What is the meaning of Luke 23:36? The soldiers - Luke identifies a specific group: “The soldiers.” These are the Roman execution squad assigned to crucify Jesus (Matthew 27:27; John 19:23). - Their presence highlights Gentile responsibility in the Passion, standing alongside Jewish leaders’ rejection (Acts 4:27). - Earlier, they had already ridiculed Jesus inside the Praetorium, clothing Him in purple and striking Him (Mark 15:16-20). Now, stationed at the cross, they continue their hard-hearted behavior. - Scripture presents them as eyewitnesses whose eventual confession, “Surely this Man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39), will make their earlier cruelty even more striking. also mocked Him - Mockery fulfills prophecy: “All who see Me mock Me; they sneer and shake their heads” (Psalm 22:7). Luke has just recorded rulers sneering (Luke 23:35); the soldiers “also” join in, showing a united front of scorn against the Messiah. - The ridicule questions Jesus’ royal claims, echoing the purple robe, crown of thorns, and sign reading “King of the Jews” (John 19:2-3, 19). - Their derision intensifies His suffering, yet He endures silently in keeping with Isaiah 53:7—“He did not open His mouth.” - God’s Word portrays this mockery as real, historical, and a deliberate rejection of God’s anointed King (Psalm 2:1-3). and came up to offer Him - The soldiers move toward the cross, implying a personal, face-to-face act. Their approach contrasts with disciples who have fled (Matthew 26:56). - Earlier, on the Via Dolorosa, Simon of Cyrene was compelled to draw near and carry the cross (Luke 23:26); the soldiers now come near for cruelty, not compassion. - This gesture visually dramatizes Psalm 22:17: “They stare and gloat over Me.” - Though hostile, their coming near sets the stage for Jesus’ prayer, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34), underscoring grace extended even to persecutors. sour wine - Sour wine (posca) was the cheap, sour, vinegar-based drink of Roman soldiers. Offering it was part mockery, part misguided mercy (John 19:28-30; Matthew 27:48). - Psalm 69:21 foretold, “For My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink,” showing divine foreknowledge and control of every detail. - The offer may have been an imitation of a royal cupbearer serving a king, turning Jesus’ title into a joke (Luke 23:38). - Yet the very act provides the final stimulus for Jesus’ cry, “It is finished” (John 19:30), fulfilling Scripture to the letter and marking the completion of redemption. summary Luke 23:36 records a real moment of calculated cruelty that fulfills specific Old Testament prophecies, spotlights universal human rebellion, and magnifies Christ’s patient endurance. Roman soldiers, symbols of worldly power, mock the true King yet unwittingly confirm His identity and the accuracy of Scripture. Even in scorn, God’s sovereign plan moves forward, leading to the cross where Jesus secures salvation for all who will believe. |
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