Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots.
3 sermons cite this verse
… to hold offenses against us, instead of choosing to condemn us, he stood on the cross in his very final breath as he held his arms outstretched and said, father, forgive them for they know not what they do and I don't think he said that because he thought it was a nice phrase I think he said that because he knew 2,000 years later there'd be some people standing here who has some nasty mess going on in their hearts that said I couldn't forgive myself then I don't want to let go of my dad. I can't let go of this situation. But God, you forgave me first. So I'll give forgiveness freely. I'd encourage you today. Seek God about who it is you may need to forgive. It may be a person. It may be yourself. Whoever it is, seek him and ask him to show you again the value in his forgiveness. And I promise you it will change your life because my life is changing as I release unforgiveness. …
… In his final statement, Father into your hands I commit my spirit. So statement number one Father forgive them for they know not what they do. It would have made more sense to us perhaps if his first statement was I thirst or perhaps my God my God why have you forsaken me. But his first statement was a prayer. It was a prayer for the people that had done this evil act against him. Father forgive them for they know not what they do. He was living out what he always taught. After all, on a different day, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you. That's exactly what Jesus was doing. He was praying for those who were mistreating him as he hung there on the cross. Next point, our sins put Jesus on the cross. Our sins put Jesus on the cross. Later, Simon Peter, on the day of Pentecost, the next chapter two, speaks to a crowd that is gathered. …
… In His dying, He shows us really how to live. First of all, the first thing He said on the cross, Luke 23, 34, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. This is the first principle you see in an example. He died seeking forgiveness for the very people who were harming Him. This is an example of how we are to respond to those who treat us with revulsion and abuse when we don't deserve it. He knew they were ignorant. He knew they didn't understand the reality of their monstrous sin. He knew they didn't know who He was. They didn't know they were murdering the Prince of Life, the Creator and Savior. And He knew they needed forgiveness, and that's what He prayed for. The forgiveness He prayed for was actually made possible by the very suffering He was undergoing, not at the hands of men, but at the hands of God. He is the perfect pattern of forgiveness because He can forgive the people who are doing the most dastardly thing that's ever been done in the history of the world. …