What does Luke 23:31 mean?

[Don_Machiavelli]

I sometimes have nightmares about getting tattoos that I don’t want, and one night I had a dream that I had the passage “If men use the green wood like this, what will happen when its dry?”

 

[bmullins]

Wood when it is green and moist is not ready for fire. Once it dries out, its time for it to be used to burn. This is a reminder that there is still time to repent, still time to turn to God. Once the wood dries out, there is no life left in it. As long as it is still moist inside, it’s still alive. Just as we see vegetables can remain alive for a long time until they dry out.

The wood symbolizes Jerusalem. Jesus is reminding them of a passage from Ezekiel (Ezekiel 15:1-8; 20:47). In that passage Jerusalem is compared to firewood and is being burnt up by divine judgement.

 

[trogiah]

I have understood this passage to mean that people should take heed of the bad times that will be coming. people are doing terrible things despite the fact that spring is in the air and trees are blooming and nature is being generous. Imagine how much worse people will be acting if there is drought and the trees are dry and barren.

 

[fred_conty]

I took it to mean, if things are bad now in the early stages(green) of Christianity, how much worse will it be in the later stages(dry) of Christianity. The prophesy of bad events to come.

It might also refer to the city of Jerusalem. The Romans now occupying Jerusalem, 33 AD, and later the total destruction of the city in 70 AD.

Just a thought.

 

[thistle]

I sometimes have nightmares about getting tattoos that I don’t want, and one night I had a dream that I had the passage “If men use the green wood like this, what will happen when its dry?”

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 31. In the green wood: by which are signified persons of virtue and sanctity; as by the dry wood, the wicked, who bring forth no fruit, and who, like dry wood, are fit to be cast into the fire. (Witham) — If they be thus cruel with me, how will they treat you!

 

[ChrAug]

A large crowd of people
followed Jesus, including many women
who mourned and lamented him.
Jesus turned to them and said,
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep
for me; weep instead for yourselves and
for your children, for indeed, the days
are coming when people will say
,‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that
never bore and the breasts that never
nursed.’ At that time people will say
to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to
the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things
are done when the wood is green what
will happen when it is dry?”
Luke 23:27-31 nab

What does Jesus mean when he says: "the days are coming when people will say ,'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ ?

 

[bmullins]

What does Jesus mean when he says: "the days are coming when people will say ,'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ ?

Jesus is warning the women that there is another destruction of Jerusalem coming. The city would soon be destroyed by siege, war, and fire. That in those days (70 AD) even a barren womb will seem like a blessing. (Much easier to run from the city without a newborn child in your arms. No kids to starve to death during the time to follow, etc).