Luke 23:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."

NIV: Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

NASB: And He said to him, 'Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'

CSB: And he said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

NLT: And Jesus replied, 'I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.'

KJV: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

NKJV: And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

A criminal is hanging on a cross next to Jesus. He understands that God is just and he deserves his cross. Yet Jesus is innocent and doesn't deserve the cross. Nor does He deserve mocking by the people, the Jewish leaders, the soldiers, or the criminal hanging from a cross on the other side of Jesus (Luke 23:32–39).

This derisive shouting about how Jesus claims to be "the Christ of God, his Chosen One" (Luke 23:35) but seems powerless to escape His cross gets to the thief in a curious way: he begins to believe. What if Jesus is the Christ and king of the Jews? Then the proper thing to do would be to submit to his sovereign. He asks Jesus, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42).

Jesus' response contains important ties to theology:

•The thief has confessed his guilt and affirmed that Jesus is Lord; he cannot get baptized: baptism is not necessary for salvation.
•Jesus tells the thief "today"; the thief will be aware and awake this day: there is no such thing as soul sleep; when "sleep" is used to refer to death, it's a metaphor.
•The thief will be in paradise; he has committed a crime serious enough that he admits he deserves crucifixion, but after he dies, he will go straight to paradise: there is no purgatory.
•The thief will be with Jesus; Jesus promises they will be together in paradise that day: Jesus does not spend three days in hell.

Likely the thief isn't dwelling too much on such specifics. He will hang on his cross, slowly asphyxiating, watching Jesus die. Sometime before evening, the soldiers will come up to him and break his legs (John 19:32). He will no longer be able to push up to catch a breath. Then he will die on the Passover, the day of celebration for God's protection of the Jews as the firstborn Egyptians were killed. But before twilight, he will find himself in paradise, with Jesus. His sins forgiven, his wounds healed, and his heart cleansed of all evil, he will know with certainty that Jesus is the Christ.

Luke 23:32–43 gives a living illustration of the gospel. Jewish rulers, soldiers, and one of the crucified thieves mock Jesus. He forgives them. The other thief takes advantage of Jesus' offer and asks Jesus to remember him in His kingdom; Jesus promises He will. Matthew 27:33–44, Mark 15:22–32, and John 19:17–24 give similar accounts with other details. John also describes how Jesus gives John, the son of Zebedee, responsibility for Mary (John 19:25–27).

Luke 23 records the remaining trials, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. He is examined by the Roman governor and the local appointed King, neither of whom are interested in passing a death sentence. Local religious leaders incite the crowd, pressuring the governor, Pilate, to authorize crucifixion. Jesus accepts the faith of another condemned man and dies. Joseph of Arimathea asks for Jesus body and buries it in a tomb cut from rock.

Luke 23 records Jesus' civil trials, crucifixion, and burial. The members of the Sanhedrin have put Jesus through three trials in their attempt to convince Pilate He's a threat (Luke 22:47–71). Their case is weak, but their political influence is powerful enough to force Pilate's hand. Jesus is executed. Three days after Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus, Jesus reappears on the road to Emmaus where He explains Messianic prophecies in Jewish Scriptures. After spending time with His followers, Jesus ascends into heaven (Luke 24) and the disciples build the church (Acts).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.