Did the Father forgive them when they didn’t know what they were doing?

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JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
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#21
Well, now that I'm back home, and I actually have a minute...


The universe didn't destroy either Israel or the temple.

God did...even as he's done in the past.

For example, Jesus said:

Matthew chapter 22

[1] And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
[2] The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
[3] And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
[4] Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
[5] But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
[6] And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
[7] But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

In this parable, "the king" is God the Father, "and HE sent forth HIS armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city"...NOT the universe.

I've heard a lot of crazy things in my life, but this one might take the cake.
So you signing up to be a mercenary of God then?
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,280
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#22
Well, now that I'm back home, and I actually have a minute...


The universe didn't destroy either Israel or the temple.

God did...even as he's done in the past.

For example, Jesus said:

Matthew chapter 22

[1] And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
[2] The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
[3] And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
[4] Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
[5] But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
[6] And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
[7] But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

In this parable, "the king" is God the Father, "and HE sent forth HIS armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city"...NOT the universe.

I've heard a lot of crazy things in my life, but this one might take the cake.
And since Jesus is God....

He could have destroyed the sinners and started the whole world over again....instead of 8 he woulda had 200+.

But that's not what He did. He destroyed sin by dying a sacrificial death.

Not possible for Him to do it any other way..... like the way you are proposing.
 

Live4Him3

Jesus is Lord
May 19, 2022
1,383
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#23
...like the way you are proposing.
I have no idea what you're even talking about, so I doubt that it's what I'm allegedly proposing.

All I said is that the universe didn't destroy Israel or the temple, but God did.

If you have a problem accepting that reality, then I cannot help you.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,280
2,560
113
#24
I have no idea what you're even talking about, so I doubt that it's what I'm allegedly proposing.

All I said is that the universe didn't destroy Israel or the temple, but God did.

If you have a problem accepting that reality, then I cannot help you.
Don't really need your help on this one.

On something else later maybe....but not this one.
 

Live4Him3

Jesus is Lord
May 19, 2022
1,383
640
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#25
The question is, did God forgive them?
Here's another simple reason why I answer "no" to this question:

Jesus himself had the power to forgive sins, so there was no need for him to pray to the Father to forgive them if they had already met the requirements for forgiveness.

For example, in this same gospel of Luke, we read:

Luke chapter 5

[17] And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
[18] And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
[19] And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
[20] And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
[21] And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
[22] But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
[23] Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
[24] But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

Again, in this same gospel of Luke, we read:

Luke chapter 7

[36] And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
[37] And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
[38] And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
[39] Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
[40] And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
[41] There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
[42] And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
[43] Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
[44] And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
[45] Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
[46] My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
[47] Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
[48] And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
[49] And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
[50] And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Yet again, in this same gospel of Luke, we read:

Luke chapter 23

[39] 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.

Seeing how Jesus himself was/is perfectly capable of forgiving one's sins when they had/have met such requirements as faith in him, there would have been no need for him to pray to the Father to forgive his murderers if they had already met the requirements to be forgiven.
 
Mar 4, 2020
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#26
Personally, I don't believe that they were forgiven at the moment when Jesus prayed for them. There are several reasons why I don't believe it, and one of those reasons is the reason that you just mentioned in relation to their need to repent in order to actually be forgiven.

Here's another:

Psalm 2

[1] Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
[2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
[3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

The first three verses of this prophetic Messianic psalm foretold of the time when "the heathen" (the Roman soldiers), "the people" (certain Jews of Jesus' day), "the kings of the earth" (Herod), "and the rulers" (Pontius Pilate) would "take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed" or "against his Christ) as they joined hands together to crucify Jesus.

This is by no means my "private interpretation", but rather the plain teaching of scripture.

We read:

Acts chapter 4

[23] And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
[24] And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
[25] Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
[26] The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
[27] For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
[28] For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Again, the first three verses of Psalm 2, a prophetic Messianic psalm, were fulfilled when "Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles (or heathen), and the people of Israel, were gathered together" to crucify Christ. Although "the Gentiles" or "the heathen" aren't specifically named here, Jesus did tell us exactly who they were elsewhere.

