Luk 23:8-12

When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad

Divine reserve; or, Christianity in relation to our mental moods

I.

THAT ALL SUBJECTS REVEAL THEMSELVES ACCORDING TO THE MENTAL MOOD IN WHICH THEY ARE EXAMINED. That which is looked for, is found or thought to be found. The same person or principle examined through the respective media of sympathy and antipathy, will reveal aspects the most different. It is of vital importance to remember this fact in all our investigations of creeds, or balancings of contradictory evidence, so that we may escape both the traductions of prejudice and the blindings of partiality. The non-recognition of this truth has induced the grossest misrepresentations of social life, of individual belief, and of denominational doctrine.

II. THAT THE DIVINE BEING DISCRIMINATES OUR MENTAL MOODS. Apparently, Herod was in a pleasing state of mind. Superficial observers would have been delighted with his animated and cordial bearing. What could be more gratifying to Christ than that Herod was exceeding glad to see Him? There was no royal hauteur, no cold rebuff, no vengeful triumph. Why, then, that awful silence? Could Herod have done more to conciliate the favour of his renowned prisoner? Was it not an act of incomparable condescension for Herod to wear a smile in the presence of a reputed blasphemer and seditionist? For Christs significant reserve there must be some peculiar but satisfactory reason. It was not fear of the judge, for He was the judges Creator and Sovereign; it was not contempt, for He entertains a just regard for all the creatures of His hand; it was not constitutional sullenness, for none could be more open and engaging than He; it was not consciousness of guilt, for His most rancorous foes failed in their attempts at crimination. Why, then, did Christ thus treat a man who was exceeding glad to see Him? The only satisfactory answer which we can suggest is that Herods gladness did not arise from a proper cause; or, in other words, was no true index to his mental mood. Christ looked deeper than the smile which lighted Herods countenance, or the mere blandishment of his manner; He discriminated the mood of mind, and acted accordingly.

III. THAT CERTAIN MENTAL MOODS DEPRIVE MEN OF THE RICHEST BLESSINGS OF CHRISTIANITY. Why that solemn silence on the part of Christ? Because of Herods mental mood. The judge wished his curiosity gratified, he had heard of the great wonder-worker, and longed to behold His feats of skill, or His displays of power. Christ knew the treatment proper for the oblique-minded judge, and acted accordingly: He would not work miracles to gratify a king; He would smile on a child, or dry the tear of misery, but He would not court the applause or solicit the patronage of royalty. To whom, then, will the Lord Jesus deign to reveal Himself in tender speech or loving vision? Is there any intellect on whose conflicts with scepticism He will bestow His attention? Is there any heart on whose strugglings with sin He will lift up the light of His countenance? Since He was silent before Herod, will He be communicative to any of His creatures? He shall answer for Himself, To this man will I look. Suppose the Divine speaker had paused here, what inquisitiveness and suspense would have been occasioned! To this man; to which man, blessed Lord, wilt Thou look? to the man who has slain kings, and wandered to the throne of power through the blood of the warrior and the tears of the widow? to the man who has enrolled his name among the proudest of conquerors? to the man who boasts attachment to the cold exactitudes of a heartless theology? to the man arrayed in purple, and enshrined in the splendour of a palace? is this the man to whom Thou wilt look? Nay! Tis a grander spectacle which attracts the Divine eye–to the man that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at My word (Isa 66:2).Here, then, we have two conditions of Divine communion, viz., contrition and reverence: apart from these there can be no spiritual fellowship. In Herod these conditions were not found; hence Christ was dumb i So with us: if we would truly worship God we must fulfil the conditions herein demanded. To be more distinct on this part of the subject, I may enumerate a few classes of hearers, whose mental moods deprive them of spiritual enjoyment:

1. Men of violent personal antipathies. Such persons confound the minister with his message; so that if any whim has been assaulted, or any favourite dogma contravened, they forthwith resort to misinterpretation, they turn every appeal into a personality, and that which was intended as a blessing they pervert into a curse! God will not commune with them: they fulfil not the conditions of fellowship–they are neither contrite nor reverent–and Christ answers them nothing!

