Luke 23:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine

NIV: The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar

NASB: The soldiers also ridiculed Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine,

CSB: The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine

NLT: The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine.

KJV: And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

NKJV: The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine,

Jesus is hanging from the cross as Jewish religious leaders mock Him (Luke 23:35). The soldiers join in, unwittingly fulfilling another prophecy. They did so before when they cast lots to split His clothing (Luke 23:34; Psalm 22:18). Now they fulfill Psalm 69:21: "They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink" (Psalm 69:21).

This can be a confusing statement given what Jesus said during the Last Supper. He told the disciples to share the wine and then said, "For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22:18). At that time, Jesus was celebrating the Passover with His friends. He opened the meal saying, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it [again] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:15–16). Directly following, He says He will not drink the fruit of the vine until God's kingdom.

There are two distinctions between Jesus' vow and any sour wine He may have accepted during the crucifixion. First, this is cheap wine—barely better than vinegar. Although it comes from grapes, it is not the higher quality "fruit of the vine" of the Passover. The "fruit" of something is what that something results in. If one vine creates wine and another vinegar, it's safe to say these are two vastly different vines.

Second, when Jesus promised He would not drink wine again until God's kingdom came, He did so in the context of a meal with dear friends: a celebratory feast. Although He will eat with the disciples again, after His resurrection (Luke 24:41–43), He does not celebrate any Jewish feasts; He ascends into heaven ten days before the next holiday. The next time Jesus drinks the fruit of the vine with friends, it will be the marriage supper of the Lamb.

The other Gospels mention that Jesus receives sour wine in an event that probably comes later (Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36; John 19:28–30). The instance Luke mentions here is earlier.

Luke 23:32–43 gives a living illustration of the gospel. Jewish rulers, soldiers, and one of the crucified thieves mock Jesus. He forgives them. The other thief takes advantage of Jesus' offer and asks Jesus to remember him in His kingdom; Jesus promises He will. Matthew 27:33–44, Mark 15:22–32, and John 19:17–24 give similar accounts with other details. John also describes how Jesus gives John, the son of Zebedee, responsibility for Mary (John 19:25–27).

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.