Luke 23:39
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Crucifixion victims typically died from asphyxiation over 6-24 hours, experiencing waves of excruciating pain as they pushed up on pierced feet to breathe. That this criminal had strength to hurl sustained abuse suggests he was relatively early in the crucifixion process, before exhaustion silenced him. Ancient sources describe crucifixion victims cursing, pleading, weeping, and sometimes falling silent in despair.
The criminal's demand for rescue reflects common ancient beliefs about divine power—gods demonstrated divinity through spectacular interventions. His challenge mirrors pagan expectations: prove your deity by miraculous escape. This misunderstanding pervades human religion—treating God as cosmic vending machine rather than sovereign Lord. The criminal wanted deliverance from consequences without addressing the sin that brought those consequences. This attitude persists: people want God to solve problems without surrendering to His authority or repenting of rebellion.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the impenitent criminal's hardness despite proximity to Jesus teach about the insufficiency of mere exposure to truth without heart-repentance?
- How does his demand for physical deliverance without spiritual transformation reflect contemporary attitudes that want God's blessings without His lordship?
- Why does the gospel become 'death unto death' for some who hear it, and how should this reality burden us to pray for the spiritually blind?
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Analysis & Commentary
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. The term "railed" (eblasphēmei, ἐβλασφήμει) means to blaspheme, revile, or speak abusively—the imperfect tense indicates continuous action. Despite his own agony, this criminal directed sustained verbal abuse at Jesus, joining the mockers rather than seeking mercy. His challenge—"If thou be Christ" (ei sy ei ho Christos, εἰ σὺ εἶ ὁ Χριστός)—echoed the rulers' and soldiers' taunts, showing how peer pressure influences even the dying.
The demand "save thyself and us" (sōson seauton kai hēmas, σῶσον σεαυτὸν καὶ ἡμᾶς) reveals a transactional, self-interested religion—"prove your power by benefiting me." He wanted physical deliverance, not spiritual salvation; temporal relief, not eternal redemption. His inclusion of "us" shows he viewed Jesus merely as a potential escape mechanism, not as Lord and Savior. This represents false faith—seeking Christ for benefits while rejecting His lordship.
This criminal's blasphemy demonstrates that proximity to Christ and even shared suffering with Him do not guarantee salvation. He hung beside the Savior of the world for hours, heard Jesus pray "Father, forgive them" (v. 34), witnessed the darkness and supernatural signs, yet died impenitent. His hardness warns that exposure to truth without repentance hardens rather than softens. As 2 Corinthians 2:16 says, the gospel is "to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life."