Luke 23:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Surely, it was not akin to the joy of righteous Simeon at witnessing the comfort of Israel and the light for the Gentiles. It did not resemble the delight of the wise men from the East, who ventured far into an unfamiliar land to behold the magnificent King of the Jews. This was not the joy of Zacchaeus, who risked scorn merely to catch a glimpse of Jesus passing by. Instead, it reflected the joy of a child at discovering new entertainment, new objects of fascination. The sacred rites of God's temple are elevated and holy. However, while some engage with them, finding spiritual enrichment, humility, or heartfelt thanksgiving to God, and contemplating the faith and its mysteries, others observe as mere spectators, failing to exert themselves to comprehend their sanctity, meaning, or intentions, and neglecting to surrender their own desires. Herod's delight at seeing the great Miracle Worker before him was a mere boost to his vanity. The fact that Pilate had sent Jesus to him for judgment further inflated Herod's pride. His vanity was particularly gratified that the renowned miracle-worker, so widely spoken of, was now under his control. He anticipated witnessing a sign from Him. Had Herod's disposition been different, would he have sought something deeper? He might have yearned for guidance on how to save his sinful soul, aiming to revive his cold heart with sacred sentiments, awakening his slumbering spirit to acts of repentance. Yet, Herod was filled with misguided hopes.

Following John's death, he was gripped by fear when rumors spread of a new prophet in Galilee performing miracles near his capital. Initially, Antipas established Sepphoris as the main city of his domain but, influenced by his father's passion for grand architecture, he later constructed a new city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, naming it Tiberias in honor of the emperor. This location served as his primary residence; however, during the Passover feast, he traveled to Jerusalem, likely taking up residence in his father’s lavish palace situated in the north-western corner of Zion. During this time, Jesus was brought before him. It is easy to picture Herod’s superstitious intrigue upon hearing that the remarkable Prophet, whom he viewed as a continuation of the beheaded John, was sent for his judgment. “Herod, when he saw Jesus, rejoiced greatly,” records the Evangelist. The one who had slain the Baptist anticipated that Jesus would quench his curiosity with a miracle (Lk. 23:8). Instead, all his inquiries were met with silence.

The Evangelist notes that from this incident, Pilate and Herod became friends, suggesting that in an attempt to mend their prior discord, Pilate showed respect to Herod by sending Jesus to him, treating Him as an esteemed guest in Herod's temporary residence. Additionally, Pilate may have hoped that Herod would view Jesus favorably, thus providing him some relief from the ongoing accusations from the people’s leaders and potentially releasing Jesus from His accusers. This is supported by Pilate's later assertion of Herod's concurrence with his view regarding Christ.

Herod, who was also present in Jerusalem during this time, had traveled from his Galilean capital of Tiberias to participate in the Passover Feast, as required by the Mosaic Law. Herod was elated to see Jesus, being the same Herod Antipas who had executed John the Baptist. Upon hearing about the miracles of Christ, he speculated that John the Baptist had risen from the dead. Herod's joy stemmed from his longstanding desire to meet the miracle worker Jesus. Earlier, the Evangelist noted Herod's wish to see Jesus perform wonders (Luke 9:7-9); this yearning likely intensified as tales of Christ's miraculous deeds spread, despite Jesus avoiding Herod’s interest. Herod's joy was also tied to his hope of witnessing miracles, not from a stance of genuine faith, but rather as a curious onlooker seeking a spectacle. If he had truly understood Christ's nature as the true Miracle Worker, his faith might have been strengthened long before, yet this corrupt ruler, who had slain the Baptist, likely viewed Jesus more as a magician capable of extraordinary feats rather than the Holy Messiah.

Herod posed many questions to Jesus, but the Evangelist does not specify what they were. We can infer the nature of these inquiries based on Herod's known character and the fact that Jesus chose not to respond. There was no need to engage with someone who sought entertainment rather than truth; "Do not give what is holy to dogs" (Matt. 7:6) expresses a deeper wisdom here, suggesting that silence is preferable when words would be wasted on the uninterested, leading only to greater condemnation.

As the accusers persisted, the leaders accompanied Christ from Pilate to Herod. Their intention was to maintain their vigilance, fearing that their influence might diminish if they lost sight of Him. They vigorously accused Jesus before Herod, just as they had done before Pilate, yet their efforts were unsuccessful. Herod was not swayed by their accusations but rather felt insulted because Jesus not only failed to perform a miracle for him but also did not deign to answer any of his questions. Herod’s mockery culminated in his decision to dress Jesus in a bright—actually white—garment and send Him back to Pilate. In Roman traditions, candidates for honorable positions were clothed in white, and during battles, generals donned such garments; Jews also wore splendid white robes for significant occasions, embellished with precious stones. By adorning Jesus in this way and presenting Him to Pilate, Herod derisively portrayed Him as a ridiculous claimant to the Jewish throne, inadvertently signaling to Pilate that such a figure was not deserving of execution but of mockery. Pilate interpreted this as such, which is evident in the narrative that follows.

The reconciliation of Pilate and Herod is noteworthy, though the reasons for their prior animosity remain unclear; it may have stemmed from an incident involving the Galileans, who were under Herod's governance (Luke 13:1). Their newfound friendship was not born from a shared animosity toward Jesus, unlike the intense hatred held by the religious rulers; rather, it was Pilate’s act of courtesy, demonstrated by sending Jesus to Herod as a Galilean, that fostered their reconciliation.