What does Jesus mean when He prays, "Father, forgive them" on the cross?

When Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” He is asking God to show mercy to those who are crucifying Him and mocking Him. They think they are getting rid of a troublemaker, but they do not grasp that He is God’s chosen King and the Savior. This prayer shows His heart as both sacrifice and priest, giving His life and at the same time praying for sinners. It also shows that God’s forgiveness reaches people who are blind to their own sin, and it gives believers a pattern of praying even for those who hurt them.

Why is the repentant thief’s request, "Lord, remember me," so important?

The repentant thief’s words, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom,” are important because they show true repentance and faith at the very end of his life. He admits his own guilt, says he is suffering justly, and declares that Jesus has done nothing wrong. He also believes that Jesus is a King who will still reign, even while Jesus hangs dying beside him. This simple plea shows that salvation is not earned by good works or religious rituals, but is received by trusting in Jesus and asking Him for mercy.

What does "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" teach about salvation and death?

Jesus’ promise, “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise,” shows that those who trust in Him are welcomed into His presence immediately after death. The thief does not go to a place of further cleansing or a long sleep, but enters a place of joy and rest with Christ that very day. This also shows that salvation is by grace, not by long years of service, since the man has no time to do good works or receive outward signs. It gives hope that even in our last hour, sincere faith in Jesus brings real, present comfort and future joy.

Why was Jesus crucified between two criminals, and what does that show?

Jesus is crucified between two criminals to show that He was “numbered with the transgressors.” He shares the place of shame where guilty people die, even though He Himself is innocent. This setting underlines His role as the one who takes the place of sinners and bears the kind of punishment they deserve. At the same time, the two different responses of the criminals show how people divide around Him: one continues to mock, the other repents and believes. So the scene pictures both His deep humbling and the way His cross becomes a dividing line between unbelief and faith.

What is the meaning of the darkness and the temple veil being torn in this passage?

The darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour and the tearing of the temple veil are signs that something huge is happening as Jesus dies. The darkened sun hints at God’s judgment and the weight of sin being dealt with at the cross. The veil in the temple separates the holy place from the most holy place, where God’s presence was symbolized. When it tears in the middle, it shows that through Jesus’ death, the way to God is opened. People no longer come through animal sacrifices and a hidden inner room, but through the crucified Christ, who has gone into the depths of death to overcome it.

Why did people mock Jesus with the words "He saved others; let him save himself"?

The rulers and soldiers mock Jesus by saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.” They think that if He were really God’s chosen King, He would prove it by coming down from the cross. They completely miss that by not saving Himself He is actually saving others. His calling is not to escape suffering, but to bear it in the place of sinners. Their words are meant as an insult, yet they are strangely true: He is the one who saves, and He is doing it at that very moment by staying on the cross.

What does this passage teach about repentance late in life or at the point of death?

The repentant thief shows that real repentance, even at the point of death, is not rejected by Jesus. He turns from mocking to confessing his sin, admits he deserves his punishment, and trusts in Christ’s kingdom. Jesus answers him with a sure promise of paradise that day. This teaches that no one who truly turns to Christ in faith is turned away, no matter how late it is. At the same time, this is a rare example, not a pattern to delay repentance. Hearts can grow hard like the other thief. The passage invites people to come to Jesus now, while they still can.

How should believers respond to Jesus’ example of forgiving His enemies on the cross?

Believers are called to follow Jesus’ example by praying for those who hurt them and leaving justice in God’s hands. On the cross, Jesus does not curse His enemies or call for their destruction. Instead, He asks the Father to forgive those who, in their blindness, nail Him to the wood and mock His pain. This does not mean ignoring sin or pretending evil is good, but it means refusing to pay back wrong with wrong. In daily life, this looks like asking God to change the hearts of those who oppose us, and trusting Him to deal with every wrong in His time.

Why did the centurion say, "Certainly this was a righteous man" after Jesus died?

The centurion watches everything that happens: the darkness, Jesus’ loud final cry, and the way He entrusts His spirit to the Father. Seeing these things, he glorifies God and says, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” This is a strong statement coming from a Roman officer in charge of the execution. It underlines that Jesus was not dying for His own crimes, but as an innocent sufferer. God uses even a hardened soldier to speak truth about His Son. This short confession adds one more witness at the cross that Jesus is who He claimed to be, pure and without fault.

How can this passage comfort someone who feels guilty and afraid of death?

This passage can comfort a guilty and fearful person by pointing to the repentant thief and to Jesus’ promise to him. The thief has nothing to offer but a broken confession and a simple plea, yet Jesus answers him with mercy and a sure word about paradise. This shows that Jesus saves sinners who know they deserve judgment and cast themselves on Him. His prayer for forgiveness and His final words of trust in the Father show that He has faced death fully and opened the way through it. For someone afraid of dying, this scene says: come to Him honestly, and He will not cast you out.

Luke.23.33

Luke 23:33

KJV

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

The Crucifixion

And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is the King of the Jews.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.