A Malefactor Railing - Luke 23:39

Luke the beloved physician wrote when Jesus was hanging on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If you be the king of the Jews, save yourself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse thirty-nine of his book Luke shared how, “one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him” where we read:

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying,

If you be the Christ, save yourself and us.

The verse reads, “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “and one of the malefactors” or “and a certain and particular one of the evil-doers and criminals” “which were hanged” which means “that was suspended and hanging on crosses” “railed on him” or “spoke blasphemously and evil toward Jesus”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Luke shared how one of the “criminals” who was hung on a cross at Jesus' side began to “speak blasphemously and evil” toward Him by saying the following words.

The verse continues, “... If you be the Christ, save yourself and us.” Luke added the words “If you be the Christ” which means “whether it be true that you, Jesus, are the Messiah and Son of God” “save yourself” or “rescue from danger and destruction your own self” “and us” which means “and we malefactors and criminals”. Luke shared how the “malefactor” gave Jesus a challenge that “if” He was supposedly the “Messiah and Son of God”, He should “rescue” His own self and the two criminals who were crucified on each side of Him.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn that one of the criminals who was crucified at Jesus' side began to “mock and jeer” at Him by telling Him to “save” Himself and both the criminals if He was God's “Messiah”. Jesus did not have to prove He was “God's Christ” because He is. Jesus is the “Savior and Lord” of the world, and those who understand who He is should submit themselves to Him and receive forgiveness and everlasting life with His Father God.

Next time Luke shares how another malefactor, “answering rebuked him, saying, do you not fear God?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".