We read:

Matthew chapter 20

[18] Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
[19] And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Of course, "the Gentiles" who mocked, scourged, and crucified Jesus were the Roman soldiers.

With this information before us, let's turn back to Psalm 2 to get God's actual response to the same.

Psalm 2

[4] He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
[5] Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
[6] Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

God laughs at those who have joined hands together to crucify Christ, and then he derides them, and speaks unto them IN HIS WRATH, while vexing them IN HIS SORE DISPLEASURE.

Does that sound like "forgiveness" to you?

It doesn't sound the least bit like "forgiveness" to me.

God then goes on to tell these co-conspirators that Jesus will yet be his king upon his holy hill of Zion.

How can the Christ who they crucified yet be God's reigning king?

Well, we receive the correct answer to this question in the very next verse of this prophetic Messianic psalm.
I know we both can get quite wordy since we both have many thoughts, but unfortuneately that exceeds the 10,000 character limit so I need to delete some of your response to make my response fit. Again, this isn't meant to be argumentative or deceptive, this is just my perspective. I hope you see that I agree with some parts, but also offer perspectives you didn't seem to consider. That's a good thing when we can share new ideas.

You make a good case for why they were not forgiven at the moment Jesus prayed for them. Even though Jesus is God's Son and could ask for anything from God, not all of His prayers were answered in the affirmative.

For example, Jesus asked for His cup to be taken from Him on the condition that it be His Father's will and apparently got a No.

Matt. 26:39 NIV
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

On the other hand, Jesus demonstrated the ability to forgive sins repeatedly, without any apparent appealing to His Father, to confirm with Him or not, before executing forgiveness.

Matt. 9:2,6 NIV
2“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
6"But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”

Luke 7:48 NIV
48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus could apparently forgive sins any time He wanted to even when there is no recorded account by the individual to have repented. One may argue "Oh, but Jesus is God and He can see their heart and know if they were truly repentent or not." While that is true, if there is no recorded account of someone actually repenting then sola scriptura demands that we don't add to the word of God.

We can see in the examples above that the people Jesus extended forgiveness to did not even ask for forgiveness. Actually, two of the examples seem to be motivated entirely by the desire for physical healing. The third example is a woman who was kissing and cleaning Jesus's feet. She didn't ask for forgiveness, but apparently all she did was love Jesus and based on the metric of love she was forgiven her many sins.

Back to Luke 23:34 were Jesus said "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…" From my perspective, Jesus had already forgiven them, but was asking for His Father to forgive them too.

So is it possible to be forgiven by Jesus, but not forgiven by His Father? If yes then could there be a disagreement between the Father and the Son? Again, not every prayer Jesus asked His Father for was answered in the affirmative.

It seems like, through tracing the passages of the New Testament, Jesus had authority to forgive sins on Earth, but is it possible that sins can still not be forgiven in the age to come?

Consider the following:

Matt. 12:32 NIV
32Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

From my perspective, Jesus said that it's possibleto be forgiven in this age and/or the age to come. This means you can be forgiven now, but not necessarily forgiven later.

Another possibility is that Jesus was referring to only specific kinds of sins He was asking His Father to forgive while He hung on the cross. Jesus said in Matt. 12:32 "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven."

So in the context of Luke 23, they were "speaking words against the Son of Man" and Jesus promised that anyone who does that will be forgiven. Here are examples of the words being spoke against the Son of Man at His crucifixion:

Luke 23 NIV
35The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him...
36The soldiers also came up and mocked him...
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him...
 
Mar 4, 2020
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#27
They were ignorant of the fact that the One they were crucifying was the perfect Son of God. This is the ignorance they were forgiven of. They would not have been forgiven for brutally murdering another human being unless or until they repented.

I think Jesus was simply making it possible for them to repent at some future time. If I were in Father's shoes, I'm sure I would have blasted them straight into hell at that very moment.
Is it possible Jesus was trying to be like a high priest and make intercession for them?