What does Luke 23:31 mean?

Mourning women are following Jesus to the cross. We don't know if their cries are sincere or ceremonial. Jesus redirects their attention (Luke 23:27–28). His death was determined before the creation of the world (John 10:18). His resurrection will provide a path for people to receive forgiveness from their sins and reconciliation with God (Romans 6:3–8; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21; Ephesians 1:3–14; 2:1–10). The hours before this moment and directly after will be excruciating. But good will come of it.

Scholars agree that Jesus' allegory is comparing His own experience to a greater judgment in the future. But the scholars are torn as to the specific application. The first thought is that the Romans are killing an innocent man now but will soon destroy a nation in rebellion. The second is that the Jewish leaders are killing an innocent man now, but they will soon be judged. Another is that God places His wrath on the innocent Jesus now but will judge the nation later.

Jesus may be referring to AD 70. The Romans are following the commands of the Jews to kill the "green" or innocent Jesus. Soon, when the Jews are in full rebellion, the Romans will be God's instrument of judgment. God will judge them because they rejected Jesus the Messiah (Luke 19:41–44; John 19:15).

Jesus warns the women that there will be a day when the daughters of Jerusalem will face unspeakable hardship because of God's wrathful judgment. They will consider those who have no children blessed—a complete reversal of typical Jewish understanding. They will beg the rocks of the mountains to cover them (Luke 23:29–30).

For now, "the wood is green." Barring the occasional riot or revolt, the Jews are on relatively good terms with the Romans. In fact, Jewish leadership and a mob have just convinced the Roman governor to endorse the murder of Jesus (Luke 23:23–25).

If an innocent man will be sent to the cross in peaceful times, Jesus warns, what will happen "when [the wood] is dry"? What will happen when the political and social environment is so volatile it will only take a spark to set the city ablaze? Jerusalem will face this in AD 70 and during the tribulation. Jesus' fate is sealed. The women—and everyone else in the crowd—need to consider how they'll survive God's coming judgment.