Did Jesus Forgive His Murderers on the Cross?

Christ didn’t forgive anyone when He was on the cross. Read the text:

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:33-34

Yeshua prayed to the Father for Him to forgive His murderers, which means He was praying for His persecutors to come to penitence because this is the only way God forgives sin (Acts 20:21). God doesn’t forgive the arrogant unrepentant; He only forgives the humbly penitent (Proverbs 28:13 & 1 John 1:8-9). It’s an axiom.

For now, during the Church Age, the Creator is patiently extending mercy to the unsaved in the hope that they’ll be moved to repentance & reconciliation. Those who refuse will be judged and discarded in the lake of fire where they’ll suffer the “second death,” which means they won’t be forgiven by the LORD (Revelation 20:11-15).

So what Christ was doing on the cross was precisely what He instructed believers to do when we are mistreated for His name: Pray for our persecutors (Luke 6:28). Stephen did the same when he was martyred (Acts 7:60).

This article was edited from chapter 12 of…

The print book is available here for only $11.99 (299 pages)
The Kindle eBook is available here for just 99¢!

Both links allow you to “look inside” the book.

Insights on OFFENSE & FORGIVENESS from Joseph’s Story

Why You should Always FORGIVE When the Offender Is Repentant

How to Confront & Correct (and How NOT to)

What if You KNOW a Confrontation Will Turn UGLY?

Spiritual Warfare — The Basics