Luke 23:51, commentary and pictures

Joseph was of Arimathea, a rich, honorable and influential member of the Jewish council, described as good and just and acquainted with Pilate. He was a true believer in Jesus who waited for the kingdom of God, yet while Jesus lived he kept his discipleship secret with Nicodemus for fear of the Jews, lest he lose his place and power that might aid and protect Jesus in the councils. His refusal to consent means he did not agree to the plan, arrest and condemnation of Jesus, but repeatedly exposed the fallacy of the charges and protested, for a time helping to prevent condemnation which required unanimous consent. The priests set that protection aside by calling a secret council to plan Jesus’ death to which he and Nicodemus were not summoned, so he had no part in condemning Him though present at the crucifixion without power to change the sentence. After Jesus was slain, when the acknowledged disciples were too fearful to act openly, he no longer hid his attachment but boldly obtained the body from Pilate by official order, and with Nicodemus gave it an honored burial in his own new tomb with about one hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes, saving it from a dishonored grave with criminals and fulfilling what the Scriptures had foretold of the Messiah.

Joseph's Standing and Faith

Joseph was of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish council or Sanhedrin, described as a counsellor who was good and just, honorable, rich, and influential in position. He was a wealthy and influential ruler, one of two such councilors with Nicodemus, and was acquainted with Pilate, with his riches giving him influence with the governor. His wealth, honor, and influential standing were greatly needed after Jesus was slain, enabling what was impossible for the poorer disciples to do.

He was a true disciple and believer in Jesus who himself waited for the kingdom of God. Yet while Jesus lived he did not openly identify himself with Him or attach himself to Him, but acted privately. The reason was fear of the Jews, their hatred, hostility, and prejudice toward Jesus.

He kept his faith secret together with Nicodemus, the other wealthy and influential councilor and fellow member of the Sanhedrin. Open acceptance would have excluded them from the Sanhedrin and cut them off from place, power, and all power to aid and protect Jesus by influence in its councils. They therefore hoped instead to protect Him by their influence in its councils, avoiding exclusion on account of the prejudice of the priests and elders.

Dissent and Honorable Burial

Joseph had not agreed to the counsel, plan, decision, arrest and condemnation of Jesus by the priests and rulers. He several times exposed the fallacy of the grounds brought for condemnation and protested against arrest, so that the council broke up without accomplishing what it had been called together to do. For a time he thus helped prevent condemnation, since condemnation was impossible without unanimous consent of the Sanhedrin.

The priests saw his favor to Christ and thwarted his protection by calling a secret council to plan Jesus' death to which Joseph and Nicodemus were not summoned. In his absence Jesus was condemned and delivered to be crucified, so Joseph had no part in condemning Him. He was present at the crucifixion but was unable to change or soften the terrible sentence.

After Jesus was slain, when the acknowledged disciples were too disheartened, intimidated and fearful to show themselves openly as His followers, Joseph no longer concealed his attachment but came boldly forth to Pilate with Nicodemus to the aid of the disciples. He was a rich man, which gave him influence with the governor, and by his wealth, honor and influential standing he obtained an official order and commission that the body should be given to him. John was anxious and troubled about the sacred remains of his Master while Joseph returned with the governor's commission to receive it.

With Nicodemus he thus secured an honored burial in his own new tomb, and in death Jesus was shown as much respect as the most honored in Jerusalem could have been shown. Nicodemus, anticipating that Joseph's request would be granted, brought a costly mixture of myrrh and aloes of about one hundred pounds weight. His prompt action kept the Saviour's body from being taken down by common soldiers and placed with the bodies of the thieves in a dishonored grave or in the burial ground for criminals executed for opposition to Roman rule. Their wealth, honor and influential standing supplied for His burial what the poor disciples could not do and in great measure protected them from censure, remonstrance and malice of the priests and rulers. The verse stands among the evidence that the Scriptures concerning the Messiah had been fulfilled.