Luke 23:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But turning to them Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

NIV: Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.

NASB: But Jesus turned to them and said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

CSB: But turning to them, Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.

NLT: But Jesus turned and said to them, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

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

NKJV: But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

Roman soldiers are marching Jesus to the cross. Simon of Cyrene is carrying the crossbeam. A "great multitude of the people" are following the spectacle. And in the crowd, women are mourning and lamenting (Luke 23:26–27).

Scripture offers no precise details about who these women are. They might be Jesus' supporters, including His mother, aunt, and Mary Magdalene. That seems unlikely considering the quietness these women embody during and after the crucifixion (John 19:25–27; Luke 23:49, 55–56). Perhaps they are women from Jerusalem who had come to believe in Him during His stay the prior week (Luke 19:47–48).

Some have suggested the women are professional mourners—though there is no hint as to who would have hired them or why. This was an expected part of funeral rites in that era. The mourners don't have to be sincere. Those who came to Jairus's home when his daughter died quickly switched from wailing to laughing at Jesus (Luke 8:52–53). Jesus' response supports this. He warns them that things are going to get worse, as if to say their insincere cries today will turn to terror in the future.

He tells them to weep for themselves and their children, not for Him. He is beaten and bloody—so weak He apparently can't carry the beam for the cross. He is about to die a humiliating, torturous death. But they need to focus on their own futures. Before long, they will wish they were barren and dead. Today, they have the freedom to mockingly mourn the death of a man the Romans condemned to die. Soon, they will be the victims (Luke 23:29–31).

Note that "daughters of Jerusalem" doesn't necessarily mean they are from Jerusalem. The term could be another way of calling them Jewish.

Luke 23:26–31 describes Jesus' journey to the cross. Along the way, Simon of Cyrene is conscripted to carry the cross beam. In a section unique to Luke, a large crowd follows Jesus, mourning; Jesus tells the women that their own great hardships are yet to come. Matthew 27:27–32, Mark 15:16–21, and John 19:16–17 add other details like the crown of thorns and the Roman soldiers mocking Jesus.

Luke 23 records the remaining trials, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. He is examined by the Roman governor and the local appointed King, neither of whom are interested in passing a death sentence. Local religious leaders incite the crowd, pressuring the governor, Pilate, to authorize crucifixion. Jesus accepts the faith of another condemned man and dies. Joseph of Arimathea asks for Jesus body and buries it in a tomb cut from rock.

Luke 23 records Jesus' civil trials, crucifixion, and burial. The members of the Sanhedrin have put Jesus through three trials in their attempt to convince Pilate He's a threat (Luke 22:47–71). Their case is weak, but their political influence is powerful enough to force Pilate's hand. Jesus is executed. Three days after Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus, Jesus reappears on the road to Emmaus where He explains Messianic prophecies in Jewish Scriptures. After spending time with His followers, Jesus ascends into heaven (Luke 24) and the disciples build the church (Acts).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.