his head, second advent. Peter covered this in Acts, let’s go to Acts 4 and verse 25 reads.

Acts 4:25] Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
[26] The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
[27] For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
[28] For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Peter says in verse 28 that what is written will come to pass exactly as it is written. Back to Luke 23 and verse 13 reads.

Luke 23:13] 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:

Knowing they were caught in their lies, the Kenites will again show who they truly are.

Luke 23:15] No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
[16] I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

Chastise and release him trying to draw some sympathy for Jesus from these rulers. There will be no sympathy from these Kenites.

Luke 23:17] (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

Customary to release one from prison on the Passover.

Luke 23:18] And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

Now Barabbas means; son of my father, Jesus is the Son of God. What we have here is a decision, which son of which father will these people want. Being Kenites, the offspring of Cain and the first murderer. It won’t be a surprise. Let’s go to Acts 3 and verse 13 reads.

Acts 3:13] The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
[14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
[15] And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Back to Luke 23 and verse 19 reads.

Luke 23:19] (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

It is recorded in the book of Josephus that this Barabbas killed over four hundred people.

Luke 23:20] Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
[21] But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

Remember these are the rulers from the temple, very religious of them.

Luke 23:22] 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.

Pilate would wash his hands and deliver Jesus to them, but only because of the one charge, that they lied and said he called himself king. These priests and rulers of the temple are breaking a couple of Moses’s laws. Let’s go to Exodus 23 and verse 1 reads.

Exo.23:1] Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
[2] Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

But then again, these high priests and scribes are not chosen by God, but by Herod. Back to Luke 23 and verse 25 reads.

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.

Releasing their own, a fellow Kenite. But fulfilling prophecy in Isaiah 53 and verse 8 reads.

Isa.53:8] 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.

Back to Luke 23 and verse 26 reads.

Luke 23:26] And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

Many pastors teach this man is an African because he came from Cyrene, they couldn’t be further from the truth. Remember the law of Moses, written in Deuteronomy 12 that the Passover shall be kept as a memorial forever. Deuteronomy 12 and verse 14 reads.

Exo.12:14] And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Keeping with the law, all Israelites came from all over the world to Jerusalem to keep the Passover. This mans name is Simon, a Greek name taken from the Hebrew name Simeon which both mean; A Hearing. This man was in Jerusalem to give homage. Back to Luke 23 and verse 27 reads.

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

It was morning now and the trial took all night.

Luke 23:28] But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
[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.
[30] Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

Jesus is not talking about actually being pregnant, he is speaking spiritually. It is referring to the second advent. Jesus is the Word of God and here he uses both Old and New Testaments for prophecies still needing to be fulfilled. First let’s go to Isaiah 54 and verse 1 reads.

Isa.54:1] Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
[2] Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
[3] For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
[4] Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
[5] For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
[6] For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
[7] For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
[8] In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
[9] For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
[10] For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

We know that we are waiting for the marriage to the Lamb. And Jesus has been gone for two thousand years, if he returns and you are with child, then you were not faithful to him. We must think spiritually, He looks at it this way, you slept with the Devil and are with child. That’s his emotions that he is sharing with you right now. And when the true Christ comes at the seventh trump and finds you deceived and worshipping the antichrist you will pray for mountains to fall on you out of shame. Let’s go to Revelation 6 and verse 13 reads.

Rev.6:12] And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
[13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
[14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
[15] And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
[16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
[17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Satan comes at the sixth Seal, the sixth Trump and the sixth Vial. Do not be deceived, God’s Elect shall be able to stand. Back to Luke 23 and verse 31 reads.

Luke 23:31] For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

This word Dry is important. The differences between a green tree and a dry tree is one is of flesh, the other is of Spirit. Dry G3584 xēros pronounced xay-ros’ and means; a. of members of the body deprived of their natural juices, shrunk, wasted, withered. Jesus is not asking what will they do with his Spirit when he returns, because we know all knees will bow to him. But this is talking about his Elect who have his Spirit speaking through them when they are delivered up to Satan at the sixth trump. Let’s go to Ezekiel 17 and verse 24 reads.

Eze.17:24] And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.

In verse 31 of Luke 23 Jesus is saying; If they will do this to the Son of God in the flesh, what will they do to my Elect in the Spirit just before I return at the second advent. Obviously, it will be much worse. This has to do with the testimony we give just before he returns. Testimony G3144 martus pronounced mar’-toos and it is where we get our word Martyr from. It means; 1. those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death. Do we as God’s Elect need to worry? No, we know to be absent from this body is to be present with the LORD. Never forget it is our destiny to be a witness and give our testimony when we are delivered up to Satan at the sixth trump. This is why we don’t fear those that can kill the flesh. Revelation 6 and verse 9 reads.

Rev.6:9] And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
[10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
[11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

This is why the second advent is called Vengeance. And also, why I said after verse 30 and Rev.6:17 God’s Elect shall be able to stand. Back to Luke 23 and verse 32 reads.

Luke 23:32] And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

Crucified between two malefactors, fulfilling Isaiah 53 and verse 9 reads.

