The Meaning of Luke 23:46 Explained

Luke 23:46

KJV: And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

YLT: and having cried with a loud voice, Jesus said, 'Father, to Thy hands I commit my spirit;' and these things having said, he breathed forth the spirit.

Darby: And Jesus, having cried with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, he expired.

ASV: And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost.

What is the context of Luke 23:46?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  when Jesus  had cried  with a loud  voice,  he said,  Father,  into  thy  hands  I commend  my  spirit:  and  having said  thus,  he gave up the ghost. 

What does Luke 23:46 Mean?

Study Notes

gave up
.
yielded up
Literally, "dismissed his spirit." The (Greek - ἀθέμιτος ). This expression, taken with Mark 15:37 ; Luke 23:46 ; John 19:30 . differentiates the death of Christ from all other physical death. He died by his own volition when He could say of His redemptive work, "It is finished." "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself" John 10:18 .

Verse Meaning

Luke next recorded Jesus" death and, just before it, Jesus" final prayer to His Father.
Jesus" Words on the CrossMatthewMarkLukeJohn"Father, forgive them." Luke 23:34"Today you shall be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43"Woman, behold your Song of Solomon ," and "Behold, your mother." John 19:26-27"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46 Mark 15:34"I thirst." John 19:28"It is finished." John 19:30"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Matthew 27:50 Luke 23:46
In this prayer Jesus offered Himself to God as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Jesus voluntarily laid His life down; no one took it from Him ( John 10:15-18; cf. John 15:13). His words were similar to those that many Jews used in prayer before they went to sleep at night (cf. Psalm 31:5). [1] They expressed Jesus" trust in God as well as His commitment to Him.
"How many thousands have pillowed their heads on them when going to rest! They were the last words of a Polycarp, a Bernard [2], Huss, Luther, and Melanchthon. And to us also they may be the fittest and the softest lullaby." [3]
The strength with which Jesus cried out showed His physical strength but, more important, the significance of His declaration. Jesus sovereignly controlled His circumstances to the end of His life.
As God rested after six days of work on the creation ( Genesis 2:1-3), so Jesus rested after six hours of work on the cross in which He made a new creation ( 2 Corinthians 5:17). [4]

Context Summary

Luke 23:35-46 - Saving Others By Not Saving Himself
Rulers, soldiers, and malefactors all heaped their insults on the dying Lord, little realizing that they were all included in the great love which was pouring itself out as the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. It may be that we shall have to share the same opprobrium, if we drink of His cup and are baptized with His baptism. But God will do for us as He did for Jesus; He will not leave our soul in the grave nor suffer His own to see corruption, Psalms 16:10.
The signs of renewal, wrought in the heart of the penitent thief, showed the sure work of the Holy Spirit. These were the fear of God, the sense of justice in His suffering, the confession of evil deeds, the recognition of our Lord's sinlessness and dignity, and the anticipation of His coming Kingdom. We may begin a day under the dull skies of earth and close it where there is no need of sun or moon. See Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:6. For the rent veil, see Hebrews 10:20. Dying saints have often passed home with our Lord's last words on their lips, Psalms 31:5; Acts 7:59. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 23

1  Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod
8  Herod mocks him
12  Herod and Pilate become friends
13  Barabbas is desired of the people,
24  and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified
26  He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem;
34  prays for his enemies
39  Two criminals are crucified with him
46  His death
50  His burial

Greek Commentary for Luke 23:46

Father [Πατερ]
Jesus dies with the words of Psalm 31:5 on his lips. [source]
Gave up the ghost [εχεπνευσεν]
First aorist active indicative of εκπνεω — ekpneō to breathe out, to expire, old word, but in the N.T. only here and Mark 15:37, Mark 15:39. There is no special reason for retaining “ghost” in the English as both Matthew 27:50 (yielded up his spirit, απηκεν το πνευμα — aphēken to pneuma) and John 19:30 (gave up his spirit, παρεδωκεν το πνευμα — paredōken to pneuma) use πνευμα — pneuma which is the root of εκπνεω — ekpneō the verb in Mark and Luke. [source]
I commend [παρατίθεμαι]
See on Luke 9:16. [source]
Gave up the ghost [ἐξέπνευσεν]
Lit., breathed out (his life )Wyc., sent out the spirit. See on sa40" translation="">Matthew 27:50.sa40 [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 23:46

