LUKE 23:32–38
THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS
BRIEF INTERPRETATION
Text – Luke 23:32–38
32 Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.
33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” They divided his garments by casting lots.
35 The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.”
36 Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine
37 they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
Historical and Jewish Context
Crucifixion was a Roman form of execution reserved for criminals and rebels. The place called “the Skull” (Golgotha) lay outside the city walls. Jesus is crucified between two criminals, fulfilling the image of one counted among transgressors. Mockery from rulers and soldiers reflects the shame associated with crucifixion, while the casting of lots for His garments follows customary practice among Roman executioners.
Catholic Theological Perspective
At the moment of greatest suffering, Jesus offers forgiveness. His prayer reveals the heart of divine mercy, even toward those responsible for His death (CCC 2843). The irony of the mockery is profound: Jesus truly is the Messiah and King, yet His kingship is revealed through self-giving love. The inscription placed above the Cross unknowingly proclaims the truth—Christ reigns from the Cross.
Parallels in Scripture
Is 53:12 – He was numbered among the transgressors.
Ps 22:18 – They divide my garments among them.
Mt 27:38–44 – Parallel account of the crucifixion.
Jn 19:19–22 – The inscription of Jesus’ kingship.
Eph 2:16 – Reconciliation through the Cross.
Key Terms
Crucifixion – A Roman execution method marked by extreme suffering and shame.
Forgiveness – Jesus’ prayer revealing boundless divine mercy.
King of the Jews – A title mocked yet proclaimed as truth from the Cross.
Casting Lots – Fulfillment of Scripture showing God’s plan at work.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This passage stands at the heart of Good Friday liturgy. The Church venerates the Cross as the throne of Christ the King and the source of salvation. The faithful are invited to contemplate forgiveness, mercy, and love poured out unto death.
Conclusion
Jesus is lifted on the Cross as the suffering yet victorious King. In mockery and pain, He reveals divine mercy and fulfills Scripture. From the Cross, salvation is offered to the world.
Reflection
Do I allow Christ’s forgiveness to transform my heart?
Am I willing to forgive others even when wronged?
The Cross calls me to live mercy, humility, and love.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, crucified King, teach me the power of forgiveness and self-giving love. May I always look to Your Cross as the source of hope, mercy, and salvation. Amen.
DETAILED INTERPRETATION
INTRODUCTION
Luke 23:32–38 brings the Passion to its central and most terrible moment: the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus is led to the place called the Skull, crucified between two criminals, fully identifying Himself with sinners and the condemned. From the Cross, Jesus utters words that reveal the heart of His mission: “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” Even in extreme suffering, Jesus intercedes for His executioners, transforming the instrument of death into a place of mercy.
The scene unfolds with layers of rejection and irony. The soldiers cast lots for His garments, fulfilling Scripture without awareness. The leaders scoff, mocking His claim to save others if He is truly the Messiah. An inscription above Him reads, “This is the King of the Jews,” intended as ridicule, yet proclaiming a profound truth. Jesus reigns not by force, but by self-giving love. His kingship is revealed precisely in His obedience, humility, and forgiveness.
Lk 23:32 — “Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.”
This verse situates Jesus decisively among the condemned. Luke notes, with restrained simplicity, that Jesus is not led alone. Two criminals accompany Him, sharing the same path and the same sentence. The innocent One is counted among the guilty, fulfilling the pattern already unfolding throughout the Passion.
The phrasing “with him” is significant. Jesus does not merely walk alongside them by circumstance; He chooses to remain in solidarity with sinners to the very end. Luke emphasizes that the category “criminals” applies to the others, not to Jesus—yet He is treated no differently. The distinction between guilt and innocence is ignored by the machinery of execution.
This verse quietly fulfills the Scriptures: the Servant of the Lord is numbered among transgressors. Jesus’ mission reaches its deepest point of identification with humanity. He stands where sinners stand, bears what sinners bear, and enters death in their company.
For disciples, this verse reveals the heart of redemption. Christ does not save from a distance. He enters fully into the human condition, even into the place of shame and judgment. The road to salvation passes through solidarity with the guilty, not separation from them.
Historical and Jewish Context
Criminals sentenced to crucifixion were often executed together. Being led with criminals marked Jesus publicly as a condemned man.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ was “counted among the transgressors” and bore the consequences of sin though He Himself was without sin (cf. CCC 608, 601). His solidarity with sinners is the foundation of redemption.
