Luke 23:42

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

And {G2532} he said {G3004} unto Jesus {G2424}, Lord {G2962}, remember {G3415} me {G3450} when {G3752} thou comest {G2064} into {G1722} thy {G4675} kingdom {G932}.

Then he said, “Yeshua, remember me when you come as King.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”

And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom.

Commentary

Luke 23:42 presents one of the most poignant and hopeful exchanges in the Gospels, occurring during Jesus' crucifixion. This verse captures the plea of one of the criminals crucified alongside Jesus, often referred to as the "penitent thief."

Context

This verse is set at Golgotha, the place of the skull, where Jesus is being crucified between two condemned criminals. While one criminal joins the crowd in mocking Jesus, the other, recognizing Jesus' innocence and divine authority, rebukes his companion and then turns to Jesus with a humble, yet profound, request. This moment highlights the stark contrast between hardened unbelief and a desperate, last-minute faith.

Key Themes

  • Faith in Despair: The thief's faith is remarkable because it emerges not from a position of comfort or religious upbringing, but from a place of extreme suffering and impending death. He sees beyond Jesus' present humiliation to His future glory and kingdom.
  • Salvation by Grace: This verse beautifully illustrates salvation by grace through faith alone. The thief had no time for good works, baptism, or religious rituals; his salvation was based solely on his recognition of Jesus' lordship and his humble plea.
  • Jesus' Kingship: Despite being nailed to a cross, the thief addresses Jesus as "Lord" and acknowledges His coming "kingdom." This stands in stark contrast to the taunts of the crowd and the religious leaders, affirming Jesus' true identity as King, even in His weakest moment. The thief's understanding of Jesus' kingdom was spiritual and eternal.
  • Repentance and Forgiveness: The thief's plea is an act of genuine repentance, a turning from his sin and a turning toward Christ. Jesus' immediate and gracious response (found in Luke 23:43) underscores the boundless nature of God's forgiveness.

Linguistic Insights

The word "kingdom" used here is the Greek word basileia (βασιλεία), which signifies not just a geographical territory, but a reign, a dominion, or a sovereignty. The thief's request to be "remembered" when Jesus comes into His basileia shows a profound understanding that Jesus' rule transcended His earthly crucifixion and would extend into an eternal, spiritual realm.

Practical Application

Luke 23:42 offers immense hope and comfort to believers today:

  1. Never Too Late for Salvation: This passage assures us that it is never too late to turn to Jesus in faith, regardless of one's past life or present circumstances.
  2. Simplicity of Faith: Salvation is not complicated; it requires a sincere heart that recognizes Jesus as Lord and King.
  3. Assurance of God's Grace: God's grace is freely given to those who humble themselves and call upon Him, even in their final moments.

The penitent thief's words serve as a powerful testament to the accessibility of salvation and the immediate, unconditional grace of God through Jesus Christ.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
The Trial of Jesus Before Pontius Pilate The Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday) Roman Rule in the Time of Jesus Joseph of Arimathea: The Secret Disciple Who Buried Jesus Pontius Pilate: The Man Who Washed His Hands of Jesus

Cross-References

  • Romans 10:9

    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

  • Romans 10:14

    How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

  • Acts 16:31

    And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

  • 1 John 5:11

    And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

  • 1 John 5:13

    These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:10

    Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:11

    And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
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