2. Men of large speculative curiosity. Herod belonged to this class. They wish to pry into the secrets of the Infinite: not content with the ample disclosures which the Divine Being has graciously granted, they would penetrate into the deepest recesses of His nature, and scale the loftiest altitudes of His universe. They conceive a philosophic dislike for the common-place truths of Christianity; and regard with patronising pity the minister who lingers on the melancholy hill of Calvary. Such men would understand all mystery: they would break the silence of the stars, or detain the whirlwind in converse: they would summon angels from their high abode and extort the secrets of heaven, they would even dare to cross-examine the Deity Himself on the propriety of His moral government! God will answer them nothing.

3. Men who accept rationalism as their highest guide. They reject all that reason cannot comprehend. Their own intellect must see through every subject, otherwise they consider it as worthy only of repudiation. They read the New Testament as they would read a work on mathematics, or a treatise on physical science, expecting demonstration of every point. Such men leave the Bible with dissatisfaction. Christ treats them with silence: their flippant questions elicit no response: their feeble reason plunges in hopeless confusion–Infinitude refuses to be grasped in a human span, and Eternity disdains to crowd into one little intellect its stupendous and magnificent treasures.

4. Men who delight in moral darkness. Such men have no objection to theological discussion; they may even delight in an exhibition of their controversial powers, and, at the same time, hate the moral nature and spiritual requirements of the gospel. So long as attention is confined to an analysis of abstract doctrines they listen with interest, but the moment the gospel tears away the veil from their moral condition–reveals their depravity–upbraids their ingratitude–smites their pride–and shakes their soul with the assurance of judgment and eternity, they sink back into sullenness, they take refuge in infidelity, or they curse and blaspheme! Your Herods care not for moral betterance; they wish their fancies gratified–they desire their questions answered, but they persist in following thedevices of their imagination, and imprisoning themselves in the bond-house of bestial passion. The text suggests–

IV. THAT MEN SO DEPRIVED RESORT TO OPPOSITION. And Herod with his men of war set Him at naught, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him again to Pilate. This is a striking illustration of the manner in which the truth has been treated in all ages. Men have approached the Bible with foregone conclusions, and because those conclusions have not been verified they have revolted, and assumed an antagonistic attitude. Ample illustration of the proposition might be adduced from the history of infidelity, bigotry, and persecution: but instead of lingering on this department of the subject we hasten to indicate the practical bearing of the thesis on the matter more immediately in hand. As an assembly of men responsible in some degree for the dissemination of Christian truth, it is important to understand how we can best fulfil our mission. In prosecuting this inquiry let me remind you of three things:

1. That the Bible is Gods appointed representative. What Christ was to Herod, the Scriptures are to us, viz., the embodiment of Divine truth and love. The very fact of our having the Bible, involves a tremendous responsibility.

2. That the Bible must be approached in a sympathetic spirit.

3. That we are responsible for our manner of reproducing the Bible. (J. Parker, D. D.)

Imitating the silence of Christ

There lived in a village near Burnley a girl who was persecuted in her own home because she was a Christian. She struggled on bravely, seeking strength from God, and rejoicing that she was a partaker of Christs sufferings. The struggle was too much for her, but He willed it so; and at length her sufferings were ended. When they came to take off the clothes from her poor dead body, they found a piece of paper sewn inside her dress, and on it was written, He opened not His mouth. (W. Baxendale.)

Remarkable reticence

Moltke, the great strategist, is a man of lowly habits and few words. He has been described as a man who can hold his tongue in seven languages! (H. O. Mackay.)

