The Thief on the Cross – Luke 23:39-46

Text: Luke 23:39-46

Where do we read about the thief on the cross?

Mark 15:32 says that those who were crucified with Jesus reviled Him, but the only passage to tell us all the details is Luke 23:39-46.

What law did the thief live under?

Since Jesus was still alive, he could only be under the old law, or Law of Moses (Hebrews 9:15-17).  He could not have been a Christian.

Had the kingdom of God come yet?

The Thief asked Jesus to remember him when He would come in the kingdom (Luke 23:42). Thus, speaking in a future tense, the kingdom had not yet come. Jesus promised He would build His church and give Peter the keys to that kingdom (Matthew 16:13-19), and after Christ ascended into Heaven Peter unlocked that kingdom on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1-2).

Did the thief on the cross repent?

According to Luke 23:41-42, he certainly did! We all must repent if we want to be saved (Luke 13:3-5).

Did Jesus have the power to save him?

Remember that Jesus has all authority (Matthew 28:18-20), and thus He may save whomever He wishes as He wishes. He proved this when He saved the paralytic. Not only did He show his power to heal him physically, but could forgive his sins (Luke 5:18-26).

It must be noted, however, that Jesus gave them different instructions than He does with us today. These individuals all lived under the Old Law, and Jesus gave the Great Commission (commanding us to believe and obey the gospel) after His resurrection (see also Matthew 27, Matthew 28, as well as Mark 15 and Mark 16).

Editor’s Note:  There is not much discussion about the other thief.  Let us repent and recognize Christ like the one discussed above.