June 21, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke

Luke 23:33  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35  And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36  And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37  And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38  And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Probably one of the most misunderstood sentences in scripture is the one where Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

This prayer has been voiced by many Christian throughout history when their lives were taken in martyrdom. Read Foxes Book of Martyrs by John Foxe. Or you could read Foxe’s Voice of the Martyrs. Many of these dear saints uttered the same words of Jesus when taking their last breath in life at the hands of murderers.

The misunderstood part is that most people believe this prayer from the Lord encompasses the whole world and everybody will eventually be saved because Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them.”

Let me say this right up front, God does not forgive the unrepentant heart.

Jesus’s prayer on the cross was not for the whole world, it was for those at the cross and for those whom put Jesus there. They were the ones who crucified Jesus; they were the ones who rejected Him; they were The ones who conspired, incarcerated and beat our Lord Jesus. They were the ones Jesus was praying about. Not you.

Did God answer Jesus’ prayer. Yes.

Peter, after He was converted and filled with the Holy Spirit preached and three thousand souls, the souls of those who crucified Jesus, trusted Christ, the very one they crucified.

Peter reached and put the finger of blame squarely on their shoulders. They were to blame and they knew it.

Acts 2:22  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

What was their response to Peter?

Acts 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Now you have the truth. Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them” and God heard it and the very ones who crucified Jesus were saved.

My friend, the only way you are going to be saved is by repentance of sin and turning to Jesus to saved your soul.

By the way, Jesus did pray for you but not the same way as He prayed for others on the cross.

Jesus prayed that you would be saved by hearing and believing the preaching of God’s word.

Jesus prayed in John 17:20  “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;”

Never think you are going to heaven just because Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Once again, that prayer was not for you, it was for those that crucified Jesus.

The choice is till yours,

Pastor Cook