Herod Antipas: religious curiosity

Most of us will admit that this is an age of much curiosity about religion. The phrase would seem to include three things. First, curiosity about religion as an interesting phase of human thought. Then, curiosity about religion as exhibited in the picturesque and commanding personages who have founded new faiths. But yet again there may be curiosity about religion as a possible manifestation of the extra-natural or supernatural. Revivalism and spiritualism make the flesh creep not altogether unpleasingly. August and ancient ceremonials haunt the imagination with their weird magnificence. The verses which I have read bring before us the very type of irreligious or non-religious curiosity about religion, and of the punishment which awaits it.

I. In the passage itself let us note, in the first place, THE DEALINGS OF HEROD ANTIPAS WITH JESUS.

1. Herod did not take any active part in the greatest tragedy of time.

2. It will be necessary for our purpose to consider, secondly, Herods position in the religious world of his day. That he was a Sadducee would seem to be certain from profane history, and from a comparison of St. Matthew with St. Mark.

3. The character of Herod Antipas may be thought too black to contain even a warning for any of us. He was but a promising pupil in the school of which Tiberius was a master; a meaner trickster, a punier liar, a feebler murderer. He was the fox, as our Lord called him, not the wolf. Yet in one respect he was not so unlike some of us. A mist of superstition hung over the unclean pool of lust and hatred which he had made his soul. He was alternately repelled and attracted by Christ. That he was not incapable of religious curiosity the text sufficiently witnesses. Some in our day might exclaim that it was perhaps unfortunate that an opportunity was lost of gratifying the curiosity of a person so interesting–as if Christ was Incarnate to amuse dilettanti. But He who knows all men and what is in man knew better. The blood-stained hands are held out half caressingly. The voice which commanded the head of John Baptist to be given to the daughter of Herodias pours forth its flood of superficial questions. He will not waste one miracle or one word. As they of old loved to teach, the silent Jesus, working no sign, is a prophecy and a sign to us. He answered him nothing.

II. The whole incident thus becomes full of lessons to us. A thoughtful, meditative reader stops in awe. If we feel the awfulness of that silence, we shall, I think, recognize the truth of that which I am about to say. There is, no doubt, a sort of curiosity about religion which is the necessary result of quickened intellectual, nay, of quickened spiritual life. But the smiting of the people of Beth-shemesh is net recorded for nothing. Free inquiry is one thing, free-and-easy inquiry is another. If we play with God, it is at our own risk. The question is–what do you believe? We stand fronting eternity, not with the many propositions which we affect to believe or think we believe, but with the few which we do believe. Can we make an act of faith in God? We see Him standing mute before the curiosity of Herod Antipas, and we say, Save us, oh save us, from that silence! (Bishop Win. Alexander.)

I. HEROD BEFORE JESUS.

Our Lord before Herod

1. See idle curiosity at its best.

2. Idle curiosity disappointed.

(1) Our Lord came not into this world to be a performer.

(2) Herod had already silenced the Voice; no wonder he could not now hear the Word.

(3) Herod might have heard Christ hundreds of times before if he had chosen to do so.

(4) Christ had good reason for refusing to speak to Herod this time, because He would not have it supposed that He yielded to the pomp and dignity of men.

3. Idle curiosity curdles into derision.

II. JESUS IN THE PRESENCE OF HEROD. Although no blows are recorded, I greatly question whether our Divine Master suffered anywhere more than He did in the palace of tiered.

1. Fully in earnest for the salvation of souls, and in the midst of His grievers passion, He is looked upon as a mountebank and a mere performer, who is expected to work a miracle for the amusement of an impious court.

2. Then to think of our Lords being questioned by such a fop as Herod!

3. Then the ribaldry of the whole thing!

4. It was no small pain to our Lord to be silent.

5. Think of the contempt that was poured upon Him. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

The silence of Jesus

I. PREJUDICE, WHATEVER BE ITS SOURCE, GETS NOTHING OUT OF THE SCRIPTURES. If you bring a full pitcher to a spring, you can get nothing from that spring.

II. HABITUAL INDULGENCE IN SIN WILL PREVENT US FROM GETTING ANY ANSWER TO OUR INQUIRIES FROM SCRIPTURE. When you want an answer from the telephone, you not only put your ear to the instrument, but you also say to those about you, Hush! I want to hear. If you would hear Christ you must say Hush to the murmuring of sin.