Matthew 27:50 Yielded up his spirit [απηκεν το πνευμα]
The loud cry may have been Psalm 31:5 as given in Luke 23:46: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” John (John 19:30) gives It is finished (τετελεσται — tetelestai), though which was actually last is not clear. Jesus did not die from slow exhaustion, but with a loud cry. [source]
Luke 9:16 To set before [παραθεῖναι]
Lit., to set beside, since the table was at the side of the guest. A common word for serving up a meal. Compare Luke 10:8; Acts 16:34. From the sense of placing beside, comes that of putting in charge, committing (Luke 12:48; Luke 23:46; 1 Timothy 1:18). Hence the kindred noun παραθήκη (2 Timothy 1:12), a deposit: that which f halve committed. [source]
John 3:34 God giveth []
The best texts omit God. Rev., He giveth. Rev., also, rightly, omits the italicized to Him. The personal object of the verb giveth is indefinite. Render, He giveth not the Spirit by measure. In order to convey the full force of the terms giveth and by measure, it will be necessary to attempt an explanation of the general scope and meaning of this very difficult and much disputed passage. The starting point of the exposition must be John 3:30, the Baptist's noble resignation of his own position, and claims to Jesus: He must increase, but I must decrease. At this point the Evangelist, as we have seen, takes up the discourse. The Baptist's declaration that Jesus “must increase” - that He is a messenger of a transcendently higher character, and with a far larger and more significant message than his own - furnishes the Evangelist with a text. He will show why Jesus “must increase.” He must increase because He comes from above, and is therefore supreme over all (John 3:31). This statement he repeats; defining from above ( ἄνωθεν ) by out of heaven ( ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ), and emphasizing it by contrast with mere earthly witness ( ὁ ἐκ τῆς γῆς ) whose words bear the stamp of his earthly origin ( ἐκ τῆς γῆς λαλεῖ ). Being from heaven, He testifies of heavenly things, as an eye-and ear-witness. “What He hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness.” It is indeed true that men reject this testimony. “No man receiveth His witness” (John 3:32). None the less it is worthy of implicit credence as the testimony of God himself. He that has received that testimony has solemnly attested it as God's own witness; “hath set his seal to this, that God is true.” To declare Jesus' testimony untrue is to declare God untrue (John 3:33). For He whom God hath sent utters the whole divine mess age (the words of God, John 3:34). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Thus far the reasoning is directed to the conclusion that Jesus ought to increase, and that His message ought to be received. He is God's own messenger out of heaven, and speaks God's own words. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The common explanation of the succeeding clause is that God bestows the Spirit upon Jesus in His fullness, “not by measure.”-DIVIDER-
But this is to repeat what has already been more than implied. It would seem to be superfluous to say of one who comes out of heaven, who is supreme over all things, who bears witness of heavenly things which He has seen and heard, and who reveals the whole message of God to men - that God bestows upon Him the Spirit without measure. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Take up, then, the chain of thought from the first clause of John 3:34, and follow it on another line. The Messenger of God speaks the words of God, and thus shows himself worthy of credence, and shows this further, by dispensing the gift of the Spirit in full measure to His disciples. “He giveth not the Spirit by measure.” This interpretation adds a new link to the chain of thought; a new reason why Jesus should increase, and His testimony be received; the reason, namely, that not only is He himself divinely endowed with the Spirit, but that He proves it by dispensing the Spirit in full measure. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Thus John 3:35follows in natural sequence. This dispensing power which attests His claims, is His through the gift of the divine Father's love. “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.” This latter phrase, into His hand, signifies not only possession, but the power of disposal. See Mark 9:31; Mark 14:41; Luke 23:46; Hebrews 10:31. God has given the Son all things to administer according to His own pleasure and rule. These two ideas of Christ's reception and bestowment of divine gifts are combined in Matthew 11:27. “All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and He to whomsoever the Son may determine ( βούληται ) to reveal Him.”-DIVIDER-
Therefore John the Baptist must decrease, and Jesus must increase. A measure of the Spirit was given to the Baptist, sufficient for his preparatory work, but the Baptist himself saw the Spirit descending in a bodily form upon the Son of God, and heard the voice from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Spirit is thus Christ's own. He dispenses, gives it ( δίδωσιν ), in its fullness. Hence Jesus said, later, of the Spirit of truth, “He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I that He shall take of mine and shall show it unto you” (John 16:14, John 16:15). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

