Luke 23:54

And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

And {G2532} that day {G2250} was {G2258} the preparation {G3904}, and {G2532} the sabbath {G4521} drew on {G2020}.

It was Preparation Day, and a Shabbat was about to begin.

It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.

And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

Luke 23:54 provides a crucial temporal marker in the narrative of Jesus' crucifixion and burial, emphasizing the strict adherence to Jewish law and custom even amidst profound tragedy. The verse states, "And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on." This concisely sets the scene for the rapid events surrounding Jesus' interment.

Context

This verse immediately follows the account of Joseph of Arimathea, a rich and devout man, taking Jesus' body down from the cross and laying it in a new tomb. The urgency of this action is explained here: it was the "preparation day," which was Friday, the day before the Sabbath. According to Jewish law, no work could be done on the Sabbath, which began at sunset on Friday and lasted until sunset on Saturday. Therefore, Jesus' body had to be interred before the Sabbath officially began, highlighting the precision with which the events surrounding Jesus' death unfolded.

Key Themes

  • Urgency and Timing: The approaching Sabbath necessitated the swift burial of Jesus. This detail underscores the critical timing of God's plan, where every event, even the burial, was divinely orchestrated and occurred at the appointed time.
  • Adherence to Law: Even in the midst of sorrow and chaos, the Jewish custom of honoring the Sabbath was maintained. This shows the devoutness of those involved, such as Joseph of Arimathea and the women who followed Jesus, who also rested on the Sabbath after witnessing the burial.
  • Transition and Anticipation: The Sabbath, a day of rest, symbolically represented a period of waiting between the crucifixion and the resurrection. It was a time of apparent defeat and silence before the glorious triumph of Jesus' resurrection on the first day of the week.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "preparation" is paraskeuē (παρασκευή), which specifically refers to Friday, the day of preparation for the Sabbath. This term was commonly used in Jewish tradition to denote the day when all necessary tasks were completed before the Sabbath rest. The "sabbath" (Greek: sabbaton - σάββατον) refers to the seventh day of the week, a day of rest and worship, rooted in the creation account and the Ten Commandments.

Practical Application

Luke 23:54 reminds us that God's plans unfold with perfect precision and timing. Even seemingly mundane details, like the timing of a burial according to Jewish law, are part of a larger divine narrative. For believers today, it highlights the transition from sorrow to hope, from the solemnity of the cross to the joyous anticipation of resurrection. It encourages us to trust in God's timing, even when circumstances seem bleak or uncertain, knowing that His ultimate purposes will be fulfilled.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 27:62

    Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

  • John 19:31

    ¶ The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and [that] they might be taken away.

  • Mark 15:42

    ¶ And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

  • John 19:42

    There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation [day]; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

  • John 19:14

    And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
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