“Father, forgive them”

1. Luke 23:32-34

   There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. 33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, ” Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”And they divided His garments and cast lots.

2. What Jesus suffered…

   Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. 13 They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22:12-18)

• They wanted Him dead in a shameful and painful way, stripped of the last possession He had

3. Forgive them

• Of sins
• Of rejection of who Jesus is and what He seeks to bring
• Of ignorance of the scheme of the devil

4. Ignorance is not a defense of our sins

• Leviticus 5:18-19
  And he shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him regarding his ignorance in which he erred and did not know it, and it shall be forgiven him. 19 It is a trespass offering; he has certainly trespassed against the Lord.”
• Forgive others in the same manner Jesus prayed to forgive us – “Freely you have receive, freely give” (Matthew 10:8b)