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NASB | Luke 23:34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 23:34 And Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves. [Ps 22:18] |
Bible Question: At Biblegateway NIV and in my own New Revised Standard Version, it indicates that Luke 23:34 was not in any original manuscripts. How can I find out more about when it was added? It's vital as it seems to be the only place that states forgiveness is not contingent upon repentance. To me it doesn't fit with the rest of the Word of God. Any comments? |
Bible Answer: renee007: The translators' footnote of Luke 23:34 in the NIV translation contains these words: "Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence." A similar footnote is appended to the verse by the NASB translators. The footnotes say "some early manuscripts" do not contain the verse; they do not by any means say all of them do not contain it. They give no indication whatever that the verse was added at a later date....... As to your question concerning the matter of Christ's prayer for forgiveness in this case not being contingent on repentence: The first answer that comes to mind is that the Lord is sovereign and thus can do what He pleases. But the real key to understanding the meaning of this verse seems to hinge on two things. The first is inherent in the words that follow Christ's petition for forgiveness. He said, "for they do not know what they are doing." They were not aware of the enormous scope of their wicked act. They were blind to the light of truth. Speaking of this dark hour, Paul says in 1 Cor. 2:8 "for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."....... The second thing is this: Jesus, knowing full well that these people in their ignorance and blindness, did not really know the full extent of their heinous deed, prayed for their forgiveness. Their forgiveness was quite undeserved, but His prayer is a shining example of the boundless compassion of divine grace..... The passage is not a Scriptural anomaly. It does not negate the teaching elsewhere concerning the necessity for repentence. But repentence is a concomitant of conviction, and conviction, in the Scriptural sense, is a clear sense of wrongdoing. The mockers of Jesus did not have this sense of wrongdoing. Contrast this crowd at the crucifixion with the Jews who comprised the audience of Peter's sermon on Pentecost recorded in Acts 2. Speaking of Christ, Peter told them in no uncertain terms, "you nailed to the cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death." (v.23). In v. 36 Peter says, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ -- this Jesus whom you crucified." V. 37 picks up the narrative, saying they were "pierced to the heart" and asked Peter and the rest of the apostles what they should do. Having heard from Peter who the man really was whom they had led to be crucified, they were convicted in their hearts. Peter's answer to what they should do comes in v. 38. The very first step in his directive was the command to repent. But the command to repent came in the wake of his sermon in which the Jews, having been clearly informed of the nature of their wrongdoing, were pierced to the heart, which is tantamount to saying, they were under conviction for their sins. --Hank |