Father, Forgive Them

Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. And they divided His garments and cast lots. 

Luke 23:34

How did Christ approach the practical outworking of forgiveness? The context of our text is critical to our understanding. He was hanging on the cross between two thieves. Roman soldiers were at the foot of the cross. For them, the crucifixion of three people was just another day at work. They attached no special significance to executing these people. They did it all the time. They were so hardened to the event that they gambled for the clothing of Christ. It was to these men Christ referred when He said, ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ That He refers to them specifically is clear by the last remark of the verse, ‘And they divided His garments and cast lots.’ Christ was appealing to His Father to forgive these who were sinning in ignorance. Unpleasantly, some have seized upon this text to attempt to turn it into a statement of general amnesty that somehow refers to anyone who had anything to do with His death. Christ took special care to intercede for those who, by virtue of their circumstance, sinned against Him in complete ignorance.

Our Gracious and Kind Savior, 
we rejoice that You intercede for those who sin against You. 
We praise You that your grace is wide. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning