Luk 23:34, Joh 16:3, 1Cor 2:8 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 34. Father, forgive them . This is a fulfillment of the prophecy in : He made intercession for the transgressors. The prayer was offered for those who were guilty of putting him to death. It is not quite certain whether he referred to the Jews or to the Roman soldiers . Perhaps he referred to both. The Romans knew not what they did, as they were really ignorant that he was the Son of God, and as they were merely obeying the command of their rulers. The Jews knew, indeed, that he was innocent , and they had evidence, if they would have looked at it, that he was the Messiah; but they did not know what would be the effect of their guilt; they did not know what judgments and calamities they were bringing down upon their country. It may be added, also, that, though they had abundant evidence, if they would look at it, that he was the Messiah, and enough to leave them without excuse, yet they did not, in fact , believe that he was the Saviour promised by the prophets, and had not, in fact, any proper sense of his rank and dignity as "the Lord of glory." If they had had, they would not have crucified him, as we cannot suppose that they would knowingly put to death their own Messiah, the hope of the nation, and him who had been so long promised to the fathers. . We may learn from this prayer-- 1st. The duty of praying for our enemies, even when they are endeavouring most to injure us. 2nd. The thing for which we should pray for them is that God would pardon them and give them better minds. 3rd. The power and excellence of the Christian religion. No other religion teaches men to pray for the forgiveness of enemies; no other disposes them to do it. Men of the world seek for revenge; the Christian bears reproaches and persecutions with patience, and prays that God would pardon those who injure them, and save them from their sins. 4th. The greatest sinners, through the intercession of Jesus, may obtain pardon. God heard him, and still hears him always , and there is no reason to doubt that many of his enemies and murderers obtained forgiveness and life. Comp. . They know not what they do . It was done through ignorance, . Paul says that, "had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory," . Ignorance does not excuse altogether a crime if the ignorance be wilful, but it diminishes its guilt. They had evidence; they might have learned his character; they might have known what they were doing, and they might be held answerable for all this. But Jesus here shows the compassion of his heart, and as they were really ignorant, whatever might have been the cause of their ignorance, he implores God to pardon them. He even urges it as a reason why they should be pardoned, that they were ignorant of what they were doing; and though men are often guilty for their ignorance, yet God often in compassion overlooks it, averts his anger, and grants them the blessings of pardon and life. So he forgave Paul, for he "did it in ignorance, in unbelief," . So God winked at the ignorance of the Gentiles, . Yet this is no excuse, and no evidence of safety, for those who in our day contemptuously put away from them and their children the means of instruction. (c) "Father, forgive them"

Luke 23:34

Verse 34. Father, forgive them. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isa 53:12: He made intercession for the transgressors. The prayer was offered for those who were guilty of putting him to death. It is not quite certain whether he referred to the Jews or to the Roman soldiers. Perhaps he referred to both. The Romans knew not what they did, as they were really ignorant that he was the Son of God, and as they were merely obeying the command of their rulers. The Jews knew, indeed, that he was innocent, and they had evidence, if they would have looked at it, that he was the Messiah; but they did not know what would be the effect of their guilt; they did not know what judgments and calamities they were bringing down upon their country. It may be added, also, that, though they had abundant evidence, if they would look at it, that he was the Messiah, and enough to leave them without excuse, yet they did not, in fact, believe that he was the Saviour promised by the prophets, and had not, in fact, any proper sense of his rank and dignity as "the Lord of glory." If they had had, they would not have crucified him, as we cannot suppose that they would knowingly put to death their own Messiah, the hope of the nation, and him who had been so long promised to the fathers. 1Cor 2:8. We may learn from this prayer--

1st. The duty of praying for our enemies, even when they are endeavouring most to injure us.

2nd. The thing for which we should pray for them is that God would pardon them and give them better minds.

3rd. The power and excellence of the Christian religion. No other religion teaches men to pray for the forgiveness of enemies; no other disposes them to do it. Men of the world seek for revenge; the Christian bears reproaches and persecutions with patience, and prays that God would pardon those who injure them, and save them from their sins.

