Luke 23:34

Father, forgive them. Jesus refers to both the Romans and the Jews who had been instrumental in condemning and crucifying Him (see DA 744). His prayer would not, in itself, however, remove their guilt (see DA 744). In a broader sense this prayer includes all sinners to the end of time, for all are guilty of the blood of Jesus (see DA 745).

This is the first of seven utterances of Jesus as He hung upon the cross, sometimes called the Seven Words. No gospel writer mentions more than three, nor less than one, of these utterances. Arranged in point of time the seven “utterances” are as follows:

1. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (v. 34).

2. “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (v. 43).

3. “Woman, behold thy son! . . . Behold thy mother!” (see on John 19:26).

4. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34).

5. “I thirst” (John 19:28).

6. “It is finished” (see on John 19:30).

7. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (see on Luke 23:46).

They know not. The Jewish leaders had made their deliberate decision against Christ, though the full light of the truth He had come to reveal had been available to them. Yet, in a measure, even they did not fully appreciate what they were doing. They did not see their act in its full setting in the great conflict between good and evil (see DA 744). The common people, as a whole, had little concept of what was taking place, and their taunts and jeers were made in ignorance. They blindly followed their leaders (see on Matt. 23:16). The Roman soldiers had even less understanding of what they were doing, though even now, light pierced the heart of the centurion (see on Matt. 27:54).

Though important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 146) for the omission of Jesus’ prayer in this verse, the weight of evidence favors retaining it.