The Prayer Of Christ For His Murderers, Luke 23:34

Church History: 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

This is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 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 did not know 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, 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. They had enough evidence to leave them without excuse, yet they did not, in fact, believe that he was the Savior 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, 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.2

We may learn from this prayer:

The duty of praying for our enemies even when they are endeavoring most to injure us.

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

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.

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.