Neville Goddard on Luke 23:18 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Luke 23 in context

Scripture Focus

18And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

Luke 23:18

Biblical Context

In Luke 23:18, the crowd demands Barabbas's release and calls for Jesus's death, symbolizing a moment of collective judgment. It invites you to notice how you choose which aspects of yourself to condemn or spare.

Neville's Inner Vision

Luke 23:18 is not a history lesson but a map of consciousness. The crowd represents the scattered thoughts pulling you toward judgment, the voice that shouts 'Away with this man' at the truth within you. Barabbas, the released prisoner, is the side of you that you would rather let go free—the forgiven offender you keep insisting deserves mercy—while Jesus, the innocent one, stands as your I AM, the awareness that remains unmoved by the crowd. When you identify with the crowd, you are siding with projection and separation; when you choose to release Barabbas, you acknowledge the life inside you that has been unjustly condemned by outer opinion. The act of release is not about Barabbas itself but about your decision to refuse the verdict of fear and to allow the higher self to stand in your consciousness. The crucifixion imagery is the inner dying of one false self and the birth of another. As you assume the state of mercy, you discover that forgiveness originates in your own awareness, and the crowd dissolves into the background as unity returns.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes, breathe, and assume you are the I AM. See the crowd in your mental theatre shouting, 'Away with this man!' Then gently declare, 'Barabbas is released' and feel the inner freedom as the old self departs, while the higher self remains calm and present.