It makes sense that the first word of Jesus from the cross is a word of

forgiveness. That’s the point of the cross, after all. Jesus is dying so
that we might be forgiven for our sins, so that we might be reconciled
to God for eternity.
But the forgiveness of God through Christ doesn’t come only to those
who don’t know what they are doing when they sin. In the mercy of
God, we receive his forgiveness even when we do what we know to be
wrong. God chooses to wipe away our sins, not because we have some
convenient excuse, and not because we have tried hard to make up for
them, but because he is a God of amazing grace, with mercies that are
new every morning.
As we read the words, “Father, forgive them,” may we understand that
we too are forgiven through Christ. As John writes in his first letter,
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9). Gapu iti
ipapatay ni Kristo Hesus iti krus nadalusan tayon iti amin a kinadakes
ket naysublin ti dayag tayo iti sangnguanan ti Ama kas patpatgenna
nga annak ket naaddaan tayo manen iti nadekket nga relasyon nga
agkiddaw wenno agdawat iti adu a paraburna. (Ps 103:13). Anian a
nagpintas a damag.

Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. (Luke 23,34)Ama
pakawanem ida ta dida ammu ti ar-aramidenda”

Adal: daytoy a sao ni Apo Hesus isuruna tayo nga mangawit iti
krustayo igingga ken patay a sipapammati nga ti Dios pinakawannan
amin nga basbasol tayo a kas met ti pammakawan tayo kadagiti
nagbasol kadatayo.

Ti tao nu masaktan ket kayat na ti bumales ngem ni Apo Hesus ket

sabali. Ti ayatna kadatayu ket awan kapadana gapu ta sipapakumbaba
nga nagsagrap iti pannakaparparigat ken pannakatay iti krus iti laksid
nga addaan isuna ti pannakabalin nga nangisalakan kuma iti bagina.
Idi ikararagna ti “Ama pakawanem ida ta dida ammo ti inaramidda”
saanna la nga am-ammangaw gapu iti pannakaparigatna nu di ket isu
nga talaga ti insursuruna iti unus ti panagministrona.
Question: "Why did Jesus say 'Father, forgive them' on the cross?"

Answer: Jesus’ words “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” are
found in Luke 23:34. Jesus looked down from the cross upon a scene that must have been
distressing to Him. The Roman soldiers were gambling for His clothing (John 19:23–24); the
criminals on the crosses to either side of Him were reviling Him (Matthew 27:44); the religious
leaders were mocking Him (Matthew 27:41–43); and the crowd was blaspheming Him (Matthew
27:39). Surrounded by this most unworthy lot, Jesus prayed for them. “Father, forgive them”
is a prayer of unmatched mercy and love.

(Mark 15:29–30).
Iti baet ti panagsagsagaba ni Hesus iti krus, sipapanunut pay laeng iti pannakapakawan dagiti
nangibilang kadagiti bagbagida nga kabusorna. Dinawatna iti Ama ti pannakapakawan dagiti
mannanakaw nga kadwana a nailansa .Indawatanna met ti pammakawan dagiti soldado nga
nangum-umsi , nangtupra,nangdangran, nangsaplit, nangguyod iti barbasna, nangituon iti
korona nga sisiit iti uluna ken nangilansa kenkuana iti krus,kasta met para kadagiti tattao nga
nangbuya ken nakipagum-si kenkuana ken tattao nga nakaygappuan ti pannakailansana iti
krus.

The words show the merciful heart of God.

Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them,” because He was fulfilling Old Testament prophecy: “He
bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). From the
cross, Jesus interceded for sinners. Today, risen and glorified, Jesus remains the “one
mediator between God and mankind” (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them,”
because He was putting into practice the principle He had taught in the Sermon on the Mount:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you,
love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43–44). Jesus, the
persecuted, prayed for His persecutors. The words show the merciful heart of God.

Coupled with the willingness of Jesus to forgive His tormentors is the fact that they did not
know what they were doing (Luke 23:34). The sinners who put Jesus on the cross were
ignorant of the true import of their actions. The soldiers personally held no ill will toward
Him. They were simply following orders. This was how they normally treated condemned
men, and they believed that He truly deserved it. They didn’t know that they were killing the
Son of God (see 1 Corinthians 2:8). The mob didn’t really know whom they were trying to
destroy. The Jewish leaders had deceived them into believing that Jesus was a fake and a
troublemaker (Acts 3:17). In praying “Father, forgive them,” Jesus revealed His infinite
mercy; He still loved them and would forgive them if only they would humble themselves and
repent (Matthew 18:14; 2 Peter 3:9).
Jesus’ prayer “Father, forgive them” was answered in the lives of many people. The Roman
centurion at the foot of the cross, upon seeing how Jesus died, exclaimed, “Surely this man
was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39). One of the two thieves crucified with Jesus exercised
faith in Christ, who promised him paradise (Luke 23:39–43). A member of
the Sanhedrin publicly aligned himself with Jesus (John 19:39). And, a little over a month
later, three thousand people in Jerusalem were saved in one day as the church began (Acts
2:41).