4th. The greatest sinners, through the intercession of Jesus, may obtain pardon. God heard him, and still hears him always, and there is no reason to doubt that many of his enemies and murderers obtained forgiveness and life. Comp. Acts 2:37, 42, 43, 7:7, 14:1.

They know not what they do. It was done through ignorance, Acts 3:17. Paul says that, "had they known it, they would not have crucified

the Lord of glory,"

1Cor 2:8. Ignorance does not excuse altogether a crime if the ignorance be wilful, but it diminishes its guilt. They had evidence; they might have learned his character; they might have known what they were doing, and they might be held answerable for all this. But Jesus here shows the compassion of his heart, and as they were really ignorant, whatever might have been the cause of their ignorance, he implores God to pardon them. He even urges it as a reason why they should be pardoned, that they were ignorant of what they were doing; and though men are often guilty for their ignorance, yet God often in compassion overlooks it, averts his anger, and grants them the blessings of pardon and life. So he forgave Paul, for he "did it in ignorance, in unbelief,"

1Timm 1:13. So God winked at the ignorance of the Gentiles, Acts 17:30. Yet this is no excuse, and no evidence of safety, for those who in our day contemptuously put away from them and their children the means of instruction.

John 16:3

Verse 3. See Jn 15:21

(b) "And these things" Jn 15:21 (c) "they have not known" 1Cor 2:8, 1Timm 1:13

1 Corinthians 2:8

Verse 8. Which none of the princes. None of those rulers who were engaged in the crucifixion of the Messiah--referring both to the Jewish rulers and the Roman governor.

Knew. They did not perceive or appreciate the excellency of his character, the wisdom of his plan, the glory of his scheme of salvation. Their ignorance arose from not understanding the prophecies, and from an unwillingness to be convinced that Jesus of Nazareth had been truly sent by God. In Acts 3:17, Peter says that it was through ignorance that the Jews had put him to death. Acts 3:17.

For had they known it. Had they fully understood his character, and seen the wisdom of his plan and his work, they would not have put him to death. Acts 3:17. Had they seen the hidden wisdom in that plan--had they understood the glory of his real character, the truth respecting his incarnation, and the fact that he was the long-expected: Messiah of their nation, they would not have put him to death. It is incredible that they would have crucified their Messiah, knowing him to be such. They might have known it, but they were unwilling to examine the evidence. They expected a different Messiah, and were unwilling to admit the claims of Jesus of Nazareth. For this ignorance, however, there was no excuse. If they had not a full knowledge, it was their own fault. Jesus had performed miracles which were a complete attestation to his Divine mission, Jn 5:36 Jn 10:25; but they closed their eyes on those works, and were unwilling to be convinced. God always gives to men sufficient demonstration of the truth, but they close their eyes, and are unwilling to believe. This is the sole reason why they are not converted to God, and saved.

They would not have crucified. It is perfectly manifest that the Jews would not have crucified their own Messiah, knowing him to be such. He was the hope and expectation of their nation. All their desires were centered in him. And to him they looked for deliverance from all their foes.

The Lord of glory. This expression is a Hebraism, and means "the glorious Lord;" or the "Messiah." Expressions like this, where a noun performs the office of an adjective, are common in the Hebrew language. Grotius supposes that the expression is taken from that of "the King of glory," in Ps 24:7-9: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates;

Be ye Lift up, ye everlasting doors;

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

JEHOVAH, strong and mighty;

JEHOVAH, mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates;

Lift them up, ye everlasting doors;

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

JEHOVAH of hosts, he is the King of glory."

God is called "the God of glory" in Acts 7:2. The fact that this appellation is given to JEHOVAH in the Old Testament, and to the Lord Jesus in the verse before us, is one of those incidental circumstances which show how the Lord Jesus was estimated by the apostles; and how familiarly they applied to him names and titles which belong only to God. The foundation of this appellation is laid in his exalted perfections; and in the honour and majesty which he had with the Father before the world was, Jn 17:1-5.

(++) "princes" "rulers" (c) "for had they known it" Lk 23:34