III. THE INFLUENCE OF SCEPTICISM MAKES THE SCRIPTURES SILENT. (W. M. Taylor, D. D.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

8. some miracleFine sportthou expectedst, as the Philistines with Samson (Jud16:25), O coarse, crafty, cruel tyrant! But thou hast beenbaulked before (see on Lu13:31-33), and shalt be again.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad,…. For though he had been brought up in his country, and had so frequently preached, and wrought miracles there, he had never seen him before; and to have a sight of him, was a great indulgence to his curiosity:

for he was desirous to see him of a long season; perhaps ever since he had heard of his fame, and had entertained a notion that Christ was John the Baptist risen from the dead, whom he had beheaded; and therefore was desirous of seeing him, that he might know whether he was John or not:

because he had heard many things of him; concerning his doctrine, and miracles, and especially the latter; how that he cast out devils, and healed all manner of diseases, and even raised the dead to life:

and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him; which would have still more gratified his curiosity, and have been the subject of further inquiry and conversation.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Was exceeding glad ( ). Second aorist passive indicative of , ingressive aorist, became glad.

Of a long time ( ). For this idiom see Luke 8:27; Luke 20:9; Acts 8:11).

He hoped (). Imperfect active. He was still hoping. He had long ago gotten over his fright that Jesus was John the Baptist come to life again (9:7-9).

Done (). Present middle participle. He wanted to see a miracle happening like a stunt of a sleight-of-hand performer.

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament

Of a long time [ ] . See on ch. Luk 7:6.

Hoped [] . Imperfect; was hoping – all this long time.

Miracle [] . See on Mt 11:20; and compare Act 2:22, Rev.

Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament

1) “And when Herod saw Jesus,” (ho de Herodes idon ton lesoun) “Then Herod when he saw Jesus,” who had been sent to him by Pilate, Luk 23:6-7.

2) “He was exceeding glad:” (echare lian) “He rejoiced greatly,” for an opportunity he had long desired. It was a joy of gratified curiosity, Luk 9:9.

3) “For he was desirous to see him of a long season,” (en gar eks hikanon chronon thelon idein auton) “For he was wishing to see him out of a long time,” or for a long time he had desired just to see Him, Luk 9:9, Even from the time John the Baptist was beheaded.

4) “Because he had heard many things of him;” (dia to akouein peri autou) “Because he had heard many things concerning him,” Mat 14:1. Perhaps some of these reports had come to Him from people of his own, palace. For Joanna, the wife of Chuza, one of Herods stewards was one of Jesus’ devout followers and financial supporters, Luk 8:3; Luk 24:10.

5) “And he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.” (kai eipizen ti semeion idein hup autou ginomenon) “And he hoped to see some sign or miracle brought about by him,” something spectacular, Mar 6:14; 2Ki 5:11.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad. Hence it is evident how greatly wicked men are intoxicated, or rather bewitched, by their own pride; for though Herod did not acknowledge Christ to be the Son of God, he at least reckoned him to be a prophet. It was therefore most unreasonable cruelty to take pleasure in seeing him treated with contempt and disdain. But as if an injury had been done to him, so long as he had not obtained a sight of Christ, when he now sees him placed in his power, he triumphs as if he had obtained a victory. We see also what kind of love is cherished by wicked and irreligious men for prophets, in whom the power of God shines brightly. Herod had long wished to see Christ. Why then did he not wish to hear him, that he might profit by his doctrine? It was because he chose rather to amuse himself in beholding the divine power, than to view it, as he ought to have done, with devout and humble reverence. And this is the disposition of the flesh, so to desire to see God in his works, as not to submit to his authority; so to desire to see his servants, as to refuse to hear him speaking by them. And even Herod, though he hoped that some miracle would be performed by Christ, chose to have him placed at his feet as a malefactor rather than to receive him as a teacher. We need not wonder, therefore, if God conceal his glory from wicked men, who wished that he should contribute to their amusement, like some stage-player.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

