Luke 23:32-43
Forgive Them for They Know Not What They Do
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
It was very common for Jesus, as He taught, to go around forgiving people...Jesus forgiving others seems natural as we read through the gospels...Yet, we know that it is not natural for a man to go around forgiving others...Even when Jesus was being put on the cross He said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”...
Yet, when we think about His different teachings forgiving completely and unconditionally as He did is one of the hardest things to do...It just seems very difficult to completely forgive someone or a group that has harmed you or your family and friends, or is going to harm you...
It takes quite the person to forgive others completely and unconditionally, which shows us how unique the Person that Jesus is...