Luke 23:56

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

And they returned {G5290}, and {G1161} prepared {G2090} spices {G759} and {G2532} ointments {G3464}; and {G2532} rested {G2270}{G3303} the sabbath day {G4521} according {G2596} to the commandment {G1785}.

Then they went back home to prepare spices and ointments.

On Shabbat the women rested, in obedience to the commandment;

Then they returned to prepare spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Commentary

Luke 23:56 describes the actions of the devout women who followed Jesus, immediately after His burial. Having witnessed the crucifixion and the placement of Jesusโ€™ body in the tomb, their immediate desire was to perform customary burial rites, which involved anointing the body with spices and ointments.

Context

This verse takes place on Friday evening, just before the start of the Jewish Sabbath. After Joseph of Arimathea had taken Jesus' body and laid it in a new tomb, the women, including Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, observed where the body was laid (Luke 23:55). Their return to prepare spices indicates their deep devotion and intent to honor Jesus' body. However, the impending Sabbath, which began at sundown on Friday, necessitated a pause in their activities.

Key Themes

  • Sabbath Observance: The most prominent theme is the women's strict adherence to God's commandment regarding the Sabbath. Despite their overwhelming grief and the urgency of their task, they chose to honor the sacred day of rest. This highlights their profound piety and respect for the Mosaic Law, demonstrating that obedience to God's word takes precedence even in extraordinary circumstances.
  • Devotion and Love: Their preparation of spices and ointments underscores their deep love and devotion to Jesus. This act of service, even in death, signifies their unwavering commitment and respect for their Lord.
  • Waiting and Anticipation: Unbeknownst to them, their Sabbath rest was a period of divine waiting. This pause sets the stage for the miraculous event of the resurrection that would unfold on the first day of the week (Luke 24:1). Their obedience to the commandment inadvertently aligned with God's perfect timing for the culmination of His plan.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Sabbath day" comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat (ืฉึทืื‘ึธึผืช), meaning "cessation" or "rest." It was a weekly day of rest and worship, a divine institution for the people of Israel, established as part of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). The phrase "according to the commandment" emphasizes their deliberate and faithful adherence to this divine law, setting aside all work until after the Sabbath had concluded.

Practical Application

Luke 23:56 offers valuable lessons for believers today:

  • Prioritizing God's Will: Even in times of crisis, sorrow, or perceived urgency, we are called to prioritize God's commandments and principles. The women's example reminds us that true faith involves trusting God's timing and obeying His word, even when it seems counterintuitive to our immediate desires.
  • The Importance of Rest: The Sabbath principle, though fulfilled in Christ, still holds significance for establishing rhythms of rest and worship in our lives. It encourages us to set aside time for physical, mental, and spiritual rejuvenation, trusting God to sustain us through periods of rest.
  • Faith in the Waiting: The women rested in sorrow, unaware of the joy to come. This can encourage us to maintain faith and hope during periods of uncertainty or difficulty, knowing that God is at work behind the scenes and that His ultimate plan is always for our good and His glory.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 24:1

    ยถ Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them.

  • Mark 16:1

    ยถ And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

  • Deuteronomy 5:14

    But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

  • Exodus 35:2

    Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

  • Exodus 35:3

    Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.

  • Exodus 31:14

    Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it [is] holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth [any] work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

  • Isaiah 58:13

    ยถ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words:
โ† Back