Father Forgive Them....?
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:17 pm
While on the cross Jesus prayed:
Luke 23:34 (New King James Version)
34. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Did Jesus mean that God should forgive them absent any repentance on their part? What I have believed is that Jesus was asking God to bring them to repentance and thus to forgiveness at some point in the future. Some of the reasons I believe this to be the case are as follows:
1. If Jesus meant that they ought to be forgiven at the time He made the request, He could have done that Himself:
Matthew 9:6 (New King James Version)
6. But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Thus it seems Jesus was requesting God to act to bring about repentance and, as a result, forgiveness.
2. In his Pentecost sermon, Peter accused them of being guilty of Jesus' death:
Acts 2:36-38 (New King James Version)
36. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38. Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So Peter put conditons on their forgiveness, and they were still unforgiven for Jesus' death. They must repent and be baptized. The remission of sins here must also include the guilt for being, directly or indirectly, responsible for the crucixion of Jesus. It might be argued that these people were not directly responsible, but if so they would be less guilty, not more, and thus would seem to have been more readily forgiven, yet they hadn't been.
3. Jesus said they crucified Him not knowing what they were doing. This does not absolve them of their culpability. Paul also persecuted the Church in ignorance and unbelief:
1 Timothy 1:13 (New King James Version)
13. although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief
But the mercy shown Paul was not without his being brought to repentance. The mercy was shown by a direct intervention by the Lord which turned Paul around.
Repentance is a requirement of forgiveness:
Luke 13:2-3 (New King James Version)
2. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3. I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
It is my view that Jesus' prayer from the cross was answered at Pentecost when 3,000 Jews repented and were saved.
I would appreciate any comments on this position.
Thanks, and God bless, Homer
Luke 23:34 (New King James Version)
34. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Did Jesus mean that God should forgive them absent any repentance on their part? What I have believed is that Jesus was asking God to bring them to repentance and thus to forgiveness at some point in the future. Some of the reasons I believe this to be the case are as follows:
1. If Jesus meant that they ought to be forgiven at the time He made the request, He could have done that Himself:
Matthew 9:6 (New King James Version)
6. But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Thus it seems Jesus was requesting God to act to bring about repentance and, as a result, forgiveness.
2. In his Pentecost sermon, Peter accused them of being guilty of Jesus' death:
Acts 2:36-38 (New King James Version)
36. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38. Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So Peter put conditons on their forgiveness, and they were still unforgiven for Jesus' death. They must repent and be baptized. The remission of sins here must also include the guilt for being, directly or indirectly, responsible for the crucixion of Jesus. It might be argued that these people were not directly responsible, but if so they would be less guilty, not more, and thus would seem to have been more readily forgiven, yet they hadn't been.
3. Jesus said they crucified Him not knowing what they were doing. This does not absolve them of their culpability. Paul also persecuted the Church in ignorance and unbelief:
1 Timothy 1:13 (New King James Version)
13. although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief
But the mercy shown Paul was not without his being brought to repentance. The mercy was shown by a direct intervention by the Lord which turned Paul around.
Repentance is a requirement of forgiveness:
Luke 13:2-3 (New King James Version)
2. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3. I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
It is my view that Jesus' prayer from the cross was answered at Pentecost when 3,000 Jews repented and were saved.
I would appreciate any comments on this position.
Thanks, and God bless, Homer