20 Pilate , wanting to release Jesus , addressed them again , 21 but they kept on calling out, saying , "Crucify , crucify Him! 22 And he said to them the third time , "Why , what evil has this man done ? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death ; therefore I will punish Him and release Him." 23 But they were insistent , with loud voices asking that He be crucified . And their voices began to prevail . 24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted . 25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder , but he delivered Jesus to their will .
26 When they led Him away , they seized a man , Simon of Cyrene , coming in from the country , and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus . 27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people , and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said , "Daughters of Jerusalem , stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children . 29 "For behold , the days are coming when e they will say , ' Blessed are the barren , and the wombs that never bore , and the breasts that never nursed .' 30 "Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS , 'FALL ON US,' AND TO THE HILLS , 'COVER US.' 31 "For if they do these things when the tree is green , what will happen when it is dry ?"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 23:20-31
Commentary on Luke 23:13-25
(Read Luke 23:13-25)
The fear of man brings many into this snare, that they will do an unjust thing, against their consciences, rather than get into trouble. Pilate declares Jesus innocent, and has a mind to release him; yet, to please the people, he would punish him as an evil-doer. If no fault be found in him, why chastise him? Pilate yielded at length; he had not courage to go against so strong a stream. He delivered Jesus to their will, to be crucified.
Commentary on Luke 23:26-31
(Read Luke 23:26-31)
We have here the blessed Jesus, the Lamb of God, led as a lamb to the slaughter, to the sacrifice. Though many reproached and reviled him, yet some pitied him. But the death of Christ was his victory and triumph over his enemies: it was our deliverance, the purchase of eternal life for us. Therefore weep not for him, but let us weep for our own sins, and the sins of our children, which caused his death; and weep for fear of the miseries we shall bring upon ourselves, if we slight his love, and reject his grace. If God delivered him up to such sufferings as these, because he was made a sacrifice for sin, what will he do with sinners themselves, who make themselves a dry tree, a corrupt and wicked generation, and good for nothing! The bitter sufferings of our Lord Jesus should make us stand in awe of the justice of God. The best saints, compared with Christ, are dry trees; if he suffer, why may not they expect to suffer? And what then shall the damnation of sinners be! Even the sufferings of Christ preach terror to obstinate transgressors.