Key Terms
Two others — companions in condemnation
Criminals — those truly guilty
With him — solidarity of the Innocent One
Led away — final movement toward execution
Conclusion
Luke 23:32 places Jesus unmistakably among sinners at the moment of death. The Innocent One walks the final path not apart from the guilty, but beside them, completing His mission of saving love.
Reflection
Do I recognize that Christ entered fully into the place of sinners—including my own—so that no one would be beyond His saving reach?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Innocent One led with the guilty, I thank You for entering my place and bearing my burden. Teach me to trust in Your mercy and to walk humbly with You, knowing that You never abandon those You came to save. Amen.
Lk 23:33 — “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.”
This verse brings the Passion to its terrible climax. The journey ends at a place ominously named the Skull. Luke states the event with stark simplicity, refusing dramatic detail. The restraint itself intensifies the horror. What has been decided in words is now enacted in flesh.
Jesus is crucified with the criminals, yet Luke carefully distinguishes Him from them. He is not called a criminal; He is placed among them. The positioning—one on his right, the other on his left—ironically mirrors positions of honor. What was once sought by disciples in glory now appears in suffering. Kingship is revealed through the cross.
This moment fulfills the deepest pattern of redemption. The Innocent One stands at the center of human guilt, bearing it without resistance. Heaven’s Judge is judged; Life itself is nailed to death. Luke’s quiet narration allows theology to emerge through fact: salvation is accomplished not by force, but by self-giving love.
For disciples, this verse is foundational. The cross is not an accident or interruption; it is the center of Christian faith. Christ reigns from the place of execution. To follow Him means to accept a love that gives itself completely, even when misunderstood or rejected.
Historical and Jewish Context
Crucifixion was a Roman execution method for criminals and rebels, carried out publicly to deter resistance. The site outside the city emphasized shame and exclusion.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ’s crucifixion is the decisive act of salvation, where He offers Himself freely for the forgiveness of sins (cf. CCC 613–617). His place between sinners reveals the heart of divine mercy.
Key Terms
The Skull — place of death and judgment
Crucified — Roman execution by crucifixion
With the criminals — solidarity with sinners
Right and left — ironic echo of rejected glory
Conclusion
Luke 23:33 reveals the mystery at the heart of the Gospel. Jesus is crucified at the center—between sinners—transforming a place of death into the source of life.
Reflection
Do I truly accept the cross as the place where Christ reveals His love and calls me to follow Him?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, crucified for my sake, draw me to the foot of Your cross. Help me to behold Your love poured out, to repent of my sins, and to follow You with a heart willing to give itself in faithful love. Amen.
Lk 23:34 — “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’ They divided his garments by casting lots.”
This verse opens the crucifixion with a prayer, not a protest. From the cross, Jesus speaks first to the Father, not to His executioners. His words reveal the heart of His mission: mercy offered at the very moment of violence. Forgiveness is not delayed until repentance appears; it is given while sin is still being committed.
The plea “forgive them” is radical and unconditional. Jesus does not deny the reality of their wrongdoing, but He names its deeper cause: ignorance—“they know not what they do.” This is not an excuse that removes responsibility; it is a compassionate recognition of blindness. Human cruelty is real, yet it unfolds within a tragic lack of true understanding.
Luke then places side by side the prayer of forgiveness and the act of indifference. While Jesus intercedes, the soldiers divide His garments by casting lots. Sacred mercy and casual cruelty coexist in the same moment. The Messiah gives everything; humanity gambles at His feet. Love is poured out; selfishness continues uninterrupted.
For disciples, this verse stands at the center of Christian life. Forgiveness is not optional or conditional; it flows from communion with the Father. Jesus practices what He taught—loving enemies, praying for persecutors—at the cost of His life. The cross becomes the school of mercy.
Historical and Jewish Context
Crucified victims’ garments were commonly divided among executioners. Prayers for forgiveness echo Old Testament intercession but reach their fullness here in Christ.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ’s prayer from the cross reveals the boundless mercy of God and the heart of redemption, extending forgiveness even to those who actively oppose Him (cf. CCC 597, 2635, 2842). This prayer grounds the Christian call to forgive without limit.
Key Terms
Father — intimate address in suffering
Forgive — merciful intercession
They know not — blindness of sin
Casting lots — indifference amid holiness
Conclusion
Luke 23:34 reveals mercy reigning from the cross. Jesus transforms execution into intercession and hatred into an offering of forgiveness.
Reflection
Do I allow Christ’s mercy to shape my own response to those who wrong me, even when forgiveness is costly?
