QUESTION: “Did Jesus immediately forgive those who were crucifying Him when He said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Lk. 23:34)?”
Let’s carefully study your Bible question together. NOTE:
Luke 23:34 was a PETITION–not a DECLARATION, but when Jesus forgave people during His earthly ministry, He did not petition, rather He declared:
. The Paralytic man–“Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” Mat. 9:2
. The woman in the Pharisee’s house–“Your sins are forgiven.” Lk. 7:48
When the Lord said, “Father, forgive them…” He was asking God to give His executioners the time and opportunity to learn the truth and repent. Instead of calling for their immediate punishment, whey they obviously deserved, Jesus sought mercy because a) they didn’t recognize Him as the Messiah, b) they misunderstood the prophecies about Him, and c) they acted in ignorance rather than full knowledge. Watch:
. “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.” Acts 3:17; see also 13:27; 17:30
. “Which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, thy would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Cor. 2:8
. NOTE: Jesus told Pilate: “He who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (Jn. 19:11). Judas had greater sin because He betrayed and delivered the Lord to the authorities knowing full well that He was the Son of God (see Mat. 26:14-16; 47-48; 27:3).
If the Jews who killed Jesus were immediately forgive at the cross then:
. They didn’t know it–because fifty days later when Peter preached at Pentecost and reminded them that they had, in fact, crucified the Lord (Acts 2:23, 36), their hearts were pricked and they asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37). There was no reason to ask that question if they had already been forgive by Jesus several weeks earlier.
. Peter didn’t know it–because he told them, “Repent and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the “remission” (Greek–aphesis, “pardon”) of sins…” (v. 38). If they had been immediately forgive back at the cross, why didn’t Peter correct their misunderstanding and say, “There’s nothing for you to do my friends because Jesus declared you forgiven before His death at Calvary?”
Jesus’ petition at the cross was answered in the affirmative by the Father when those who had crucified Him were given the opportunity to have their sins washed away on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 when they obeyed the gospel (Acts 22:16; see also 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Thes. 1:8; 1 Pet. 4:17).
Mike Benson – Dexter church of Christ, Dexter MO
INCARNATE 