Verse 36. Offering him vinegar] See Clarke on Mt 27:34. Vinegar or small sour wine, was a common drink of the Roman soldiers; and it is supposed that wherever they were on duty they had a vessel of this liquor standing by. It appears that at least two cups were given to our Lord; one before he was nailed to the cross, viz. of wine mingled with myrrh, and another of vinegar, while he hung on the cross. Some think there were three cups: ONE of wine mixed with myrrh; the SECOND, of vinegar mingled with gall; and the THIRD, of simple vinegar. Allow these three cups, and the different expressions in all the evangelists will be included. See Lightfoot.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

And the soldiers also mocked him,…. The Roman soldiers, to whom the execution was committed, who crucified him, and parted his garments, and stood at his cross watching; these joined in the insult, which is not to be wondered at. Coming to him and offering him vinegar; which was what was a part of their allowance, and was their drink; [See comments on Joh 19:29].

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Mocked (). Even the soldiers yielded to the spell and acted like boys in their jeers. Aorist tense here and different verb also from that used of the rulers. They were not so bitter and persistent.

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament

Coming to him. Coming up close to the cross.

Vinegar. See on Mt 27:34.

Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament

1) “And the soldiers also mocked him,” (enepaiksan de auto kai hoi stratiotai) “Then the soldiers also mocked or derided him,” the four soldiers of Joh 19:23, joined by a centurion, perhaps egged on by the Jewish rulers, chief priests, elders and scribes of Israel, Luk 23:35.

2) “Coming to him,” (proserchomenoi) “Approaching him,” running with a sponge, Mat 27:34; Mat 27:48; Mar 15:36.

3) “And offering him vinegar,” (oksos prospherontes auto) “Offering vinegar directly to him,” on a sponge, Mat 27:48, as prophecied Psa 69:21; Mar 15:36. It was a sour-wine vinegar used to quell pain in death’s throes. Pro 31:6-7 indicates that such was used for those in bitter depression or for one approaching death. They offered it as a grim joke, and as if to drink with or to Him, with taunting, Psa 69:21.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(36) Offering him vinegar.Not even the prayer for their forgiveness had touched the hearts of the soldiers. But still, they knew not what they did, and did but follow, after their nature, in the path in which others led the way. Possibly too, rude as their natures were, there was a touch of rough kindliness mingling in their mockery, as shown in the offer of the vinegar, or sour wine, which they had brought for their own use (see Note on Mat. 27:48)unless, indeed, we suppose the refinement of cruelty which held it before the eyes of the Sufferer, but did not, as afterwards, convey it to His lips.

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

36. Soldiers offering him vinegar Pretending to share with him their posca, or ordinary stimulating drink.

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

‘And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” ’

The people and rulers mocked Him, and now the soldiers also mocked Him. Shortly it would be one of the evildoers who would mock Him (Luk 23:39). The threefold mocking is intended to indicate that the whole world mocked, Jews, Gentiles and the riffraff of society. In the case of the soldiers it was emphasised by their giving to him of their coarse wine (which was their own drink), as though to a king. By this they sought unknowingly to make Him Who had promised that He would drink no more of the fruit of the vine, do so in contravention of His purpose. They knew not what they did. And as they did so they jeered saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” They did not, of course believe it for a moment. They were merely aping what others had said. It just seemed to them too good jest for them not to be involved.

‘Offering him sour wine.’ In Psa 69:21 and in the Dead Sea Scrolls such an act is seen as hostile, but here it was probably rough humour.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

Ver. 36. Offered him vinegar ] Instead of wine, which kings drink much of.

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

36. ] A different incident from that related Mat 27:48 ; Mar 15:36 ; Joh 19:28-29 . It was about the time of the mid-day meal of the soldiers, and they in mockery offered Him their posca or sour wine, to drink with them.

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament

Luk 23:36 . , the soldiers; first mention of them, whether there as executioners or as keeping order does not appear in Lk.’s narrative. They too mock in their own rough way, offering the sufferer vinegar by way of grim joke (Meyer). So Lk. understands the matter. Note how he hurries over these brutalities. Cf. Mt. and Mk.

Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson

coming = coming up close.

offering, &c. See note on Mat 27:33; Mat 27:48.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

36.] A different incident from that related Mat 27:48; Mar 15:36; Joh 19:28-29. It was about the time of the mid-day meal of the soldiers,-and they in mockery offered Him their posca or sour wine, to drink with them.

Fuente: The Greek Testament

Luk 23:11, Psa 69:21, Mat 27:29, Mat 27:30, Mat 27:34, Mat 27:48, Mar 15:19, Mar 15:20, Mar 15:36, Joh 19:28-30

Reciprocal: 2Ch 36:16 – mocked Job 16:10 – gaped Jer 20:7 – I am Mar 15:18 – Hail Mar 15:23 – they Joh 19:29 – was set Act 17:32 – some Heb 11:36 – mockings

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

7

The soldiers were the executioners for the government; four of them (Joh 19:23).

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

[They brought him vinegar.] Vinegar was the common drink of the Roman soldiers; and hence those to whom the custody of crucified persons was committed had it always ready by them. “He commanded that no soldier should drink wine in their expedition, but that every one should content himself with vinegar.”

“The provision this man (viz. Misitheus) made in the commonwealth was such, that there never was any great frontier-city which had not vinegar; bread-corn, and bacon, and barley, and chaff, laid up for a whole year,” etc. “Thou shalt give us as much hay, chaff, vinegar; herbs, and grass, as may suffice us.”

Hence it may become less difficult to reconcile the evangelist amongst themselves, speaking of wine given him mixed with myrrh; and of vinegar too; viz., a twofold cup: one, before he was nailed to the cross, i.e. of wine mingled with myrrh; the other, of vinegar; while he hung there: the first, given by the Jews according to their custom; the second, by the soldiers, in abuse and mockery. But if you will grant a third cup, then all difficulty vanisheth indeed. Let the first be wine mingled with myrrh; the second, vinegar mingled with gall; the third, mere vinegar; which the soldiers gave to malefactors if they had desired drink, being that which they drank themselves. Hence the vessel filled with vinegar; was always in readiness, that the soldiers might drink when they had a mind, and persons also upon the cross, if they stood in need of it.

Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels

Luk 23:36. Offering him vinegar. It was about midday, when they would be eating and drinking, and they drunk to Him, holding out to Him in mockery the sour wine (vinegar) they used. Thus the incident is natural, and at the same time totally distinct from the one related by the other Evangelists, which occurred about three hours later.

Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament

The Roman soldiers also taunted Jesus. Their offer of sour wine was a mock relief for His sufferings (Psa 69:21; cf. Mat 27:34). If they had wanted to relieve Him, they should have given Him something refreshing rather than revolting. Their words also expressed ridicule for His title that they had nailed above His head on Pilate’s order (Joh 19:19-22).

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