John 17:1 Lifting up [επαρας]
First aorist active participle of επαιρω — epairō old and common verb with οπταλμους — ophthalmous (eyes) as in John 4:35; John 6:5; John 11:41. Father Vocative form as in John 16:5, John 16:11; John 11:41, Christ‘s usual way of beginning his prayers. It is inconceivable that this real Lord‘s Prayer is the free composition of a disciple put into the mouth of Jesus. It is rather “the tenacious memory of an old man recalling the greatest days of his life” (Bernard), aided by the Holy Spirit promised for this very purpose (John 14:26; John 16:13.). Jesus had the habit of prayer (Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46; Matthew 11:25.; Luke 3:21; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18, Luke 9:28; Luke 11:22, Luke 11:42; Luke 23:34, Luke 23:46; John 11:41; John 12:27). He prayed here for himself (John 17:1-5), for the disciples (John 17:6-19), for all believers (John 17:20-26). The prayer is similar in spirit to the Model Prayer for us in Matthew 6:9-13. The hour for his glorification has come as he had already told the disciples (John 13:31.; John 12:23). Glorify thy Son First aorist active imperative of δοχαζω — doxazō the only personal petition in this prayer. Jesus had already used this word δοχαζω — doxazō for his death (John 13:31.). Here it carries us into the very depths of Christ‘s own consciousness. It is not merely for strength to meet the Cross, but for the power to glorify the Father by his death and resurrection and ascension, “that the Son may glorify thee” Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist active subjunctive. [source]
John 19:30 Had received [ελαβεν]
Second aorist active indicative of λαμβανω — lambanō Jesus took the vinegar (a stimulant), though he had refused the drugged vinegar. It is finished Same for as in John 19:28. A cry of victory in the hour of defeat like νενικηκα — nenikēka in John 16:33. Jesus knew the relation of his death to redemption for us (Mark 10:45; Matthew 20:28; Matthew 26:28). Bowed his head First aorist active participle of κλινω — klinō This vivid detail only in John. Gave up his spirit With the quotation of Psalm 31:5 according to Luke 23:46, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (the last of the seven sayings of Jesus on the Cross that are preserved for us). Jesus died with the words of this Psalm upon his lips. The apostle John had come back to the Cross. [source]
1 Peter 4:19 Commit [παρατιθέσθωσαν]
Give in charge as a deposit. Compare Luke 12:48; Acts 20:32; 1 Timothy 1:18. The word is used by Christ in commending his soul to God (Luke 23:46). [source]
1 Peter 2:23 But committed himself [παρεδιδου δε]
Imperfect active again (kept on committing himself) of παραδιδωμι — paradidōmi to hand over, usually of one to a judge, but here not of another (as the Sanhedrin), but himself (supply εαυτον — heauton), for Jesus uses this very idea in Luke 23:46 as he dies. Jesus thus handed himself and his cause over to the Father who judges righteously (τωι κρινοντι δικαιως — tōi krinonti dikaiōs dative of present active articular participle of κρινω — krinō). [source]
1 Peter 4:19 Commit their souls [παρατιτεστωσαν τας πσυχας]
Present (continuous) middle imperative third plural of παρατιτημι — paratithēmi old word, a banking figure, to deposit, as in 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 2:2, the word used by Jesus as he died (Luke 23:46).In well-doing (εν αγατοποιιαι — en agathopoiiāi). Late and rare word, only here in N.T., from αγατοποιεω — agathopoieō (1 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 2:20). [source]
1 Peter 2:23 Reviled not again [ουκ αντελοιδορει]
Imperfect active (for repeated incidents) of αντιλοιδορεω — antiloidoreō late and rare compound (Plutarch, Lucian, one papyrus example with compound following the simplex verb as here, Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary), here only in N.T. Idiomatic use of αντι — anti (in turn, return, back).Threatened not (ουκ ηπειλει — ouk ēpeilei). Imperfect again (repeated acts) of απειλεω — apeileō old compound (from απειλη — apeilē threat, Acts 9:1), in N.T. only here and Acts 4:17.But committed himself Imperfect active again (kept on committing himself) of παραδιδωμι — paradidōmi to hand over, usually of one to a judge, but here not of another (as the Sanhedrin), but himself (supply εαυτον — heauton), for Jesus uses this very idea in Luke 23:46 as he dies. Jesus thus handed himself and his cause over to the Father who judges righteously (τωι κρινοντι δικαιως — tōi krinonti dikaiōs dative of present active articular participle of κρινω — krinō). [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 23:46 mean?

And having called out in a voice loud - Jesus said Father into [the] hands of You I commit the Spirit of Me This now having said He breathed His last
Καὶ φωνήσας φωνῇ μεγάλῃ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν Πάτερ εἰς χεῖράς σου παρατίθεμαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου τοῦτο δὲ εἰπὼν ἐξέπνευσεν

φωνήσας  having  called  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: φωνέω 
Sense: to sound, emit a sound, to speak.
φωνῇ  in  a  voice 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: φωνή  
Sense: a sound, a tone.
μεγάλῃ  loud 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: μέγας  
Sense: great.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Πάτερ  Father 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
χεῖράς  [the]  hands 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: χείρ  
Sense: by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one.
σου  of  You 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
παρατίθεμαι  I  commit 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: παρατίθημι  
Sense: to place beside or near or set before.
πνεῦμά  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
τοῦτο  This 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
εἰπὼν  having  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
ἐξέπνευσεν  He  breathed  His  last 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐκπνέω  
Sense: to breathe out, breathe out one’s life, breathe one’s last, expire.