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Luke 23 06-17 THE LORD WATCHES 01 Luke 23 06-09 The Lord ponders our hearts
📖 Luke 23:6-17
Mon15Nov2021 – The Lord ponders our hearts - Luke 23:06-17 - THE LORD WATCHES (01) - Bible reading: Proverbs 5:21
Though we are unworthy, we can come to Jesus and He embraces us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Let us be clothed in Christ for it is only when we are hidden in Christ that we can live a life that is pleasing to God.
We have completed the study of Luke 23:01-05 which we had titled THE KING AND HIS KINGDOM. This study had 8 lessons.
We now begin a new study. This is Luke 23:06-17. We will title this study as THE LORD WATCHES.
Luke 23:5 But they were the more fierce, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place."
The Jews were accusing Jesus of fuelling unrest among the people and that He was inciting a rebellion against Caesar and Rome. This was the primary accusation of the Jews against Jesus.
Pilate, as we have already understood, knew that these accusations of the Jews did not carry authenticity.
The Jews made a mention that Jesus had been preaching in the region of Galilee. As soon as Pilate heard the reference to Galilee, he saw an opportunity to extricate himself from this difficult trial.
We have seen already that Pilate was not prepared to stand for the truth and he was vacillating.
Galilee was Herod’s jurisdiction to administer, (under Rome) and since Herod was present in Jerusalem at that time, Pilate was relieved to send Jesus to Herod. Pilate was hoping that Herod would decide between putting Jesus to death.
Luke 23:6-9 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. (7) And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
Before we look at what happened to Jesus with Herod, we need some background regarding Herod.
Mark 6:14-16 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." (15) Others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets." (16) But when Herod heard, he said, " This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead !"
Herod had blood on his hands. He had beheaded John the Baptist. Herod was keen to know about Jesus for he was told that John the Baptist had risen from the dead.
Luke 9:7-9 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, (8) and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. (9) Herod said, " John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things ?" So he sought to see Him.
This is the background we must remember as we consider Herod’s interaction with Jesus.
A little history will also be helpful.
Herod Antipas, (born 21 BC — died after 39 AD), son of Herod I the Great who became tetrarch (ruler of a minor principality in the Roman Empire) of Galilee, in northern Palestine, and Peraea, east of the Jordan River and Dead Sea, and ruled throughout Jesus of Nazareth's ministry.
We have already seen the evil done by the Jews and then we saw the wickedness of the Gentiles. Now we see a third party, which comes into the picture, of this trial.
Herod could not be called a genuine Jew. He came from a mixed descent. Therefore, all the people of the world are represented here in the trial of Jesus, Jews, Gentiles and those in-between.
Everyone stands guilty before God. All of humanity needs God’s grace.
Romans 3:10 As it is written: "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE;
Herod was not going to condemn Jesus to death. Herod was only interested in being entertained by Jesus. Herod questioned Jesus but the Lord did not answer him since the Lord knew Herod.
(8) Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. (9) Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.
The Lord did not answer Herod.
Isaiah 53:7-8 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. (8) He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
The Lord was watching Herod’s heart.
The Lord kept silent before the Jewish council when they hurled all sorts of accusations against Him.
The Lord kept silent before Pilate.
Matthew 27:13-14 Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?" (14) But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
The Lord watches the heart of every one of us to see if there are any who are seeking in Him, genuinely.
Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He ponders all his paths.
Thought to ponder
Where would you and I stand, as the Lord searches our hearts?