Luke 23:38 - Printer Friendly

ESV: There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

NIV: There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

NASB: Now there was also an inscription above Him, 'THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.'

CSB: An inscription was above him: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

NLT: A sign was fastened above him with these words: 'This is the King of the Jews.'

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

NKJV: And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Above Jesus' head, while He hangs on the cross, sits a sign. The full text seems to be, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (John 19:19). Pilate chooses this charge because after all the interrogations, this is the only accusation of substance the Jewish religious leaders can produce. They first told Pilate, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king" (Luke 23:2). The first charge is vague; the second is verifiably false (Luke 20:19–26). Neither Pilate nor Herod Antipas—a self-styled king—find Jesus guilty of any of the charges (Luke 23:6–16).

From God's perspective, the charge isn't against Jesus; it's against the Jewish leaders and the people who follow them. Jesus is the Christ and, therefore, the king in the line of David (1 Chronicles 17:11–14). The people tell Pilate that to not kill Jesus is to defy the Roman emperor (John 19:12). When Pilate gives them another chance to claim their king, the chief priests, in direct violation of Deuteronomy 17:14–15, say, "We have no king but Caesar" (John 19:15).

The fact that Jesus is king has a couple of different applications. In the millennium kingdom, Jesus will bring the kingdom of God to earth. Finally, it will be done "on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). He will literally rule over Israel from His throne in Jerusalem (Revelation 19:16). Every nation will worship Him as the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:14–16; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10; Revelation 5:9).

But Jesus is king now, as well. He is the authority over His followers' lives. We acknowledge He is king when we obey His law and spread His kingdom by sharing the gospel and showing the world what it looks like to follow Him.

The other Gospels include this information earlier. They also have slightly different wording. Matthew 27:37 excludes the "of Nazareth." Mark focuses on a specific charge: "The King of the Jews" (Mark 15:26). Instead of giving Jesus' name, Luke uses the Greek for "this one"—a dismissive, derogatory pronoun he uses to show the contempt of people for Jesus (Luke 23:4, 14, 18).

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.