SEVEN LAST SAYINGS OF CHRIST / LUKE 23:34

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(KJV) Luke 23:34

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

The First Cry from the Cross: Unpacking the Power of Radical Forgiveness

In His final hours on earth, hung on a brutal Roman cross, Jesus Christ spoke seven distinct times. These statements, known traditionally as the Seven Last Sayings of Christ, offer a profound window into His heart, His mission, and His divine character.

While wrapped in unimaginable physical agony, Jesus did not cry out in anger, vengeance, or self-pity. Instead, His very first words—spoken somewhere between the morning hours of 9:00 AM and noon—were a plea for the very people driving the nails into His hands.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” — Luke 23:34

The Order of the Seven Last Sayings

To understand the weight of this first saying, it helps to see where it sits in the timeline of the crucifixion. Jesus spoke three times before the midday sun vanished, followed by three hours of absolute, silent darkness, and finally four rapid expressions before His death at 3:00 PM:

9:00 AM – Noon (The Words of Grace):
- Words of Forgiveness: “Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23:34)
- Words of Salvation: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
- Words of Love and Care: “Dear woman, here is your son… here is your mother!” (John 19:26-27)
Noon – 3:00 PM (The Three Hours of Darkness):
- Total silence. No words are reported as darkness covers the land.
Around 3:00 PM (The Final Cries):
- Words of Spiritual Suffering: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)
- Words of Physical Suffering: “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)
- Words of Triumph: “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
- Words of Devotion and Trust: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

Why Forgiveness Came First

It is profoundly telling that Jesus prioritized forgiveness above all else. Before He secured the thief’s salvation, before He ensured His mother Mary was cared for, and before He declared His earthly mission complete, He paved the way for mercy.

The people mocking Him, the soldiers casting lots for His clothing, and the religious leaders who plotted His execution were entirely blinded by their own pride and sin. They truly “did not know what they were doing.” Yet, rather than calling down a legion of angels to rescue Him, Jesus acted as the ultimate Intercessor. He looked past their cruelty and answered their hatred with an appeal to the Father’s grace.

What This Means for Us Today

Luke 23:34 challenges the very fabric of human nature. We live in a world that demands retaliation, holds onto grudges, and thrives on cancel culture. Christ’s first saying models a radical, supernatural standard:

Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling: Jesus did not wait for His executioners to apologize or express regret before He forgave them.
No one is beyond the reach of grace: If the very people who crucified the Son of God could be prayed for, there is no sin in our lives too great for God to forgive.
We are called to extend the same mercy: As followers of Christ, we are challenged to look at those who hurt us through a lens of compassion, recognizing the brokenness behind their actions.

When we find it difficult to let go of bitterness, we must look back at the cross. The first word spoken there was a bridge of mercy built for you, for me, and for the entire world.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We stand in awe of the love displayed on the cross at Calvary. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to bear the weight of our sins. Lord, we are humbled by His very first words in the midst of agony: “Father, forgive them.” We recognize that it was our sin, too, that held Him there.

We thank You for the boundless, radical forgiveness that cleanses us and sets us free. Search our hearts today, Lord. If there is any lingering bitterness, resentment, or unforgiveness within us, we ask that You replace it with Your supernatural love. Give us the strength and the grace to forgive others just as You have completely forgiven us.

May our lives reflect the mercy of the cross to a broken and hurting world.

In Jesus’ precious and powerful name, we pray. Amen.

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