Luke 22 37

Luke 22:37 kjv

For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

Luke 22:37 nkjv

For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end."

Luke 22:37 niv

It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."

Luke 22:37 esv

For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment."

Luke 22:37 nlt

For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: 'He was counted among the rebels.' Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true."

Luke 22 verses

Luke 22 37 Meaning

Luke 22:37 conveys Jesus' profound declaration of the divine necessity for specific prophecy to be fulfilled through His impending suffering and crucifixion. He directly references Isaiah 53:12, stating that He must be counted among criminals, not because He committed any wrong, but because this act is part of God's redemptive plan, bringing to completion all that was written concerning Him. It signifies His willing identification with sinful humanity and His substitutionary work.

Luke 22 37 Context

Luke 22:37 is spoken by Jesus during the Last Supper, specifically after He foretells Peter's denial and warns His disciples of a radical shift in their circumstances. Earlier, He had sent them out without purse, bag, or sandals (Luke 9:3; 10:4), and they lacked nothing (Luke 22:35). Now, however, Jesus tells them they will need a purse, a bag, and even advises them to sell their cloak to buy a sword (Luke 22:36). This stark instruction immediately precedes Luke 22:37, where Jesus explains why these drastic measures and preparations are needed: the hour for His suffering and identification with "transgressors" has arrived. This fulfillment means His followers will also enter a period of increased hostility, opposition, and persecution, being treated as He is treated. The swords here symbolize the impending danger and changed realities, not primarily for armed rebellion, which Jesus would later prevent in Gethsemane (Luke 22:50-51). Historically, this passage anticipates the early Church's experiences of persecution as Jesus' followers. Culturally, it stood in stark contrast to popular Jewish Messianic expectations of a conquering hero who would overthrow Rome, instead presenting a Suffering Servant Messiah.

Luke 22 37 Word analysis

• For (δὲ - de) I tell (λέγω - legō) you: The particle de introduces an explanation or clarification. Legō signifies an authoritative declaration by Jesus.
• that this Scripture (γραϕὴ - graphē): Refers specifically to Isaiah 53:12. Graphē universally denotes divinely inspired written word.
• must be fulfilled (δεῖ πληρωθῆναι - dei plērōthēnai): Dei conveys divine necessity, a non-negotiable part of God's plan. Plērōthēnai means "to be filled up," "completed," or "brought to its full realization." This highlights the certainty and divine orchestration of the events.
• in Me: This emphasizes that the prophecy finds its personal and ultimate realization in Jesus Himself.
• 'And He was numbered (ἐλογίσθη - elogisthē) with the transgressors (ἀνόμων - anomōn)': This is a direct quote from the Septuagint (LXX) translation of Isaiah 53:12.
  • Elogisthē (from logizomai) means "to be counted," "reckoned," or "attributed." It signifies how He was regarded or treated, not His actual character. Jesus did not become a transgressor but was counted as one in legal standing, for the purpose of bearing sin.
  • Anomōn refers to "lawless ones," "wicked individuals," or "criminals." It perfectly describes those with whom Jesus was crucified (robbers/bandits) and the broader legal charges brought against Him. This phrasing captures the scandalous reality of His crucifixion alongside common criminals.
• For what is written about Me (τὰ περὶ ἐμοῦ - ta peri emou): Reinforces the entirety of Old Testament prophecy pointing to Jesus.
• has its fulfillment (τέλος ἔχει - telos echei) here: Telos means "end," "goal," "completion," or "purpose." Jesus declares that all the prophetic declarations concerning Him are now reaching their conclusive and definitive culmination in His present reality and impending suffering. This indicates the decisive turning point in redemptive history.

Luke 22 37 Bonus section

The profound reality that "what is written about Me has its fulfillment here" implies that every prophetic utterance and shadow in the Old Testament ultimately converges upon Jesus. This verse therefore also serves as an explicit claim of His Messiahship, as He declares Himself the central figure of God's grand narrative of salvation, bringing everything to its appointed conclusion. This divine necessity ("must be fulfilled") implies that God's plan is unstoppable and precise, unfolding exactly as pre-ordained through Scripture. The scandal of the cross—a righteous man dying among criminals—is transformed from a perceived failure into the glorious and necessary culmination of redemptive prophecy, illustrating God's paradoxical wisdom.

Luke 22 37 Commentary

Luke 22:37 serves as a pivotal explanation for the seemingly jarring instruction to buy swords, marking a dramatic shift in the disciples' mission outlook. Jesus explains that His impending humiliation and execution as a common criminal is not an unfortunate accident, but the precise and divinely ordained fulfillment of prophecy, specifically from the Suffering Servant passage in Isaiah 53. By stating "He was numbered with the transgressors," Jesus articulates the profound theological truth of His substitutionary atonement. He, who knew no sin, would be treated as a sinner and a lawbreaker, bearing the legal and spiritual consequences of human sin. This "numbering" demonstrates the depth of His identification with humanity's fallen state, taking the place of the guilty. His words, "For what is written about Me has its fulfillment here," underscore the culmination of God's redemptive plan through His suffering Messiah. It emphasizes that every aspect of Old Testament prophecy regarding Him is now coming to pass, confirming His identity as the Christ. The disciples, previously under a more protected commission, are now preparing to follow a Lord who will be publicly executed as a transgressor, thus indicating the challenging and persecuted path ahead for His kingdom.