Luke 23:32-35 — Deep Dive Study

There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death. When they came to the place that is called “The Skull”, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”

— Luke 23:32-35 (World English Bible)

Overview

Hanging in agony between two criminals while being mocked by the crowd, Jesus prays for the forgiveness of His executioners, demonstrating that His.

The Passage in a Sentence

Hanging in agony between two criminals while being mocked by the crowd, Jesus prays for the forgiveness of His executioners, demonstrating that His refusal to save Himself is the very act that saves us.

Historical & Literary Context

The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke, a physician and traveling companion of the apostle Paul (Colossians 4:14). Writing to a high-ranking Greek believer named Theophilus, Luke’s goal was to provide an orderly, historically reliable account of Jesus' life (Luke 1:1-4). This target audience consisted largely of Gentile believers who needed to see that Jesus was not a localized political revolutionary, but the Savior of all humanity. Luke consistently highlights Jesus' compassion for the marginalized, the poor, and the outcast throughout his narrative.

In the first century, crucifixion was the ultimate tool of Roman state terror. Reserved for slaves, rebels, and the lowest criminals, it was designed to maximize physical torment and public humiliation. Executions were intentionally carried out along busy thoroughfares outside the city walls to serve as a graphic warning to passersby. The site called "The Skull"—known as Golgotha in Aramaic or Calvary in Latin—was a well-known, elevated rocky outcrop just outside Jerusalem.

Politically, Jerusalem was a powder keg during the Passover festival. The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, had capitulated to the demands of the Jewish religious leadership to execute Jesus to prevent a riot (Luke 23:23-24). By placing Jesus between two violent offenders, the Roman authorities sought to categorize Him as a common threat to the empire. Luke's original readers would have understood the extreme shame of this setup, highlighting the stark contrast between Roman imperial brutality and the quiet majesty of the suffering Messiah.

Original Language Deep Dive

Key Word Breakdown:

κακοῦργος (kakourgos) — G2557: "criminal" or "evil-doer." This word combines kakos (evil) and ergon (work), literally meaning "one who does evil." By using this term, the text highlights that Jesus was intentionally numbered with the most lawless elements of society, fulfilling ancient prophecy (Isaiah 53:12). Κρανίον (Kranion) — G2898: "skull." This noun refers to the physical site of the crucifixion, representing a place associated with death, decay, and desolation. Spiritually, this suggests that Jesus marched directly into the territory of death to disarm its power over humanity (Hebrews 2:14-15). ἄφες (aphes) — G0863H: "to release," "let go," or "forgive." Derived from the verb aphiemi, this legal and financial term means to cancel a debt, release a prisoner, or dismiss a charge. In this context, it shows Jesus actively releasing His executioners from their spiritual debt while they are in the very act of crucifying Him. ἐξεμυκτήριζον (exemuktērizon) — G1592: "to ridicule" or "scoff." This intense verb literally means "to turn up the nose at someone" or "to sneer." This vivid term illustrates the deep, visceral contempt of the religious rulers, who physically gestured their disdain for Jesus as He hung on the cross. ἐκλεκτός (eklektos) — G1588: "select" or "chosen one." This adjective refers to someone singled out by God for a special purpose. Though the rulers used this title as a sarcastic weapon to mock His helplessness, they unwittingly proclaimed His true, divinely appointed identity as the Messiah (Luke 9:35).

Theological Significance

This passage stands at the absolute center of the redemptive narrative. From the moment sin entered the world in Genesis 3, humanity has been separated from God by a chasm of guilt and rebellion. The sacrificial system of the Old Testament could only temporarily cover sin, pointing forward to a perfect, final sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-4). On the hill of the Skull, Jesus becomes that final sacrifice, absorbing the wrath of God against human sin in His own body (1 Peter 2:24).

The presence of the two criminals represents the state of all humanity. We are not innocent bystanders; we are lawbreakers justly condemned under God's perfect law (Romans 3:23). By hanging between these two men, Jesus physically positions Himself in our place, taking the condemnation we deserved (Galatians 3:13). This pictures the great exchange of the gospel: the sinless Savior is treated as an evil-doer so that evil-doers can be declared righteous before a holy God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Furthermore, Jesus' prayer, "Father, forgive them," reveals the deep mercy of God's character. Instead of calling down legions of angels for vengeance (Matthew 26:53), Jesus uses His remaining breath to intercede for His tormentors. This act of grace fulfills His own teaching to love our enemies and pray for those who abuse us (Luke 6:27-28). It also demonstrates that the cross is not a tragic accident, but the deliberate, sovereign plan of God to rescue a lost world (Acts 2:23).