Appleburys Comments

The Trial Before Herod
Scripture

Luk. 23:8-12 Now when Herod saw Jesus, He was exceeding glad,: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9 And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

Comments

When Herod saw Jesus.Herod at one time had been frightened by the reports of the miracles of Jesus. He concluded that Jesus was John the Baptism risen from the dead and, therefore, able to perform these signs. Later, a report was circulated that Herod wanted to kill Jesus. There was another shift in his attitude, by the time of His trial. He was delighted to see Jesus, for he wanted to see Him work a miracle. Jesus, of course, did not grant his wish. After he and his men had treated Him with every indignity, Herod returned Him to Pilate. On that day these two rulers who had been at enmity with each other became friends.

Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

(8) He was desirous to see him of a long season.The vague feeling of wonder had begun soon after the death of the Baptist. (See Notes on Mat. 14:2; Mar. 6:14.) It had its beginning in hearing of wonders; it ended in a desire to see one. It was mingled, possibly, with a feeling of bitter enmity which no miracle could remove. (See Note on Luk. 13:31.)

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

8. Herod saw Jesus glad Jesus seems to have been ushered into his presence without much announcement, (for he saw him before he was glad,) but it was an agreeable surprise. How little soever Herod might desire Jesus to be preaching in his own dominions, he had little of the hatred toward him which inspired the Jewish authorities. The dread of Jesus, which induced Herod to endeavor by stratagem to drive Jesus from Peraea, (Luk 13:31,) disappeared of course when Herod found him in chains under the hand of Pilate. Jesus no longer seemed to him a divinely-commissioned being, but some sort of a wonder-worker. His was only a trifler’s gladness, inspired by a hope of the same sort of enjoyment which is felt over a juggler’s legerdemain, or a pseudo-spiritualist’s table-turning. Thus the being held as a mere performer, was one of the deepest indignities of the Saviour’s endurance.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

‘Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was very, very glad, for he had for a long time been desirous to see him, because he had heard about him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by him.’

Instead of seriously going about the business of ascertaining the truth, Herod is revealed as more interested in seeing a show. The charges against Jesus meant little to him, but he had heard much about Him and had for a long time wanted to see Him for himself. After all He had something of a reputation in Galilee and Peraea over which Herod ruled. So his hope now was to see Jesus ‘perform’ and relieve the monotony of the hour.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

The Hearing Before Herod (23:8-12).

In a few rapid strokes Luke brilliantly brings out what the hearing before Herod involved. Rather than being concerned about the rights and wrongs of the matter Herod is depicted as being more interested in getting Jesus to perform some wonders before him, than in arriving at a conclusion. Thus his questioning was apparently on a superficial scale, rather than a genuine attempt to arrive at the truth. Jesus in return knew exactly what was going on and treated him with contemptuous silence, and said nothing. He was not there to provide a spectacle, nor to perform wonders at Herod’s whim. (Had Luke just invented this hearing for the reasons suggested by some he would have made it very different) 

The mention of the Scribes is significant. They had been irrelevant to Pilate, but they hoped to have greater influence on Herod. He was after all a half-Jew. He would be more likely, they hoped, to listen if they were present. But they did not really know their man.

Analysis.

a Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was very, very glad, for he had for a long time been desirous to see Him, because he had heard things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him (Luk 23:8).

b And he questioned Him in many words, but He answered him nothing (Luk 23:9).

c And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him (Luk 23:10).

b And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate (Luk 23:11).

a And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before they were at enmity between themselves (Luk 23:12).

