Expository Thoughts
unbelieving Jerusalem. He heard the prayer of the dying thief. He stopped under the tree to call the tax-collector Zaccheus. He came down from heaven to turn the heart of the persecutor Saul. He found time to pray for His murderers even on the cross. Love like this is a love that passes knowledge. The vilest of sinners have no cause to be afraid of applying to a Savior like this. If we want warrant and encouragement to repent and believe, the passage before us surely supplies enough.
Finally, let us see in our Lord's intercession a striking example of the spirit which should reign in the hearts of all His people. Like Him, let us return good for evil, and blessing for cursing. Like Him, let us pray for those who evil entreat us and persecute us. The pride of our hearts may often rebel against the idea. The fashion of this world may call it foolish to behave in such a way. But let us never be ashamed to imitate our divine Master. The man who prays for his enemies shows the mind that was in Christ, and will have his reward.
Notes on 23:26-38
26. They seized Simon from Cyrene. It would appear that our Lord carried his cross himself until he was exhausted, and that after this Simon was pressed into carrying it by the soldiers.
Nothing certain is known about this Simon, although his sons
Alexander and Rufus are mentioned in Mark 15:21. Simon was perhaps a disciple of Christ when Mark wrote his Gospel, whatever he was at the time of the crucifixion.