What is the meaning of Luke 24:20? Our chief priests and rulers “Our chief priests and rulers…” (Luke 24:20) • Luke stresses that Israel’s own religious leaders initiated events (see John 11:47-53; Acts 4:27). • Their position should have led them to recognize the Messiah (Deuteronomy 18:15; John 5:39-40), yet they chose self-preservation over truth (Matthew 26:3-4). • This reminds us that external religious authority, without a humble heart, can resist God’s clear revelation (Matthew 23:13). delivered Him up “…delivered Him up…” • The verb underscores intentional action: they handed Jesus to Rome’s jurisdiction (Matthew 27:2; John 18:30-31). • Peter later states, “You handed Him over… and disowned Him” (Acts 3:13-14). • While the leaders acted wickedly, God’s sovereign plan moved through their choice (Acts 2:23; Isaiah 53:10). to the sentence of death “…to the sentence of death…” • Roman authority alone could pronounce capital punishment, so the leaders pressed for it (John 18:31; Luke 23:24). • Pilate’s verdict, though reluctant, fulfilled prophecy that Messiah would be “cut off” (Isaiah 53:8; Daniel 9:26). • The “sentence of death” affirms the substitutionary nature of Christ’s mission—He accepted judgment we deserved (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8-9). and they crucified Him “…and they crucified Him.” • Crucifixion was Rome’s cruelest penalty, signifying utter shame (John 19:16-18; Psalm 22:16-18). • Deuteronomy 21:23 calls a hanged man “cursed,” which Paul applies to Jesus: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). • The cross stands as history’s pivotal act of love and justice (Colossians 1:20; 1 Peter 2:24). summary Luke 24:20 compresses the Passion into one sentence, spotlighting human guilt and divine purpose. Israel’s leaders plotted, Rome executed, but God orchestrated redemption. Every phrase points to the intentional, prophetic, sacrificial death of Jesus—the Lamb slain for our salvation, exactly as Scripture declared. |
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