SEV Biblia, Chapter 23:34
Y Jess decía: Padre, perdnalos, porque no saben lo que hacen. Y partiendo sus vestidos, echaron suertes.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 23:34
Verse 34. They know not what they do.] If ignorance do not excuse a crime, it at least diminishes the atrocity of it. However, these persons well knew that they were crucifying an innocent man; but they did not know that, by this act of theirs, they were bringing down on themselves and on their country the heaviest judgments of God. In the prayer, Father, forgive them! that word of prophecy was fulfilled, He made intercession for the transgressors, Isa. liii. 12.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them , etc.] When he was crucified between the two thieves, and as he hung upon the cross, and while insulted and abused by all sorts of men, and put to the greatest pain and torture, he addressed himself to God his Father: the Arabic version reads, my Father, who was so to him, not as he was man; for as such he had no father; but as he was God, being as a divine person, his beloved, and only begotten Son: and this he uses, whilst, as man, he is praying to him; partly to express his faith of relation to him; his confidence of being heard; and partly to set believers an example of praying, as he has directed, saying, our Father, etc. and the petition put up by him is for forgiveness; which is with God, and with him only; and that for his enemies, his crucifiers: not for those who sinned the sin unto death, the sin against the Holy Ghost, who knowing him to be the Messiah, maliciously crucified him, for whom prayer is not to be made; but for those who were ignorantly concerned in it, as the next clause shows, even for his own elect, whom the Father had given him out of the world, which were among his crucifiers; for those, and not the world, he prays: and the fruit of this his prayer quickly appeared, in the conversion of three thousand of them under Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, next following, in six weeks time. Though such might be his affection, as man, in general, as to wish for, and desire, as such, was it consistent with the divine will, forgiveness for all of them; adding, for they know not what they do , or are doing, meaning, in crucifying him, which was the case of many of them, and of their rulers; they did not know that Jesus was the Messiah, nor the prophecies concerning him, nor the evil they were committing in putting him to death: not that their ignorance excused their sin; nor was it without sin; nor does Christ use it as a plea for pardon, or found his intercession upon it, which is always done upon his own propitiatory sacrifice; but this is mentioned as descriptive of the persons Christ prays for, and points out a branch of his priestly office he exercises, in having compassion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way; and they parted his raiment, and cast lots : that is, upon his vesture, or seamless coat, and so fulfilled the prophecy in ( Psalm 22:18). (See Gill on Matthew 27:35). (See Gill on John 19:23-24).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 32-43 - As soon as Christ was fastened to the cross, he prayed for those wh crucified him. The great thing he died to purchase and procure for us is the forgiveness of sin. This he prays for. Jesus was crucifie between two thieves; in them were shown the different effects the cros of Christ would have upon the children of men in the preaching the gospel. One malefactor was hardened to the last. No troubles of themselves will change a wicked heart. The other was softened at the last: he was snatched as a brand out of the burning, and made monument of Divine mercy. This gives no encouragement to any to put of repentance to their death-beds, or to hope that they shall then fin mercy. It is certain that true repentance is never too late; but it is as certain that late repentance is seldom true. None can be sure the shall have time to repent at death, but every man may be sure he cannot have the advantages this penitent thief had. We shall see the case to be singular, if we observe the uncommon effects of God's grace upo this man. He reproved the other for railing on Christ. He owned that he deserved what was done to him. He believed Jesus to have suffere wrongfully. Observe his faith in this prayer. Christ was in the dept of disgrace, suffering as a deceiver, and not delivered by his Father He made this profession before the wonders were displayed which pu honour on Christ's sufferings, and startled the centurion. He believe in a life to come, and desired to be happy in that life; not like the other thief, to be only saved from the cross. Observe his humility in this prayer. All his request is, Lord, remember me; quite referring it to Jesus in what way to remember him. Thus he was humbled in tru repentance, and he brought forth all the fruits for repentance his circumstances would admit. Christ upon the cross, is gracious lik Christ upon the throne. Though he was in the greatest struggle an agony, yet he had pity for a poor penitent. By this act of grace we ar to understand that Jesus Christ died to open the kingdom of heaven to all penitent, obedient believers. It is a single instance in Scripture it should teach us to despair of none, and that none should despair of themselves; but lest it should be abused, it is contrasted with the awful state of the other thief, who died hardened in unbelief, though crucified Saviour was so near him. Be sure that in general men die a they live.
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ιησους 2424 N-NSM ελεγεν 3004 5707 V-IAI-3S πατερ 3962 N-VSM αφες 863 5628 V-2AAM-2S αυτοις 846 P-DPM ου 3756 PRT-N γαρ 1063 CONJ οιδασιν 1492 5758 V-RAI-3P τι 5101 I-ASN ποιουσιν 4160 5719 V-PAI-3P διαμεριζομενοι 1266 5734 V-PMP-NPM δε 1161 CONJ τα 3588 T-APN ιματια 2440 N-APN αυτου 846 P-GSM εβαλον 906 5627 V-2AAI-3P κληρον 2819 N-ASM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
23:34 {Father forgive them} (pater, afes autois). Second aorist active imperative of afiemi, with dative case. Some of the oldest and best documents do not contain this verse, and yet, while it is not certain that it is a part of Luke's Gospel, it is certain that Jesus spoke these words, for they are utterly unlike any one else. Jesus evidently is praying for the Roman soldiers, who were only obeying, but not for the Sanhedrin. {Cast lots} (ebalon kleron). Second aorist active indicative of ballw. See #Mr 15:24; Mt 27:35. #Joh 19:23f. shows how the lot was cast for the seamless garment, the four soldiers dividing the other garments.