On the cross Jesus provided forgiveness for all those who would ever believe in Him (Matthew
20:28). Jesus paid the penalty for the sins that we commit in our ignorance, and even the
ones we’ve committed deliberately. When we are born again, we, too, become an answer to
Jesus’ prayer “Father, forgive them.”

ather, forgive them; for they know not what they do.—Again, the silence is broken, not by
the cry of anguish or sigh of passionate complaint, but by words of tenderest pity and
intercession. It is well, however, that we should remember who were the primary direct objects
of that prayer. Not Pilate, for he knew that he had condemned the innocent; not the chief priests
and scribes, for their sin, too, was against light and knowledge. Those for whom our Lord then
prayed were clearly the soldiers who nailed Him to the cross, to whom the work was but that
which they were, as they deemed, bound to do as part of their duty. It is, however, legitimate to
think of His intercession as including, in its ultimate extension, all who in any measure sin
against God as not knowing what they do, who speak or act against the Son of Man without
being guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost. (See Note on Acts 3:17.)

Father, forgive them - 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 knew 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, indeed, 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. It may be added, also, that,
though they had abundant evidence, if they would look at it, that he was the Messiah,
and enough to leave then without excuse, yet they did not, "in fact," believe that he was
the Saviour 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 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. See the
notes at 1 Corinthians 2:8. We may learn from this prayer:

1. The duty of praying for our enemies, even when they are endeavoring most to injure
us.
2. The thing for which we should pray for them is that "God" would pardon them and
give them better minds.

3. The power and excellence of the Christian religion. No other religion "teaches" people
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.

4. 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. Compare Acts 2:37, Acts 2:42-
43; Acts 6:7; Acts 14:1.

QUESTION: Why did Jesus say,"Father, forgive them for they know not what
they do . . ." while he was on the cross?

ANSWER: Before answering the questions as to why Jesus said "Father

forgive them . . . " we need to understand WHY came to earth in the first
place.

One main reason (of many) Jesus came in the flesh to Earth is so that all of
humanity might have their sins washed away and have the opportunity to be
at one with Him and the Father. Most people do not understand why we need
God to forgive us, but we ALL do, whether Christian or not.
The Jewish leadership who had Jesus crucified, even though knowing all the
prophecies regarding the Savior, were blind themselves as to who He really
was. Therefore, in their own minds, they were executing a blasphemer, which
was the legal thing to do under their law.
What was illegal was the fact that the Jews had the trial at night with false
witnesses, a "kangaroo court" if you will, because they feared the people.
Now, let us look at a few Scriptures and get the context of the forgiveness
Jesus requested of the Father.
And when they had come to the place called Calvary (also known as Golgotha
or the place of the skull), there they crucified Him . . . Then Jesus said,
'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do' (Luke 23:33 - 34).
Since those who were killing him were deceived, and did not understand what
they were doing, Jesus asked God the Father to forgive their sin. This implies
very strongly that someday all will know the full extent of what they did. It will
be at that time that repentance will come. Read Jesus' statement in Matthew
23 where he bemoans Jerusalem's rejection and the fact that the city would
soon be left desolate. This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when Roman
troops took the city, destroyed it, and burned down the temple.
It says in Scripture that someday every knee will eventually bow and every
tongue will confess that Jesus is their Savior.

Therefore, God (the Father) has also highly exalted Him and bestowed upon
Him a name which is above every name; That at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, of beings in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the
Father (Philippians 2:9 - 11).

In the eleventh chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul states that God will not
ultimately cast away or reject His people (Israelites and Jews) whom He
foreknew.

Now then I say, did God Himself repudiate His people? MAY IT NEVER BE!
For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
God did not repudiate His people whom He foreknew . . . (Romans 11:1 - 2,
HBFV)
Jesus said "Father forgive them . . ." because he was aware that EVERY
person, in His own time, would have a chance to fully repent and receive
eternal life. In what the Bible calls the second resurrection, those who killed
Christ will have their spiritual blindness taken away from their hearts and
given a chance to repent.
34Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'And
they divided up his clothes by casting lots." (Luke 23:32-34)

The scene around the cross is crass and unfeeling. The soldiers are
part of an execution detail, bored with crucifixion. Perhaps this team
will have conducted several crucifixions this week already. The first
time they saw a crucifixion they may have been moved by its brutality,
but now they are calloused, emotionless.
First, the soldiers begin with the cruel process of nailing the criminal
to a cross, then hoisting him up, the cross swaying forward, then back
until it is secured with wedges at the bottom to hold it upright in the
hole. And when that task is done, they sit around the base waiting for
the criminal to die -- sometimes for days. To pass the time they
gamble, deciding by a casting of lots who will be awarded the victim's
last possessions. That is the scene.
But in the midst of it comes an astounding, powerful word from the
"criminal" on the center cross:
 "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
(Luke 23:34a)
An Unselfish Prayer

Iti naulimek a tiempo ket agsao ka iti napigsa ket denggem ti

bukod mo nga sao. “ Ama pakawanem ida ta dida ammu ti ar-
aramidenda” Ania daytoy nga insawang ni Hesus kadagiti maudin
nga oras ti panagbiagna. Maysa a kararag , panagdawat iti Ama
ngem saan nga para iti bagina.Agpigerger ka ket saan mo nga
mailadawan ti riknam ta ti ipagarup mo ket kunaenna kuma ti
Ama tulungannak. Ti tao nu masaktan ket kayat na ti bumales ngem
ni Apo Hesus ket sabali. Ti ayatna kadatayu ket awan kapadana gapu
ta sipapakumbaba nga nagsagrap iti pannakaparparigat ken
pannakatay iti krus iti laksid nga addaan isuna ti pannakabalin nga
nangisalakan kuma iti bagina. Idi ikararagna ti “Ama pakawanem ida
ta dida ammo ti inaramidda” saanna la nga am-ammangaw gapu iti
pannakaparigatna nu di ket isu nga talaga ti insursuruna iti unus ti
panagministrona.

Iti baet ti panagsagsagaba ni Hesus iti krus, sipapanunut pay laeng iti
pannakapakawan dagiti nangibilang kadagiti bagbagida nga
kabusorna. Dinawatna iti Ama ti pannakapakawan dagiti
mannanakaw nga kadwana a nailansa .Indawatanna met ti
pammakawan dagiti soldado nga nangum-umsi ,
nangtupra,nangdangran, nangsaplit, nangguyod iti barbasna,
nangituon iti korona nga sisiit iti uluna ken nangilansa kenkuana iti
krus,kasta met para kadagiti tattao nga nangbuya ken nakipagum-si
kenkuana ken tattao nga nakaygappuan ti pannakailansana iti krus.
imbes nga pinanunutna ti bagina .impangpangruna na dagiti kararua
nga angangabit iti pannakadadael. amin dagitoy gapu iti ayat ni Hesus
kadatayo.

Father -- a term of trust, confidence, and endearment

"Father," is first and foremost a term of relationship and endearment.

It is a family term. Spoken within the family circle it was often
expressed as "Abba," which, roughly translated, might correspond to
our "Dad" or "Daddy." Jesus had used this intimate Aramaic word to
address his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before
(Mark 14:36). It is also the cry of the Spirit of God within us, helping
us reach out to God (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).
In this prayer at his last hour, Jesus addresses the God of the Universe
with the simple term "Father." And he invites us to do the same. When
Jesus' disciples ask him how they should pray, he gives them a model
prayer that begins, "Our Father..." (Matthew 6:9).
By beginning his prayer with the word "Father," Jesus expresses at the
same time a love and a confidence, a trust. One who doubts might pile
up descriptors of God to buttress his shaky faith, but one who calls
him simply, "Father," knows him, trusts him, and is confident in the
outcome.
Who Does the "Them" Refer To?

Iti baet ti panagsagsagaba ni Hesus iti krus, sipapanunut pay laeng iti
pannakapakawan dagiti nangibilang kadagiti bagbagida nga
kabusorna. Indawatanna iti Ama ti pammakawa

dagiti soldado nga nangum-umsi , nangtupra,nangdangran,

nangsaplit, nangguyod iti barbasna, nangituon iti korona nga sisiit iti
uluna ken nangilansa kenkuana iti krus ta nagtulnogda nga
mangipatungpal iti bilin dagiti agtuturay nga pumatay nupay saan nga
isuda ti akinpanunutan ket awan maaramidanda. Kas kuna ti
nasantuan a kasuratan,nagbuteng ti kapitan ken dagiti soldadona a
mangbanbantay kenni Hesus idi mariknada ti gingined ken makitada
ti amin a napasamak, Kinunada,pudno gayam nga anak ti Dios daytoy.

ni Ponsio Pilato ta base iti linteg awan ti pakababalawan ni Hesus ket

inosente kadagiti basol a nakaidarumanna., ngem naallukoy dagiti
lider ti hudio nga tallikudanna ti linteg ken tapnu malisian ti gulo nga
parnuayen ti saanna nga iyaanamong kadagiti Sanhedrin.

