College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Luke 23 - Introduction
Butler's Comments
Chapter Twenty-three
THE SON OF MAN CRUCIFIED
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
1.
Why did the Jews take Jesus to Pilatewhy didn-'t they kill Him themselves (Luke 23:1 ff.)?
2.
Why did Herod want to see some sign by Jesus (Luke 23:8)?
3.
What charges did the Jews make against Jesus to Pilate (Luke 23:14)?
4.
After Pilate had declared Jesus innocent of the charges, why did he propose to chastise Jesus before releasing Him (Luke 23:16)?
5.
Why did Pilate finally give in to the demands of the Jews that Jesus be crucified (Luke 23:24)?
6.
What did Jesus mean in His reference to the green wood and the dry (Luke 23:31)?
7.
What does death by crucifixion mean (Luke 23:33)?
8.
How could Jesus promise the thief on the cross salvation if he had not been baptized (Luke 23:43)?
9.
How could a Roman centurion praise God at the crucifixion of Jesuswhich God was he praising (Luke 23:47)?
10.
What is the day of Preparation? What significance has the note of the day of Jesus-' crucifixion (Luke 23:54)?
Applebury's Comments
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Outline
A.
Luke told about the trial of Jesus before Pilate and Herod (Luke 23:1-25).
1.
The first trial before Pilate (Luke 23:1-7).
a)
The charge against Him.
(1)
Perverting the nation.
(2)
Forbidding to give tribute to Caesar.
(3)
Claiming that He is Christ the King.
b)
The
investigation of the charges by Pilate.
(1)
Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered affirmatively.
(2)
His verdict: I find no fault in this man.
c)
The urgent complaint: He stirs up the nation from Judea to Galilee.
d)
The governor's decision: Send Him to Herod, the ruler of Galilee.
2.
The trial before Herod (Luke 23:8-12).
a)
The attitude of Herod: Delighted at this turn of events, for he hoped to see Jesus work some miracle.
b)
The investigation by Herod: He questioned Jesus at length, but Jesus refused to answer.
c)
The complaint: The priests and scribes pressed their charges.
d)
The outcome of the trial: Herod and soldiers mocked Jesus and returned Him to Pilate. Pilate and Herod became friends that very day.
3.
The second trial before Pilate (Luke 23:13-25).
a)
The verdict: Pilate reviewed the case and again pronounced Jesus innocent.
b)
The verdict of Herod: Nothing worthy of death done by Him.
c)
The plan to release Jesus: Twice announced and twice rejected. The Jews said, Release Barabbas; crucify Jesus.
d)
The third and final effort to save Him:
(1)
Pilate asked, What evil has he done? The Jews urged that He be crucified.
(2)
Pilate gave in, passed sentence on Jesus, and released Barabbas.
B.
Luke told about the crucifixion of Jesus (Luke 23:26-49).
1.
The circumstances leading to the crucifixion (Luke 23:26-32).
a)
Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross.
b)
The crowds following and lamenting Him.
c)
Jesus comforted them.
(1)
Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves and your children.
(2)
Trials of the days to come: Fortunate are the childless; asking the mountains to fall and cover them; this in the green tree, what of the dry?
d)
The other two who were also to be put to death.
2.
The crucifixion of Jesus (Luke 23:33-38).
a)
The place: The skullCalvary.
b)
The prayer: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
c)
The people:
(1)
Parting His garments among them.
(2)
The people stood looking on.
(3)
The rulers scoffed: Let him save himself.
(4)
The soldiers mocked Him.
d)
The sign: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
3.
The other two who were crucified with Him (Luke 23:39-43).
a)
One scoffed, and was rebuked by the other.
b)
The other said, Remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom. Jesus said, Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.
4.
The death of Jesus (Luke 23:44-49).
a)
The thing that happened: Darkness and rending of the temple veil.
b)
The word of Jesus: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
c)
The end: He gave up the ghost, that is, He died.
d)
The reaction of those who saw Him die.