Key Insights

Identified with Transgressors: By being crucified between two criminals, Jesus willingly entered the lowest depths of human shame. This suggests that there is no place of human brokenness or guilt that is too deep for His saving reach (Hebrews 7:25). Intercession in Agony: Jesus' first words from the cross are not a cry of pain or a demand for justice, but a petition for mercy. This pictures His ongoing role as our heavenly Advocate who continually intercedes for us before the Father (Hebrews 9:24). The Blindness of Sin: The phrase "they don’t know what they are doing" highlights the profound spiritual blindness that accompanies human rebellion. Humanity was crucifying the Lord of glory, completely unaware of the spiritual reality of their actions (1 Corinthians 2:8). The Irony of Mockery: The rulers mocked Jesus by saying, "He saved others; let him save himself." They failed to realize that if Jesus had saved Himself from the cross, He could not have saved anyone else (Mark 10:45). Sovereignty in the Details: The soldiers casting lots for Jesus' clothing seems like a minor detail, but it directly fulfilled prophecy written centuries earlier. This shows that even the most cruel, random acts of pagan soldiers were under God's sovereign control (Psalm 22:18). The Unshakable Chosen One: The title "the Christ of God, his chosen one" was meant to humiliate Him. Yet, it serves as a divine confirmation that Jesus was indeed the long-awaited Messiah, chosen by God to crush the power of sin and death (Genesis 3:15).

### 📚 Cross-Reference Treasury

Isaiah 53:12 (WEBU) > "Therefore I will give him a portion with the great. He will divide the plunder with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was counted with the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors."

This ancient prophecy, written over seven hundred years before Christ, foretold that the Messiah would be counted among criminals and would pray for those who sinned against Him.

Psalm 22:18 (WEBU) > "They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing."

This specific detail of the crucifixion was recorded by King David, showing that the Roman soldiers' actions were part of a detailed, prophetic blueprint.

Romans 5:8 (WEBU) > "But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Paul's theological statement perfectly mirrors Jesus' prayer on the cross, demonstrating that God's love is extended to us while we are still in active rebellion against Him.

1 Peter 2:23 (WEBU) > "When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously."

Peter highlights Jesus' silent submission and lack of retaliation as the ultimate model for how believers should handle suffering and injustice.

Acts 7:60 (WEBU) > "He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep."

Stephen, the first Christian martyr, directly modeled his final moments after Jesus, showing that the Spirit enables believers to offer radical forgiveness even to their murderers.

A Picture of This Truth

In the winter of 1982, a passenger jet crashed into the frozen Potomac River in Washington, D.C., leaving only a few survivors clinging to the wreckage in the icy water. A rescue helicopter arrived and lowered a life ring to a man named Arland D. Williams Jr.

Instead of slipping the ring over his own shoulders, Williams immediately passed it to another passenger. The helicopter pulled that person to safety and returned. Again, Williams took the line and handed it to someone else. He did this repeatedly, prioritizing the lives of complete strangers over his own.

When the helicopter returned for the final time, Williams had slipped beneath the freezing water. He had the power to grasp the lifeline and save himself, but he chose to let himself drown so that others could live.

This act of self-sacrifice mirrors the reality of Luke 23:35. Jesus hung on the cross, surrounded by people shouting, "Save yourself!" He possessed the divine power to step down from the wood at any second, yet He chose to remain pinned to the cross, refusing the lifeline so that we could be pulled from the icy waters of sin and death.

Today's Application

Offer Radical Forgiveness: Follow Christ’s example by actively forgiving those who have wronged you, even before they ask for your forgiveness or realize the damage they have caused (Colossians 3:13). Pray for Your Enemies: Intentionally pray for the spiritual well-being of those who oppose, mock, or mistreat you, asking God to open their eyes to His grace (Matthew 5:44). Relinquish Self-Defense: Instead of exhausting your energy trying to defend your reputation or retaliate against critics, entrust your life and circumstances to God, who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). Rest in Finished Redemption: Stop trying to earn your salvation through personal performance; trust completely in the finished work of Jesus, who paid your debt in full on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). Proclaim the Gospel to the Outcast: Actively share the hope of Jesus with those whom society has labeled as unreachable, remembering that Jesus chose to die surrounded by criminals (Luke 19:10).

Reflection & Prayer

Reflect on this: In what area of your life are you still trying to "save yourself" through your own efforts, rather than resting in the finished work of the Savior who refused to save Himself?

A Prayer for Today: Father, I am overwhelmed by the depth of Your mercy demonstrated at the place of the Skull. While I was still a sinner, Jesus stood in my place, bore my shame, and prayed for my forgiveness. Help me to fully receive this free gift of grace and stop trying to earn my right standing with You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can extend this same radical forgiveness to those who have hurt me. When I am tempted to retaliate or defend myself, remind me of the silence of my Savior on the cross. Teach me to love my enemies and pray for those who oppose me, reflecting Your heart to a broken world. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for staying on that cross to save me. In Your holy name, I pray. Amen.