dagiti panguluen a papadi ken agtuturay nga isu ti nagplano iti

pannakailansa ni Hesus iti krus ken nangbayad ken ni hudas tapno
liputanna ni Hesus ,nangipatulod ti solado nga mangtiliw kenni hesus
sadiay garden ti getsemani,nangidarum ken nangtangdan ti tattao nga
agtestigo maikontra ken hesus, ken nangsugsog iti kaadduan nga
pailansada ti Kristo iti krus.

sika , siak ken amin a tattao

kasta met para kadagiti tattao nga nangbuya ken nakipagum-si

kenkuana ken tattao nga nakaygappuan ti pannakailansana iti krus.
imbes nga pinanunutna ti bagina .impangpangruna na dagiti kararua
nga angangabit iti pannakadadael gapu kadagiti basol,kinakapuy,
panaglablabes ken kinarukop tayo.

It makes sense that the first word of Jesus from the cross is a word of
forgiveness. That’s the point of the cross, after all. Jesus is dying so
that we might be forgiven for our sins, so that we might be reconciled
to God for eternity.
The way we're headed on our own is to our doom -- that's what Jesus
says. The gate to eternal life is exceedingly narrow, so narrow that few
find it on their own (Matthew 7:13-14). Without Jesus' active
campaign to bear our sins upon himself, the Righteous for the
unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18), none of us could be forgiven.

You and I made the cross necessary. We are the ones he prays to
forgive. On the cross Jesus provided forgiveness for all those who
would ever believe in Him (Matthew 20:28). Jesus paid the penalty for
the sins that we commit in our ignorance, and even the ones we’ve
committed deliberately. When we are born again, we, too, become an
answer to Jesus’ prayer “Father, forgive them.”

Did We Know What We Were Doing?

Are people forgiven only if they don't know what they are
doing? Jesus says,

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are
doing." (Luke 23:34a)
Adda kadi sungsungbatan dagiti nangpapatay ken kristo?
adda ta ti Dios dusaenna dagiti nagbasol kenkuana. He is a
just God. They had seen Jesus' miracles and heard the Truth
spoken by the Son of God himself and had yet sought his
death. There was plenty enough rope to hang them with all
justice.Wen ammuda nga dakes ti ar-aramidenda ket napnu
dagiti pusoda ti kinadakes ngem nakurang ti pannakaamuda
iti kinadagsen ti basolda.

Paul explains:

"None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they

had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1
Corinthians 2:8; see Acts 3:17)

Paul himself, who persecuted Christians to their death, did it

because he just didn't understand.

"Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor

and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted
in ignorance and unbelief." (1 Timothy 1:13)

What I learn from this First Word is that God is merciful --

far more merciful than any of us deserves. Yes, each of us
has plenty enough sin to condemn us. But God is looking
deeper. He has made a way that we do not deserve, because
he knows that if we really knew the truth, we would embrace
his Son.

Jesus' prayer on the cross tells me that God has found a way
to forgive us.
What Does It Mean to Forgive?

This leads me to the last question raised by this saying: What does it
mean to forgive?
The word was used in legal documents to describe releasing a person
from an office, severing a marriage obligation, or cancelling a debt that
was owed.2
In the Lord's Prayer Jesus uses the verb forgive in the context of debt:
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew
6:12)
He is speaking of sins as a debt owed to God which must be paid. The
Lord's Prayer asks God to cancel our debts -- as we cancel others' debt
of sins committed against us.
As Jesus begins the last phase of his life -- dying on a cross hung
between earth and heaven -- he prays for all of us who put him there.
He calls out to his Father, without any shame at the intimacy of his
love and the authenticity of his Sonship -- "Father, forgive them." And
so we pray the prayer ourselves: Father, forgive us.
Ngarud pagrebbengan tayo ti mangikararag kadagiti kabusor tayo
nupay ti pakadaksan tayo ti panpanunutenda.Ti banag nga ikararag
tayo ket ti panagbalbaliwda ket pakawanen met ida ti Dios. Dagiti
managbasol babaen ken kristo ket mapakawan nu la ket ta
agbabawida kadagiti basbasolda , mangabarruananda ket agbiagdan
iti lawag ti Dios.
Prayer
Yes, Father, forgive us. We really didn't know the depths to which we
have fallen. And we are just coming to realize the depth of the love you
have for us -- and have always had. Cancel our debt of sin to you, we
pray. Not because we deserve it, but out of your great mercy revealed
by the cross. For we pray this in the Name of Jesus who died on that
cross to bring about just this result. Amen!