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The Prayer of the CrossText: Luke 23:27-34 Introduction:
1. Addresses to God:
a. Prayer
b. “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me.”
c. “Father into Thy hands I commend My Spirit.”
2. Addressed to others:
a. Mother and John
b. Thief
c. “I Thirst”
d. “It is finished.”
3. When Jesus Christ was nailed to the Cross of Calvary his
first recorded words are found in this passage—Luke
23:43.
4. Jesus prayed this prayer while surrounded by his enemies
–his persecutors.
5. Does this prayer reveal that Jesus the Son of God Hated
those who caused this anguish, suffering, and death?
Oh, No!
a. If manifests a love for the perishing world. See John
3:16; Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 5:2; Romans 8:37, etc.
1. If Christ had not had a heart filled with love—
compassion for the poor sin-sick, blinded
humanity, he could never had uttered this
wonderful prayer.
b. It shows that the Savior is willing to forgive.
1. It is easy to talk about forgiveness when those
who wrong us are not near, but what about hewn the
wrong doers are doing us harm? Do we forgive?
2. When we are persecuted—in the fires of pain (both
physical and mental), are we ready to forgive?
3. Remember, this dying prayer of the Savior was in
the midst of his enemies, and while undergoing
terrible pain (both physical and mental), but he
still asked for God’s mercy and forgiveness to be
granted. (“Father, forgive them.”)
6. This prayer was in keeping with his teaching. Matthew
5:44; 6:12, 14, 15.
a. He Forgave the woman caught in the act of Adultery.
John 8:3-11
b. He told the thief, “Today, shalt thou be with me in
paradise.” Luke 23:42, 43
7. Thus, we see the Savior Loving His enemies instead of
hating them, and praying for their forgiveness—
salvation.
Discussion: Now, let us study some things connected with this
dying prayer of the Savior that we may learn a lesson for us
today!
I. Who were the objects of this prayers?
A. This prayer was not only for the soldiers that had
nailed him to the cross, and all those implicated
in this awful deed, but for the whole perishing
world—for the Forgiveness of sinners.
1. This prayer included those who came out with
swords and staves to take Him when He was
betrayed by Judas Iscariot. Luke 22:52, 53; John
18:12
2. This prayer was for those who mocked and smote
(slapped and hit) Him at His mock trials. Luke
22:63-65; Matthew 26:67
3. He also prayed for those who bore False Witness
at his trial. Luke 23:2, 10; Matthew 26:60
4. His prayer included Herod and his men of war who
set him at naught and mocked Him. Luke 23:11
5. He also included the Crowd—the mob that asked
for Barabas to be released, but that He be
crucified. Luke 23:13-24
6. This prayer included the Centurion and the
Soldiers that nailed Him to the Cross. Luke
23:36, 37; John 19:23, 24
7. His prayer included all who had rejected Him as
the Messiah, and had caused His death. Acts
2:22, 23
II. Why Did the Savior So Pray?
A. Because His love was the purest; His sympathy was
sublime and sincere; and His forgiveness was the
most merciful for the sins of mankind. John 15:13;
Romans 5:6-8
B. Because He knew they had crucified Him in
Ignorance.
1. He knew: “they knew not what they were doing.”
Luke 23:34
2. The Scriptures reveals that he was crucified
through ignorance. Acts 3:17; 13:26-28; 1
Corinthians 2:6-8
a. Ignorance does not excuse a crime—it may make
it less severe.
1) Those who crucified Him were still
condemned as guilty, though done in
ignorance. (Acts 2:23; 3:13-15; 5:30;
10:39; etc.)
2) Saul of Tarsus who persecuted Christ was
guilty, though he did it in ignorance,
however, he obtained mercy and
forgiveness. (Acts 9:1-5; 1 Timothy 1:13)
C. Because He came to seek and save the love—that
sinners might be forgiven.
1. All we like sheep have gone astray. (Isaiah
53:6; Romans 3:12f)
2. God does not desire that any perish. 2 Peter 3:9
3. God our Savior will’s that all men be saved – 1
Timothy 2:3,4
III. Did God Hear and Answer the Prayer of His Son?
A. Who does God hear and answer?
1. The following Scriptures teaches who He will
hear—and not hear: Proverbs 15:8; 28:9; John
9:31; 1 Peter 3:8-12; James 5:16.
2. Since His Son was a righteousness person and did
His Father’s will, then He heard and answered
his prayer!
Illustration: Would a father or mother in a
civilized nation who is
responsible before God and
amenable to the laws of the land
refuse to grant a son’s
reasonable, unselfish, loving,
dying request?
Hence, Can you doubt that God answered His Son’s
request.
IV. When Was That Prayer Answered?
A. It was Not answered instantaneously, immediately—
then and there on the Cross—nor without any
conditions of God being met by those who had sinned
against His will!!!
1. First, let us learn when it was Not Answered—
Negative:
1) Not while on the Cross—immediately.
2) Not while in the tomb and Hades for 3 days.
3) Not during the 40 days after His
Resurrection.
4) Not during the 10 days after His Ascension—
before the coming of the Holy Spirit…
5) Not at the moment the Holy Spirit came—
Baptized the Apostles.
Acts 2: “Ye have taken and by wicked hands have
crucified and slain.”
2. Then when was it answered?—Positive:
1) When those guilty of crucifying the Savior
Hear the Gospel as preached by the apostles
who had power to bind and loose on earth the
will of God. (cf. Luke 24:46-47; Matthew
26:19; 18:18; See—2 Corinthians 5:18-20
2) The Gospel they preached had Conditions of
grace of God that had to be obeyed before God
forgave them. (Cf. Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians
2:4-9).
3) What are the Conditions of Forgiveness?
(1) Hear the gospel of Salvation—Ephesians
1:13.
(2) Believe the gospel—Acts 15:7; Romans 1:16
(3) Repent of sins—Acts 17:30
(4) Confess faith into Christ—Acts 8:37;
Romans 10:9-10
(5) Baptized into Christ—Romans 6:3-4;
Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16
4) Hence, on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem
sins began to be forgiven—Cf. Luke 24:46-47.
(1) The people on this day Heard the gospel,
Believe it, asked what to Do, and were
told to Repent and Baptized for or “in
order” to the remission of sins. (Acts
2:37-41)
(2) This was When God answered His Son’s
Prayer!
Conclusion: Now, What can we learn from this prayer?
1. It is our Duty to pray for our Enemies—Matthew 5:43-48.
2. We must Forgive to be forgiven by God—Matthew 6:12, 14,
15.
3. The greatest sinners can obtain pardon—1 Timothy 1:13-16
4. That God will not Forgive sinners just Because we pray
for them, if they will not Obey the Conditions of
pardon.
Example: God’s Son prayed, but He did not forgive them
without them obeying the Conditions!) (Acts
2:37-41)
5. A Lesson on Forgiveness—It’s the world’s greatest lesson
on Forgiveness!!!
Invitation: Sinner friend, Do You realize your lost
condition as did the people on the Day of
Pentecost?
1. Do you know that you are dying, drifting souls into the
eternal shores of darkness and despair—lost?
2. Do you that the Son of God prayed for your forgiveness
of sins?
3. Come, obey the Conditions of forgiveness and be saved!
Howard I. See
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