The Thief on the Cross

It appears to be a trait of human nature that we so often misunderstand or misinterpret what someone is saying or has written. We see examples of this in the Bible in John 21v21-23, where the disciples of Jesus completely misinterpreted what he was saying. Again, in 2 Peter 3v16, Peter states how that many of Paul’s letters are hard to understand, which unlearned and unstable people wrest (twist) with. It is also unfortunate that the passage of scripture in Luke’s gospel which refers to the thief and paradise is so often misunderstood too. In fact many people today base their salvation upon a misinterpretation of this scripture.

The Passage in Question: Luke 23v39-43

So, let’s take a look at the passage in question.

Luke 23v39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

When we compare this account with that in Matthews gospel, we see that both thieves mocked Jesus.

Matthew 27v41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

Matthew 27v44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. [New King James Version]

Imagine being there, the Jewish leaders, the people and the thieves were all mocking Jesus. He whom some had declared to be the Messiah was now finally condemned to death they thought. And so too, this is what the thief acknowleged, …seeing thou art in the same condemnation?… Luke 23v40, he acknowledged that all three were about to die, and likewise mocked Jesus. This was the atmosphere of the moment.

It’s Important for us to Understand

Upon the cross Jesus Christ did not represent himself, he represented our sin, he became a curse for us (Galatians 3v13-14). Although God loved his Son, he laid the full judgement for our sin upon him, because Jesus had become our sin, 2 Corinthians 5v21. Therefore, there could be no comfort or reassurance for him upon the cross because our sin could not be comforted, it had to be totally judged, every jot and every tittle of judgement had to be executed upon him. Therefore, Jesus was totally alone and forsaken, (because he represented our sin, not himself) and so in his agony he cried out …My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27v46; Psalm 22v1). The scripture had clearly prophesied, that he would have no comforters, why? because he represented our sin and our sin could not be comforted, it had to be judged completely, if it wasn’t, we could never be free from it. This just highlights how great a sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. Let’s not undermine that great sacrifice.

Psalm 69v20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. 21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let’s Compare the Thief with the Disciples

If the thief was genuinely repentant, this would have been immense comfort and reassurance to Jesus (who represented our sin), reminding him that he would rise from the dead and ascend to God, (and so come into his kingdom), this would mean that Jesus was not totally alone, an undermining of his sacrifice.

The disciples of Jesus on the other hand, to whom Jesus had said:

Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

they did not believe that he would rise from the dead or ascend into his kingdom. When the women reported to them how they had seen Jesus when he had risen, their response was one of unbelief…

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

and again, when he appeared to the disciples after his resurrection, they were unbelieving.

Mark 16v14
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

And yet, some today believe that this thief, (who was not one of the disciples), had such an insight into the plan of God that he could see that Jesus would not only rise from the dead but ascend into his kingdom. And they believe this even though Matthew’s testimony tells us that both thieves were mocking Jesus, Matthew 27v44.

So Where Did Jesus Go that Day?

It should be noted: Paradise (Greek – Pardeisos) – translates as a park, garden, ground. Of Persian origin – used to denote the parks of Persian kings and nobles. (Old Persian – Pairidaeza). Septuagint translators used paradeisos in the Old Testament for: garden (see Genesis 2v8; Numbers 24v6; Isaiah 1v30; Jeremiah 29v5, Ezekiel 31v8,9).

Although the above note gives the meaning of the original Greek word in the New Testament, some believe that both Jesus and the thief went into heaven on the day of the crucifixion.

So Where Did Jesus Go Physically – His Body?

John 19v38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

What About His Soul?

Acts 2v23 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. 25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Hell (Greek – Hades) translates as ‘the grave’ – See also Psalm 16v8-11

The scriptures are clear that Jesus did not rise from the dead until the third day, 1 Corinthians 15v3-8 and that he did not ascend to heaven until 40 days after his resurrection, Acts 1v2-3. So we see that Jesus did not go into heaven on the day of his crucifixion, neither did the thief.

As shown before in Matthews account of the gospel, both thieves were mocking Jesus.

Matthew 27:41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

If one is to believe that the thief was repentant and had found salvation here in this account of Luke, (Luke 23v39-43), and that this same portion of scripture proclams a formula for salvation, then Matthew’s account would be missing an incredibly important point about salvation. The truth is however, that Matthew doesn’t miss any such point, he simply testifies that both thieves were mocking Jesus.

A Different Covenant/Testament

Although the four gospel accounts are contained within the 27 books we now call the New Testament, Jesus life on earth, his ministry, death and resurrection actually all took place under the Old Testament which is often referred to as the law of Moses.

Jesus was Born under the Law (The Old Testament)

Galatians 4v4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Jesus Is the Mediator of the New Covenant/Testament

Hebrews 12v24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Jesus did not obtain eternal redemption for us until he had entered into heaven (referred to spiritually as the holy place), Hebrews 9v12 & 24.

The New Testament had not yet come into operation.

Under the New Covenant/Testament there is only one way to enter the Kingdom of God and that is as stated in John 3v5:

John 3v5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

The thief was not born of water and Spirit, because the Holy Spirt could not be given until Jesus was glorified. Jesus was not glorified on the cross.

John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Jesus was glorified when he was exalted to the right hand of God and then on the day of Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit, not before.

Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

What Shall We Do?

Rather than trust in a doctrine which has no scriptural foundation, why not follow the simple Bible instruction as outlined below:

Acts2:37 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.