Luke 23:34

Father, forgive them Isaiah 53:12, "He bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." These words were probably uttered at the terrible moment when the Sufferer was outstretched upon the Cross and the nails were being driven through the palms of the hands. They are certainly genuine, though strangely omitted by B, D. We must surely suppose that the prayer was uttered not only for the Roman soldiers, who were the mere instruments of the executors, but for all His enemies. It was in accordance with His own teaching (Matthew 5:44), and His children have learnt it from Him (Acts 7:59-60; Euseb. H.E.ii. 29). They were the first of the seven words from the Cross, of which three (Luke 23:34; Luke 23:43; Luke 23:46) are recorded by St Luke only, and three"(John 19:27-28; John 19:30) by St John only. The last cry also began with the word "Father." The seven words are

Luke 23:34. The Prayer for the Murderers.

Luke 23:43. The Promise to the Penitent.

John 19:26. The provision for the Mother.

Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34. Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?

John 19:28. The sole expression of human agony.

John 19:30. "It is finished."

Luke 23:46. "Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit."

Thus they refer to His enemies, to penitents, to His mother and disciple, to the agony of His soul, to the anguish of His body, to His work, and to His Heavenly Father. St Luke here omits our Lord's refusal of the soporthe medicated draught, or myrrh-mingled wine (Mark 15:23; Matthew 27:34), which, if it would have deadened His pains, would also have beclouded His faculties.

forgive them aphes;Christ died "for the remission (aphesin)of sins," Matthew 26:28.

they know not what they do Rather, are doing. "Through ignorance ye did it," Acts 3:17; 1 Corinthians 2:8. "Judaei clamant Crucifige; Christus clamat Ignosce. Magna illorum iniquitas sed major tua, O Domine, pietas." St Bernard.

they parted his raiment For the fuller details see John 19:23-24.