Luke 23:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Irritated, Herod subsequently sent the accused to his court for ridicule, only to return him to Pilate while asserting that he found no fault in him. As a visible sign of this claim, he even commanded that Jesus be adorned in a white, light robe (Luke 23:6-12). Thus, the Divine Sufferer was presented a second time in even greater majesty and justification before the Praetorium.

Furthermore, the Evangelist notes that from that moment, Pilate and Herod became friends, suggesting that in an attempt to mend their prior animosity, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, showing Him hospitality as a guest at Herod’s temporary residence. It is reasonable to assume that Pilate hoped for a favorable outcome from Herod, which might bolster his own standing against the ongoing criticisms from the Jewish leaders, thereby securing Jesus' release from His accusers. This is implied by how he later mentions Herod’s concurrence with his own views about Christ.

Herod, who had also come to Jerusalem during this time for the Passover feast in line with Jewish law, was filled with joy upon seeing the Lord. This Herod Antipas was the one who had ordered the execution of John the Baptist, and upon hearing of Jesus’ deeds, he believed that John had returned from the dead. His delight upon seeing Jesus stemmed from a long-held desire to witness Him. The Evangelist had previously noted Herod’s wish to see the miracle-working Jesus (Luke 9:7-9); this desire likely intensified as Jesus’ miraculous acts became widely known, but the Lord had previously eluded him. Herod was eager to see some sign of a miracle from Jesus; had he truly believed in Christ as the authentic Miracle Worker, it is likely that Jesus would have fortified his faith long ago. However, the corrupt king, who had been responsible for John’s death, likely viewed Jesus as merely a sorcerer capable of conjuring extraordinary events, desiring to see such wonders. Yet he was mistaken; such misguided notions were not met with fulfillment from Christ. Herod sought to witness miracles not for the sake of believing, but merely for entertainment, much like how spectators might watch a magician perform tricks.

The Evangelist does not specify the nature of the questions posed by Herod, but we may infer their character from Herod's known traits and the Lord’s lack of necessity to respond to them. There is no need to answer one who does not seek truth; casting pearls before swine (Matt. 7:6) is pointless. In such situations, silence is often the most appropriate response, as speaking to those who are inattentive does not benefit them and can lead to greater condemnation.

The rulers of the people accompanied Jesus to Herod, ensuring they did not lose sight of Him for fear that their influence might wane. Thus, they leveled serious accusations against Jesus before Herod, just as they had done before Pilate. Yet their efforts here also proved ineffective; Herod, driven not by the rulers' charges, but by personal offense that Jesus neither performed a miracle for him nor answered his inquiries, humiliated and chastised the Lord. The specifics of his humiliation are not detailed, but the Evangelist notes that he “clothed” Jesus in a splendid garment and sent Him back to Pilate. Wearing white was a sign among Romans of honor and distinction, and it was customary for Roman generals to adorn themselves this way during battle. Jewish kings would wear white adorned with precious stones for grand occasions, reflecting their status. By draping the Lord in such a robe and transferring Him back to Pilate, Herod mocked Him as a charlatan pretending to claim the Jewish throne, subtly suggesting to Pilate that such a pretender deserved not condemnation but ridicule. Pilate grasped this implication as seen in the subsequent narrative.

The reasons for the previous discord between Pilate and Herod remain unclear, though it may stem from Pilate's harsh actions against Herod’s Galilean subjects (Luke 13:1). Their newfound friendship was not due to a shared animosity toward Jesus, as they lacked the intense personal hatred that the Jewish leaders exhibited. Rather, it arose from Pilate's respectful gesture in sending Jesus to Herod, recognizing Him as a Galilean, which facilitated their reconciliation.

Antipas had long been aware of Christ’s reputation, having heard the widespread rumors that circulated about Him (Matthew 14:1; Mark 6:14; Luke 9:7). Confused, he inquired, “Who is this man of whom I hear such things?” (Luke 9:9). He speculated whether this miracle worker could possibly be John the Baptist resurrected, whom he had executed (Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:14, 16), and sought a chance to witness Him firsthand (Luke 9:9). The tetrarch quickly cast aside memories of the humble prophet, yet when faced with Jesus, his dormant curiosities were reignited.

Herod was genuinely pleased to see Jesus, anticipating to quench his curiosity. He hoped that the Lord would perform a miracle for him, as Blessed Theophylact notes, “his desire to see a miracle was not for the purpose of believing, but merely to satisfy his visual appetite,” akin to observing skilled artisans showcase wonders. His yearning to witness a miracle stemmed from profound disbelief in God’s power revealed through the Lord’s redemptive presence; any spectacle that might have satisfied him would have failed to instill faith and instead would have stirred doubt, derision, and disdain for the manifestation of God's omnipotence. The All-Knowing One discerned that a miracle at this juncture would be inappropriate, and just as He had previously rebuffed the devil's temptations at the outset of His ministry (Matthew 4:4, 7), He chose not to entertain Herod's frivolous curiosity at the close of His earthly sojourn.

Feeling deceived by his hopes, the tetrarch began to fire numerous questions at Jesus, but they were such that the Lord chose to remain silent in response. The silence did not go unnoticed by the members of the Sanhedrin, who interpreted it as further evidence of guilt, ramping up their slanderous accusations against Him. They likely reiterated the charges they had brought before Pilate, portraying Jesus as a threat to authority and public order. The malicious accusers harbored hopes that Herod would blindly accept their malicious claims, particularly since just days earlier, the Pharisees had managed to rally the Herodians, Pilate's allies, to entrap the Lord in His words (Matthew 22:16). The bias against Jesus from those loyal to the ruler was likely to extend to Antipas himself, prompting the chief priests and scribes to exacerbate this animosity.

Despite their relentless efforts, Herod was hesitant to view Jesus as a criminal; rather, he saw Him as an unfortunate target of jealousy and animosity. He found it perplexing that this seemingly powerless man was not seeking his protection or defense. Herod’s pride was stung, and without tempering his vengeful impulses, he mocked and mistreated the One who suffered. The Lord Jesus Christ endured the ridicule and harsh jests of the tetrarch and his soldiers in silence, embodying the prophecy of the suffering servant: He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb led to slaughter, and like a sheep before its shearers, He remained silent (Isaiah 53:3, 7).

Satisfied with witnessing the humiliation of innocent suffering, Herod dressed Jesus in a bright robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Such garments were customary for Romans in the pursuit of honor, and Herod intended the white robe to signify his view that Jesus bore no guilt deserving of death, seeing Him as an unthreatening claimant to authority unworthy of condemnation. Pilate perceived the tetrarch's subtle implication (Luke 23:15), and the two rulers, having found common ground, reconciled and became allies, forgetting their earlier grievances.