Sermon Tone Analysis
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*Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing*
* (Luke 23:34)*
The last words of a dying person are normally never forgotten.
A person’s closing comments often reveal their pain and agony.
Some enter eternity without saying anything, while others utter sentiments that disclose their values, priorities, and innermost thoughts.
Luke’s purpose, in this verse, was to show that *Jesus *was the forgiving Messiah even as He died.
Jesus asked the *Father *to *forgive *those who were killing Him (v.
34), and He forgave one of the men sentenced to die with Him (v.
43).
Even in death Jesus had power to make people right with God.
And yet *the rulers . . .
sneered *(v.
35) *the soldiers . . .
mocked *(vv.
36-37), and *one of the criminals *crucified with Him insulted *Him *(v.
39).
!
Father, forgive them…
The original language used for this verse indicates that this was something Jesus said several times.
As He was laid upon the cross, he prayed, “Father, forgive them.”
As He had nails driven through His hands and feet, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.”
As he was lifted up and the cross was set in place, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.”
As He hung there, suspended between heaven and earth, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.”
He could have prayed, “Father, judge them,” or “Father, avenge me,” but He didn’t.
He prayed, “Father, forgive them.”
Not only was He practicing what He taught while walking the Earth, but He was fulfilling prophecy and making intercession for His transgressors as found in Isaiah 53:12;
*/Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,/*
*/and he will divide the spoils with the strong,/*
*/because he poured out his life unto death, /*
*/and was numbered with the transgressors.
/*
*/For he bore the sin of many, /*
*/and made intercession for the transgressors./*
There is nothing so lovely and nothing so rare as Christian forgiveness.
When the unforgiving spirit is threatening to turn our hearts to bitterness, let us hear again our Lord asking forgiveness for those who crucified him.
! Father, forgive them…
The connection between God and human beings was been broken due to sin; the original sin of Adam as well as the sin each of us commits.
Forgiveness of sins is the first work in the process of re-establishing that connection between God and man which was been broken by sin.
! Father, forgive them…
The Lord spoke these words for the sake of those who tortured, mocked, and crucified Him.
The Son pleaded with the Father to forgive them.
Those people were not the only ones to torture Jesus.
We too, by our sins have tortured Him.
It is because of our sins that He went through all that torture.
Just as Christ pleaded with the Father on the Cross to forgive them those who were torturing Him, He is now pleading with the Father to forgive even our sins.
Jesus spoke these words at the time in which He was offering up Himself as a sin offering on the Cross for the forgiveness of the sins of all mankind.
Even now He is speaking the same words for our sake.
Jesus is pleading the Father for our sake.
The Father will not forgive us if we ask for forgiveness by ourselves.
God the Father will not accept our own sacrifice for our sins.
He will only accept the sacrifice of Jesus for us.
We received forgiveness only because Jesus obeyed His Father and withstood the torture of the Cross and asked our Father to forgive us.
We should not forget this truth.
Every time we commit sin and go to God to ask forgiveness, we should remember what His Son did for each and every one of us.
We should remember what He said while hanging on that Cross.
*“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”*
In 1 Corinthians 2:8, Paul says, “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
Warren Wiersbe paraphrases this to say, “Father, My people don’t understand; they are ignorant.
I am dying for them.
They know not what they do; I know what I am doing—I’m dying in their behalf.
Now forgive them.”
Each time we crucify Christ with our sins, do we know we are doing?
Each time we torture Him, do we understand the gravity of the situation?
Each time we hang Him back on that Cross, do we recognize or even appreciate what He did for us?
Next time we sin, remember that Christ already died for those sins.
We just need to confess them to Christ so that He can act on our behalf with His Father…our Father.
\\ *I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise*
* (Luke 23:43)*
Is it not interesting that Jesus was crucified between two criminals?
They were in a position to see Christ and the inscription on the plaque above His head; Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
Matthew 1:21 tells us that the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and said that Mary would bear a child and name Him Jesus because He would save His people from their sins.
These criminals were probably arrested for the same crime, tried for the same crime, condemned for the same crime, and were now dying for the same crime.
Both probably knew of Jesus and His followers and the miracles He had performed.
Both were probably familiar with the language used and the meaning behind His name.
Both had the opportunity to take advantage of the forgiveness and salvation that Jesus was now offering to all who believe in Him.
One of these thieves imitated the mockery of the religious leaders and asked Jesus to rescue him from the cross.
He obviously did not believe what was right in front of him.
His heart was hardened to the very end.
He was condemned for all eternity.
The other thief had different ideas.
He may have reasoned, “If this Man is indeed the Christ, and if He has a kingdom, and if He has saved others, then He can meet my greatest need which is salvation from sin.
I am not ready to die!”
It took courage for this thief to defy the influence of his friend and the mockery of the crowd, and it took faith for him to trust a dying King!
When you consider all that he had to overcome, the faith of this thief is astounding.
!! “TODAY…
In this statement from Jesus of Nazareth, we find that as long as your heart still beats, you are able to accept the invitation of eternal life.
No matter the circumstances, all you have to do is confess your sins and accept Him into your heart.
The irony of the situation at hand was that this criminal was rightfully executed for his crime though he was much better off than the Jewish leaders of the time.
Though he had only a short time to live, this penitent criminal finds that it is not too late for him.
He owned up to what he deserved and was faithful in what Jesus had to offer him.
He even showed humility in his request of “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
Do you plan on waiting until the last minute?
Or have you already asked Jesus to remember you in Heaven?
He is at the door and is waiting for you to open it today.
*“TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME…*
Christ upon the Cross is like Christ upon the throne.
In spite of the agony that He was experiencing while on the Cross, He was still able to offer the Kingdom of Heaven to this sinner.
And not just this sinner, but also all sinners that ask for the forgiveness and accept the opportunity offered to them.
Nothing we have done is too bad as to keep us from the joys of spending eternity with God.
All sin keeps us from that intimate time with Him.
And the day we ask Him into our lives, our citizenship in Heaven will be established.
Where is your citizenship?
Is Christ already in your heart?
Or do you feel your sins are worse than those of the criminal hanging next to him on that dreadful day 2000 years ago?
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