Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Could we guess the first words of Jesus on the cross? I think not. What would we say? Maybe we’d say, “I don’t deserve this!” “Just you wait until judgment day!” “Why me???”
Such things are not at all what we hear from the lips of Jesus. We listen and hear Jesus say, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” What we hear is “utterly unexpected and utterly undeserved” (A. Ross in New Bible Dictionary, s.v. “The Seven Words”). Had Jesus not said “Love your enemies”? Now he personifies his teaching at the most remarkable, unexpected and difficult moment.
This is one of history’s shortest prayers; surely history’s most memorable, as it still echoes today. This sentence is also one of the world’s shortest but most profound sermons.
Do you/I hold a grudge against anyone? Let us be a forgiving people. Hold no grudges. Be careful not to offend others. Forgive—even before being asked.
耶穌基督被訂十字架時，說了七句話。一個人臨終遺言通常很重要；耶穌基督也不例外。耶穌在十字架上的第一句話是什麼呢？我們能不能猜呢？我想你我都猜不到。