KJV Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted His raiment, and cast lots.”

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.

Books have been written and sermons delivered on the seven utterances of the Saviour from the cross. So it is unlikely that anything unique will come from considering these words. There should, however, be freshness and worship resulting as we consider together the wonder of His words while impaled on the Roman cross.

The first words that came from His lips (and His heart) were for forgiveness. In priestly character, He is seen interceding. Luke, by his wording, suggests that it was immediately upon being uplifted that He uttered these words. The immediate flood of pain from the fact of being suspended by the nails and enduring the eastern sun did not drown the deep concern of His heart.

But the question remains: for whom was He praying? Many assume that it was for the four soldiers involved in nailing Him to the tree and then dividing His raiment. Others feel He was praying for the nation, looking forward to a coming day when a restored nation will enjoy the blessings of a new covenant, based on His work at the cross.

A small minority, the writer included, view it in a different manner. “They know not what they do” would reduce the crime from first-degree murder to manslaughter. Recall that in the Old Testament, God instructed Moses to create strategically located cities that became known as the Cities of Refuge. These were located throughout the land, on both sides of Jordan, so that a man who accidentally or ignorantly killed another man could find refuge and safety from the “avenger of blood.” The key characteristic is that it had to be in ignorance without forethought or malice.

Listen now to Peter as he preached at the Temple after the healing of the lame man:” And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers” (Acts 3:17). At the cross, the Lord Jesus had opened the “city of refuge,” Himself, for the nation who had crucified Him. Peter emphasized that it was through ignorance that they had put Him to death and flung open wide the gate of the “city” for their refuge: “Repent therefore and be converted …” (Acts 3:19).

This first cry from the cross reveals to us the concern of the Lord for the nation. There was no thought about Himself, His pain (very real and literal) or His humiliation. He was looking not only at the nation gathered around the cross, but also down the long corridor of time, thinking of the nation’s salvation and God’s grace meeting them in their need. The foulest crime, the greatest injustice ever perpetrated, and the clearest display of man’s blindness and sin was met by the greatest display of mercy ever seen. “Ye killed the Prince of Life” was answered by the Princely request of the Saviour from the cross. Israel was made eligible for the city of refuge that He was providing at that very moment.

And while we may well marvel at the boundless grace and mercy revealed in His words, we see ourselves represented at the cross and rejoice in His heart that was revealing His love for us as well.