Prayer
Father of mercy, through the prayer of Your Son crucified, forgive my sins and heal my blindness. Teach me to forgive as I have been forgiven, and to let mercy speak louder than resentment in my life. Amen.
Lk 23:35 — “The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, ‘He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.’”
This verse reveals the varied responses to Jesus at the cross—passive observation and active mockery. “The people stood by and watched” suggests distance and paralysis. They are witnesses, yet not participants in mercy or defense. Silence replaces earlier shouting; curiosity replaces conscience.
In contrast, the rulers do not remain silent. They sneer. Their words twist truth into taunt. Ironically, what they say is true—“He saved others”—yet they wield it as ridicule. They demand self-rescue as proof of messiahship, revealing a false understanding of salvation. For them, power means escape; for Jesus, salvation means self-giving.
The challenge “let him save himself” exposes the heart of unbelief. The Messiah is tested by standards of dominance rather than obedience. They cannot imagine a chosen one who saves by suffering. Luke allows the irony to stand: Jesus is saving others precisely by not saving Himself.
For disciples, this verse confronts the temptation to judge God by outcomes rather than fidelity. Faith that demands signs of power may miss the deeper work of redemption. The cross unmasks false expectations and invites trust in a love that saves through sacrifice.
Historical and Jewish Context
Public executions drew onlookers. Mockery by leaders echoed earlier temptations to prove identity through miraculous self-display.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ’s refusal to save Himself reveals the mystery of redemptive love: obedience unto death brings salvation to many (cf. CCC 612, 618). True messiahship is revealed on the cross.
Key Terms
Stood by and watched — passive witnessing
Sneered — contemptuous mockery
Saved others — true claim turned into taunt
Chosen one / Messiah — identity misunderstood
Conclusion
Luke 23:35 exposes unbelief that mocks mercy and demands power. Jesus remains faithful to His mission, saving others by embracing the cross.
Reflection
Do I measure God’s work by visible power, or do I trust the hidden strength of obedient love?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, mocked on the cross, strengthen my faith to recognize Your saving love even when it appears powerless. Help me to trust Your way of sacrifice and to follow You with steadfast hope. Amen.
Lk 23:36 — “Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine,”
This verse extends the mockery of Jesus to another group—the soldiers. Those charged with carrying out the execution now add ridicule to cruelty. Luke emphasizes “even” to show the widening circle of contempt. Jesus is mocked by leaders, watched by the people, and now jeered by the agents of imperial power. Rejection becomes universal.
The soldiers’ action is deeply ironic. They approach Jesus not to show compassion, but to intensify humiliation. Offering wine here is not an act of mercy; it is part of mockery, as the following verse will clarify. What should relieve suffering becomes another occasion for scorn. Authority stoops to cruelty disguised as gesture.
Luke shows that mockery crosses social boundaries. Religious leaders, political rulers, and soldiers all converge in derision. The cross exposes the full extent of human hardness when confronted with self-giving love. Jesus, however, remains silent—His dignity unbroken, His mission unchanged.
For disciples, this verse is a reminder that fidelity to Christ may invite ridicule from every side. Mockery often masks fear or misunderstanding of truth. Jesus teaches that faithfulness does not depend on respect or recognition, but on obedience to the Father.
Historical and Jewish Context
Roman soldiers commonly mocked condemned prisoners. Offering sour wine was sometimes part of derision rather than compassion.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ endured mockery and humiliation as part of His redemptive suffering, revealing a love that absorbs contempt without retaliation (cf. CCC 612, 618). His silence remains a powerful witness.
Key Terms
Soldiers — agents of imperial power
Jeered — mocking ridicule
Approached — deliberate act of humiliation
Wine — gesture twisted into mockery
Conclusion
Luke 23:36 shows mockery spreading even further at the cross. Jesus endures ridicule from all sides, remaining faithful to love amid contempt.
Reflection
When my faith draws ridicule or misunderstanding, do I remain faithful and dignified, trusting God rather than seeking approval?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, mocked and humiliated for my sake, give me strength to remain faithful when I face ridicule. Teach me to trust in Your silent love and to follow You with courage and humility. Amen.
Lk 23:37 — “And they said, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’”
This verse sharpens the mockery into a direct challenge. The soldiers echo the rulers’ earlier taunt, repeating the conditional “if”. Jesus’ identity is not denied outright; it is tested on false terms. Kingship is defined by self-preservation, not by self-giving love.