(1)
The centurion: Certainly this was a righteous man.
(2)
The crowds: They returned, smiting their breasts.
(3)
His acquaintances and the women from Galilee: They stood some distance away, seeing these things.
C.
Luke told about the burial of Jesus (Luke 23:50-56).
1.
The facts about Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:50-52).
a)
He was a righteous man.
b)
He had not consented to the crucifixion of Jesus.
c)
He had been looking for the kingdom of God.
d)
He asked Pilate for the body of Jesus.
2.
The facts about the burial (Luke 23:53-56).
a)
Joseph prepared the body for burial and laid it in the tomb.
b)
The time: The day of Preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin. There was still time to prepare the spices before the sabbath actually began ((Luke 23:56).
c)
The women prepared spices and ointments and rested on the sabbath.
Summary
The Jews agreed that Jesus should be put to death because, as they said, He was guilty of blasphemy. But they knew that such a charge would mean nothing to Pilate. What could they say to the governor that would get him to consent to the death of Jesus? He was perverting the nation of the Jews! That would do it, for the governor had to keep peace. But just to make sure, they added two more charges, forbidding to give tribute to Caesar and saying that He was a king.
Pilate examined Jesus and three times pronounced Him innocent. When he learned that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent Him to Herod who questioned Him at length but found nothing worthy of death in Him. But the Jews pressed the issue and threatened to take the case to Caesar. When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, he ordered Jesus to be crucified.
Jesus went out bearing His own cross, but soon Simon of Cyrene was compelled to bear the cross to the place of crucifixion. Jesus tried to comfort the women of Jerusalem as they followed Him. They would sufferperhaps at the destruction of Jerusalemmore hardships later on. They would cry for the rocks and the mountains to fall on them and cover them from that persecution.
On the cross, Jesus prayed, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. He said to the dying thief, Today, shalt thou be with me in Paradise. Just before He died, He said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
The centurion who commanded the soldiers that executed the three looked at Jesus as He died and said, Certainly this was a righteous man. Later he said, This was God's Son.
Joseph of Arimathea who had been a secret disciple of Jesus went to Pilate and asked permission to take the body of Jesus down an bury it. It was the day of Preparation and the sabbath was about to begin. The women prepared spices and ointments and rested on the sabbath.
Questions
1.
Why did the Jews change their charge when they brought Jesus before the governor?
2.
What are the three charges which they presented before Pilate?
3.
What evidence could they present to support them?
4.
What was Pilate's verdict after examining Jesus?
5.
Why did he send Him to Herod?
6.
What was the attitude of Herod when he saw Jesus?
7.
What examination of the charges did he make?
8.
What was the verdict of Herod?
9.
Why did he and Pilate become friends at that time?
10.
What plan did Pilate use to attempt to get the people to agree to the release of Jesus?
11.
When did the people reverse the decision made at the trial?
12.
Who was Simon of Cyrene? What did he do?
13.
What was to happen to the Daughters of Jerusalem?
14.
What does Calvary mean? Golgotha?
15.
What did Jesus mean by His prayer: Father forgive them?
16.
Why did He say to the thief, Today you will be with me in Paradise?
17.
Where are the dead awaiting the resurrection?
18.
What is the significance of Jesus using the words of Psalms 22:1?
19.
How does Paul explain the reason for the death of Christ?
20.
What was unfair about the remark, He saved others, but he can-'t save himself?
21.
Why was the sign over the cross written in three languages?
22.
Why did Pilate refuse to change what he had written?
23.
What made the difference between the death of Jesus and that of two who were crucified with Him?
24.
What proof is there that Jesus actually died?
25.
What are the two statements of the centurion? What do they mean?
26.
Who was Joseph of Arimathea?
27.
What had been his attitude toward Jesus?
28.
Why did he ask Pilate for the body?
29.
Who helped him?
30.
On what day was Jesus buried?