Luke 23:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’

NIV: For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’

NASB: For behold, days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are those who cannot bear, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not nursed.’

CSB: Look, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the women without children, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’

NLT: For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’

KJV: 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.

NKJV: For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’

Jesus is on His way from Pilate's palace to the cross. Behind Him, a crowd follows. In that crowd are women who mourn and lament for Him (Luke 23:26–27). We don't know if they are some of Jesus' followers or if they are professional mourners, come to give Jesus a traditional funeral element. Either way, Jesus warns them that their sorrow is misplaced. Yes, He has been tortured and will soon face an excruciating death on the cross. But the "daughters of Jerusalem" will not go unscathed.

Jesus doesn't specifically identify what events He is speaking about. His words match two prophecies. Before His arrest, Jesus warned Peter, Andrew, James, and John that armies would surround Jerusalem. He indicated that everyone, whether in the city or in the farmland, should flee (Luke 21:20–22). He said, "Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Luke 21:23–24).

It's not clear if Jesus is talking about the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 or looking far forward to the "tribulation" of the end times. His next words (Luke 23:30) seem to identify the latter as they match with the events of the sixth seal (Luke 23:30; Revelation 6:16). Either way, Jesus continues the message He has given many times: be prepared for the end.

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.