Note that in ‘a’ Herod was delighted to see Jesus because he hoped that He would perform a miracle in front of him, and in the parallel a ‘miracle’ was performed because Pilate and Herod became friendly. In ‘b’ Jesus treated Herod and His accusers with disdain, and in the parallel He is in turn treated with disdain. Centrally in ‘c’ are the chief priests and scribes trying desperately to have Him accused. Here Luke is bringing out who is really to blame for all this.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Luk 23:8-9 . The frivolous tetrarch, in an unkingly manner, on the assumption that he had only either to accept or to reject Him, [263] immediately upon the sight of Jesus begins to rejoice at the satisfaction of his curiosity.

. . .] for from a long time he had been desirous .

On , comp. the Greek neutral expressions: , , , , and the like; , 2Ma 8:25 .

] continually.

. . . ] “ut oculos et animum re nova pasceret more aulae,” Grotius.

] is to be explained from the nature of the questions, and from Jesus seeing through Herod’s purpose.

] But He on His part.

[263] Comp. Schleiermacher, L. J. p. 436.

Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary

8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season , because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

Ver. 8. He was exceeding glad ] As if he had gotten some magician or enchanter, that would show him some pleasant sight.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

8, 9. ] The reason of our Lord’s silence is sufficiently shewn, in the account of Herod’s feelings at seeing Him. “Noluit Christus miraculis et sermonibus, ut non ad auditorum curiositatem aut propriam jactantiam, ita nec ad suam ipsius a morte liberationem uti.” Drusius.

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament

Luk 23:8 . , was much pleased, “exceeding glad” (A.V [192] and R.V [193] ) is too grave a phrase to express the feeling of this worthless man, who simply expected from the meeting with Jesus a “new amusement” (Schanz), such as might be got from a conjurer who could perform some clever tricks ( ).

[192] Authorised Version.

[193] Revised Version.

Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Luk 23:8-12

8Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. 9And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. 10And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. 11And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. 12Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.

Luk 23:8 “Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus” Only Luke records the trial before Herod. Herod was very interested in Jesus (cf. Mat 14:1-2; Luk 9:9). Luke’s source of information may have been Manaen, who grew up with Herod (cf. Act 13:1).

“to see some sign performed by Him” Herod was curious about Jesus. He had heard of His miracles. Herein is the problem of the miraculous. It can lead to mere curiosity and amazement, but not to personal faith and repentance as the appropriate response to the gospel message. Satan can and will perform miracles (cf. Mat 24:24; Mar 13:22; Rev. 13:13; 16:14; 20:20). The OT warns of these false prophets in Deu 13:1-3!

Luk 23:9 “but He answered him nothing” This may be a fulfillment of Isa 53:7 b and e. Jesus did not initially reply to

1. the Sanhedrin (cf. Mat 26:63), but later did briefly (cf. Mat 26:63-64)

2. Pilate (cf. Mat 27:12; Mat 27:14; Mar 15:5; Joh 19:9), but later did (cf. Joh 18:34; Joh 18:36-37; Joh 19:11)

3. Herod (cf. Luk 23:9) Jesus did not reply at all.

Luk 23:10 The Sanhedrin accompanied Jesus to Herod and vehemently accused Him. The adverb “vehemently” (eutons) is used only in Luke’s writings (cf. Luk 23:10; Act 18:28), but is in the Septuagint (cf. Jos 6:8). They may have expanded their charges before Herod to include blasphemy. Herod would have been sensitive to order and stability in the temple.

Luk 23:11 This is an example of the kinds of historical problems commentators face in trying to merge the four accounts of Jesus’ life. Luke records that Herod’s soldiers mocked Jesus as King, but Mat 27:27-31, Mar 15:16-20, and Joh 19:1-5 record that it was the Roman soldiers. Herein enter the interpretive options:

1. both groups of soldiers mocked Jesus

2. only Herod’s soldiers did

3. only the Roman soldiers did

We must remember that the Gospels are not western histories, but eastern evangelistic tracts. The event is crucial, but the details must remain uncertain. Gospel writers had the authority under inspiration to arrange, adapt, and select events from Jesus’ life. They did not have the authority to invent words, actions, and events! Soldiers mocked Jesus! Who, when, and why must remain ambiguous.