The demand “save yourself” reveals a profound misunderstanding of Jesus’ mission. For the mockers, power means escape from suffering. For Jesus, kingship is revealed through obedience to the Father and fidelity to love, even unto death. Luke allows the irony to stand plainly: Jesus saves precisely by refusing to save Himself.
This challenge echoes earlier temptations in Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus was urged to use power for self-advantage. At the cross, the temptation returns in its final form. Jesus remains steadfast. Silence becomes victory. The King reigns from the cross, not by avoiding suffering, but by transforming it.
For disciples, this verse confronts false expectations of faith. Trust in Christ does not promise exemption from suffering; it promises redemption through it. True discipleship follows a King whose crown is thorns and whose throne is the cross.
Historical and Jewish Context
Mockery of condemned prisoners often included challenges to claimed titles. “King of the Jews” was a political label used ironically by Roman soldiers.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ’s kingship is revealed in His self-emptying love and obedience, culminating on the cross (cf. CCC 440, 786). Salvation is achieved not by self-preservation, but by total self-gift.
Key Terms
If — conditional unbelief
King of the Jews — title mocked and misunderstood
Save yourself — false measure of power
They said — collective derision
Conclusion
Luke 23:37 exposes the final temptation at the cross. Jesus is challenged to abandon His mission, yet He remains faithful, revealing a kingship grounded in sacrificial love.
Reflection
Do I expect Christ to save me from suffering, or do I trust Him to save me through it?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, true King enthroned on the cross, strengthen my faith to trust Your way of saving love. Help me to follow You with courage, embracing obedience and sacrifice as the path to true life. Amen.
Lk 23:38 — “Above him there was an inscription that read, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’”
This verse reveals a profound irony at the heart of the crucifixion. What is intended as a charge and a mockery becomes a proclamation of truth. The inscription is placed above him, visually declaring Jesus’ identity even as He hangs in apparent defeat. Kingship is announced from the cross.
Luke records the title without commentary, allowing its meaning to unfold through contrast. The words are meant to ridicule—a condemned man labeled as king. Yet in God’s providence, the accusation becomes revelation. Jesus reigns not by force, but by self-giving love. The cross becomes His throne; suffering becomes His coronation.
The inscription also universalizes the moment. Written for all to see, it proclaims Jesus’ identity publicly and permanently. Those who pass by may read it as mockery or accusation, but the Gospel invites the reader to see it as truth. The King of the Jews—and of all humanity—rules from the place of sacrifice.
For disciples, this verse calls for a redefinition of power and glory. Christ’s kingship overturns worldly expectations. Authority rooted in love, obedience, and mercy stands revealed where the world expects weakness.
Historical and Jewish Context
Roman custom required an inscription stating the charge against the condemned. “King of the Jews” was intended to signal political failure and deter rebellion.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ is truly King, and His kingship is most fully revealed on the cross, where He offers Himself for the salvation of the world (cf. CCC 440, 786). The title proclaimed in mockery becomes a confession of faith.
Key Terms
Inscription — public declaration
Above him — visible proclamation
King — true authority revealed in sacrifice
Of the Jews — messianic identity with universal scope
Conclusion
Luke 23:38 proclaims the truth written above the crucified Christ. What the world mocks, God reveals. The cross becomes the throne of the true King.
Reflection
Do I recognize Christ’s kingship in humility and sacrifice, or do I still seek signs of power according to the world’s standards?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, King enthroned on the cross, reign in my heart. Teach me to recognize Your authority in love, humility, and obedience, and help me to live under Your kingship with faith and trust. Amen.
CONCLUSION
For believers today, Luke 23:32–38 confronts us with the cost of salvation. The Cross exposes the depth of human sin—mockery, indifference, cruelty—while simultaneously revealing the greater depth of God’s mercy. Jesus does not respond to hatred with retaliation, but with forgiveness. The Cross becomes the definitive revelation of God’s love poured out for a broken world.
At the same time, this passage invites contemplation and conversion. Jesus’ prayer for forgiveness challenges disciples to examine their own hearts. The Crucified King calls believers to a way of life shaped by mercy, humility, and trust in the Father. To stand before the Cross is to be invited into a transformed understanding of power, victory, and love—where life is found through self-giving sacrifice.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, crucified for our salvation, we gaze upon You with reverence and gratitude. Thank You for Your mercy that forgives even in suffering. Heal our hearts from hardness, pride, and indifference. Teach us to live in the shadow of Your Cross, shaped by forgiveness and love. May Your self-giving sacrifice draw us into deeper faith, true repentance, and faithful discipleship. Amen.