Luke 23:39

39 1One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? 2Save Yourself and us!"

Luke 23:39 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 23:39

And one of the malefactors, which were hanged
On the cross, one of the thieves crucified with Christ; the Oriental versions add, "with him"; according to the Evangelists Matthew and Mark, both of them reviled him, and threw the same things in his teeth as the priests, people, and soldiers did; which how it may be reconciled, (See Gill on Matthew 27:44)

railed on him, saying, if thou be Christ, save thyself, and us;
taking up the words of the rulers, and adding to them, perhaps, with a design to curry favour with them, hoping thereby to get a release; or, however, showing the wickedness and malice of his heart, which his sufferings and punishment, he now endured, could make no alteration in; see ( Revelation 16:9 ) .

Luke 23:39 In-Context

37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"
38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!"
40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds ; but this man has done nothing wrong."

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Cross References 2

  • 1. Matthew 27:44; Mark 15:32; Luke 23:39-43
  • 2. Luke 23:35, 37

Footnotes 2

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