NASB, NKJV”a gorgeous robe”

NRSV”an elegant robe”

TEV”a fine robe”

NJB”a rich cloak”

The Greek term lampros basically means “bright” (cf. Rev 19:8) or “shining,” possibly “gaudy.” James uses this word for a rich man’s clothes (Jas 2:2-3). Mar 15:17 and Joh 19:2 describe the robe as purple (color of royalty); Mat 27:28 as scarlet (a soldier’s cloak). They were mocking Him as a supposed king!

Luk 23:12 This friendship between Pilate and Herod is unique to Luke, modern historians have no idea about what this involves.

Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley

saw. Greek. eidon. App-133.

Jesus. App-98.

desirous = wishing. Greek thelo. App-102.

of. Greek ek. App-104.

because he had heard = on account of (Greek. dia. App-104.) his hearing.

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104.

hoped = was hoping (all that long time).

miracle = sign. See App-176.

done = accomplished.

by. Greek. hupo. App-104.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

8, 9.] The reason of our Lords silence is sufficiently shewn, in the account of Herods feelings at seeing Him. Noluit Christus miraculis et sermonibus, ut non ad auditorum curiositatem aut propriam jactantiam, ita nec ad suam ipsius a morte liberationem uti. Drusius.

Fuente: The Greek Testament

Luk 23:8. , Herod) The great and powerful usually have less opportunity of meeting with Jesus: and they are wont to he the last in knowing of the things of the Kingdom of God. The first propagation of the faith as it is in Jesus Christ was, therefore, not due to the instrumentality of the potentates of the world.-[ , to see a sign) Miserable beings are they who seek in Christ nought save food to minister to the gratification of their natural senses. Such gladness as Herods is not conducive.-V. g.]

Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament

for: Luk 9:7-9, Mat 14:1, Mar 6:14

and he: Luk 4:23, 2Ki 5:3-6, 2Ki 5:11, Act 8:19

Reciprocal: 2Ki 8:4 – Tell Luk 9:9 – And he Luk 13:32 – that fox Luk 19:3 – he sought Act 4:27 – of a Act 24:24 – he sent Act 25:3 – desired

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

8

The desire of Herod to see Jesus was prompted largely by curiosity about His miraculous works; in chapter 9:9 this desire is mentioned the first time.

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

Luk 23:8. Was exceeding glad. This joy of Herod seems all the more frivolous and unkingly, if we suppose that the case of Jesus was actually offered to his jurisdiction.

Had heard. This was the reason of his desire.

And he hoped. The original indicates that this hope was contemporaneous with the continued desire. The present occasion is not directly referred to here. Yet the frivolous joy arose from the confident expectation that now his long continued desire and hope would be met Jesus was to him what a skilful juggler is to a seated courtan object of curiosity. Godet.

Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament

Verse 8

Had heard many things of him. See Matthew 14:1.

Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament

5. Jesus’ appearance before Herod 23:8-12

Luke alone recorded this aspect of Jesus’ Roman trial. He probably did so because Herod Antipas found no basis for condemning Jesus either. Thus Luke cited two official witnesses to Jesus’ innocence for his readers’ benefit (cf. Deu 19:15).

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)

Luke had previously mentioned Herod’s interest in seeing Jesus (Luk 9:9). He clarified here that his interest in Jesus was only as a miracle worker. He had no interest in talking with Him about spiritual matters. It was evidently about His miracles that Herod questioned Jesus. Jesus did not respond because Herod had rejected the implication of His miracles, namely, that Jesus had come from God with a message for humankind. Herod had made his feelings toward prophets clear by decapitating John the Baptist. Jesus had nothing to say to someone such as this.

"Jesus’ exousia [authority] also manifests itself in the political realm. This is most evident in Luke, which alone of the gospels records two rebuffs of Herod Antipas, Jesus’ political sovereign in Galilee (Luk 13:31-32; Luk 23:6-12)." [Note: James R. Edwards, "The Authority of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 37:2 (June 1994):217-33]

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)