Luke 23:42,43

DISCOURSE: 1587
OUR LORD’S ANSWER TO THE PENITENT THIEF

Luke 23:42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.

THE history of Christ in every view is replete with wonders: in every part of it we trace a mixture of dignity and debasement. When he lay in a manger, the Wise Men were conducted to him by a star: when he was tempted by the devil, an angel ministered unto him: he was now dying as a malefactor, and “crucified through weakness,” yet did he, in answer to the Thief’s petition, assert his power to save.

I. The Thief’s petition first requires our attention—

This petition, if duly considered, will appear very remarkable—
It implied an acknowledgment of our Lord’s dignity—

[Our Lord had often asserted himself to be a king [Note: John 18:37. in reference to which St. Paul speaks, 1 Timothy 6:13.]. For this he was accused [Note: Luke 23:2.], mocked [Note: Matthew 27:28.], condemned [Note: John 19:12; John 19:14.], crucified [Note: Mark 15:26.]: yet then did the malefactor acknowledge him as a king. He beheld him on the cross as though he had seen him upon his throne: he proclaimed him Sovereign of the invisible world. His petition in this view was stronger than any assertion could be.]

It implied further an affiance in his mercy—

[Often had our Lord been entreated to heal disorders of the body [Note: Mark 3:10; Mark 2:4.]; but rarely had any made application to him on behalf of their souls. The Thief, however, offered his petition only for spiritual blessings [Note: He did not ask to have his life prolonged, or his pains mitigated, but that his soul might be saved.]: and for the obtaining of mercy he relied simply on the grace of Christ. Nor did he express a doubt of Christ’s power or willingness to save [Note: He did not say, “If thou wilt,” or “If thou canst,” as others had done on less important occasions. Matthew 8:2.Mark 9:22.]. Yet was his affiance tempered with the deepest humility [Note: He did not presume to offer such a request as the ambitious disciples had done, Mark 10:37. but like the Canaanitess, Matthew 15:27. was contented with the smallest expression of his mercy, “Remember me.”].]

What acceptance he met with will appear from considering,

II.

Our Lord’s answer—

Our Lord had never refused those who came to him for bodily cures: he now testified the same readiness to relieve spiritual wants—
In his answer he displayed the freeness of his grace—

[He granted the Thief’s petition without a moment’s hesitation [Note: When the innocent Joseph entreated Pharaoh’s butler to remember him after his restoration to his place at court, the ungrateful butler forgat him two long years; nor would have thought of him then, but from absolute necessity. What different treatment did this guilty Thief receive from his offended Lord!]. He conferred the desired blessing without up-braiding [Note: How justly might our Lord have upbraided him for his whole course of life, his late repentance, and especially his behaviour even upon the cross! Matthew 27:44. But he was God, and acted like God. James 1:5 and Luke 15:20; Luke 15:23.].” He bestowed his mercy without prescribing any conditions [Note: He did not require the Thief to do any thing in order to merit his mercy.]. Thus did he exemplify what he had commanded his prophet to proclaim [Note: Isaiah 55:1.]

He also manifested the fulness of his grace—

[Often has God bestowed more than his people have desired [Note: 1 Kings 3:11. or Matthew 18:26.]. Here our Lord infinitely exceeds the Thief’s request. He promises, not a remembrance merely, but converse “with himself.” This converse too shall be enjoyed, not on earth, but “in Paradise [Note: This is sometimes called Hades or Hell, as in Acts 2:27 and in the Creed; but it means the place where departed saints dwell in the presence of God, 2 Corinthians 12:2; 2 Corinthians 12:4 and Revelation 2:7.].” It shall moreover be enjoyed by him “that very day [Note: Neither our Lord nor his apostles ever countenanced the idea of the soul sleeping till the resurrection. See 2 Corinthians 5:8.]. Of all this he assures the Thief in the most solemn manner. What must now have been the feelings of the pardoned criminal [Note: Had the executioners now offered to release him, surely he would have said like St. Paul, Philippians 1:23.]! What a comment does this afford us on God’s gracious declaration [Note: Isaiah 55:8.]—!]

To guard this subject against abuse, we must suggest a caution—

[Some may take occasion from it to defer their repentance: but it does not afford any just ground for such conduct. The case was singular as it respects both Christ [Note: Christ was now in the lowest state of humiliation; Divine wisdom judged it necessary therefore to give to the world some signal display of his dignity and glory. Hence the whole creation was constrained to bear testimony to him; Matthew 27:45; Matthew 27:51 and the Thief was chosen from among men to be a monument of his power and grace. But such an occasion never will occur again; and therefore no similar interposition is to be expected.], and the Thief [Note: The Thief, like other malefactors, had most probably disregarded the means of grace, and never heard of Christ before. Yet now he confessed his sin, rebuked his companion, vindicated Christ, and committed himself entirely to his mercy. But how different was this exercise of grace from what we generally see on a death-bed! And what little reason have we to expect that such grace shall be given us in our last hours, when we are despising the offers of Grace and Mercy which are made to us continually!]. It is extreme folly, therefore, to reject the present overtures of mercy in expectation of such a miraculous conversion at the last.]

Nevertheless we may derive from this history much encouragement—

[It forbids any, however long or heinously they may have sinned, to despair. It points out the simple way in which we may attain salvation. The substance of our Lord’s answer is applicable to every penitent. Such joy is offered to all [Note: Romans 10:12.]: let all seek it in the same way [Note: Psalms 106:4.]