Isa.53:9] 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.

Back to Luke 23 and verse 33 reads.

Luke 23:33] 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.

This place called Calvary is also called Golgotha, meaning the place of the skull because the place looked like a skull. But most important it is also called Moriah in the time when God had asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son in Genesis 22 and verse 4 reads.

Gen.22:4] Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
[5] And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you,

Here is Abraham’s great faith, he said he and the lad would come back to them.

Gen.22:6] And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
[7] And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
[8] And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
[9] And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
[10] And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
[11] And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
[12] And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
[13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

The promise from God to Abraham that he would sacrifice his only begotten Son for the sins of the world because of Abraham’s great faith. Giving us the Lamb of God, Jesus our Christ. Back to Luke 23 and verse 34 reads.

Luke 23:34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Another prophecy fulfilled. Let’s go to Psalms 22, this is written by David a thousand years before Jesus was crucified. Psalms 22 and verse 18 reads.

Psa.22:18] They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

The whole of Psalms 22 is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ written by King David a thousand years before it ever happened. Back to Luke 23 and verse 35 reads.

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.

Now the rulers, more specifically the high priest, just fulfilled prophecy themselves. Let’s go back to Psalms 22 and verse 8 reads.

Psa.22:8] He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Back to Luke 23 and verse 36 reads.

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.

This vinegar is poor man’s wine. Spiked with a little drug to make the suffering last longer. Even the Roman soldiers are fulfilling prophecy, let’s go to Psalms 69 and verse 21 reads.

Psa.69:21] They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Back to Luke 23 and verse 38 reads.

Luke 23:38] And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Pilate knew the high priests and scribes were lying to him. Let’s go to Matthew 27 and verse 41 reads.

Mat.27:41] Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
[42] He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
[43] He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

They admitted two things, one that Jesus saved others. And two that he was King of Israel and not only of the Jews. Back to Luke 23 and verse 39 reads.

Luke 23:39] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
[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.

This malefactor (thief) rebukes the other because he knew Jesus was innocent and that they were guilty of sin. Let’s go to 2Corinthians 5 and verse 19 reads.

2Cor.5:19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
[20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
[21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Christ died without sin for our sins. Back to Luke 23 and verse 42 reads.

Luke 23:42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

This malefactor repents to Jesus Christ before he dies on the cross. Notice he didn’t come down from the cross and be baptized.

Luke 23:43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Nobody is left in a hole in the ground, as some preachers teach falsely. All resurrect and go back to the Father from whence they came. Ecclesiastes 12:7.

Luke 23:44] And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

This would be from noon until 3pm. Prophecy of Amos fulfilled, let’s go to Amos 8 and verse 9 reads.

Amos 8:9] And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5 and verse 17 reads.

Mat.5:17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

This is so important for us to understand, there will be a second advent and all prophecies will be fulfilled. Back to Luke 23 and verse 45 reads.

Luke 23:45] 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.

The first thing Jesus did when he gave up the Spirit was to rent the veil in two from top to bottom. This allows all of us to go directly to the Father in prayer without a priest between us and God. Let’s go to Psalms 31 and verse 5 reads.

Psa.31:5] Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

And in 1Peter 2 and verse 23 reads.

1Pet.2:23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Committed himself to be received by God in Spirit.

1Pet.2:24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Back to Luke 23 and verse 47 reads.

Luke 23:47] Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

This Roman centurion was converted and became a believer and (do not overlook) glorified God.

Luke 23:48] And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

Not only the centurion but these gentiles also believed. But his friends scattered and his family was on another hill watching from afar off. Let’s see more prophecy being fulfilled. Psalms 38 and verse 11 reads.

Psa.38:11] My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

Back to Luke 23 and verse 49 reads.

Luke 23:49] 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 counseller; and he was a good man, and a just:

Joseph of Arimathea was a rich uncle to Jesus. he owned tin mines in Glastonbury England. Find time to read the book Traditions of Glastonbury by E. Raymond Capt. This also fulfills prophecy in Isaiah 53 and verse 9 reads.

Isa.53:9] 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.

Jesus will be buried in a rich man’s tomb. Back to Luke 23 and verse 51 reads.

Luke 23:51] (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.

Joseph of Arimathea was a pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin which was the governmental system for the temple. This says he did not consent to the crucifixion and was a disciple of Christ.

Luke 23:52] 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.

Joseph of Arimathea was kinsman redeemer, only he could claim the body of Jesus.

Luke 23:54] And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

It was drawing close to sundown on the fourteenth day of Abib. The Passover was drawing nigh and the body had to be in the tomb by sundown to keep with the laws of the Hebrews.

Luke 23:55] And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
[56] And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

This commandment was given in Deuteronomy 5:14. Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday. Wednesday sundown to Thursday sundown one day. Thursday sundown to Friday sundown two days. Friday sundown to Saturday sundown three days. Then sometime in the night he resurrected from the tomb. Saturday was the second sabbath during the week of Passover. The women had to wait until after that sabbath to go to the tomb for the spices and to anoint the body of Jesus. Let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible