In his recent Judas article, Ray mentioned another spurious passage, Luke 23:34--
Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
This is one of those passages that sounds like something Jesus might say (knowing what we know about the plan of God), so I don't think it's that big a deal to me. Just curious if anyone knows why he included this in the article...
Hello Extol,
Are you referring to the article
"Was it better for Judas had he not been born"? Oh that Christians would believe the Word of God.
Is it possible for Jesus to forgive Judas? Possible? He already has forgiven Judas for his sins! Need proof?
Listen carefully: Were those who spit in the face of Jesus; punched Him in the mouth; beat Him within an inch of His life; nailed Him to a rugged cross; and pierced Him with a spear; somehow guilty of a LESSER crime than that of Judas giving Jesus a KISS ON THE CHECK?! Give me a break. How do intelligent theologians come up with such utter nonsense. What did Jesus say regarding all those involved in His condemnation, torture, and death? Let's read it:
"Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
FORGIVE THEM! Who are the "them?" Don't you think it includes "all of them?" Who are the "all of them" responsible in one way or another for the crucifixion of our LORD? Certainly it involved all those who took part in any aspect of His real crucifixion, and that would include not only those who nailed Him to the cross, but those who beat Him; and those who mocked Him; and those priests who falsely condemned Him. Is not Judas also included in all of "them?"
Who else? What about the Pharisees of whom Jesus said: "...Ye seek to KILL Me...." (John 8:37)? What about all those who assembled together the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, the people, the high priest, the deputies, the high council, and all those who "Consulted that they might take Jesus by subtility, and KILL Him" (Matt. 26:4)? There were multitudes besides Judas.
What about all those Jews that said, "His blood be on us and on our children" (Matt. 27:25)? What about all those Jesus included when we read that "He [Jesus] would not walk in Judea, because the JEWS sought to kill Him" (John 7:1)? What about the entire nation of Israel? Were they included in the crucifixion of Jesus? Answer: "...let it be known to you all and to the entire people of Israel in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, Whom YOU [the entire nation] CRUCIFY" (Acts 4:10)? What about all the Gentiles? Are we guilty as well as the Jews? Did not Paul say that the sins of the Gentiles were also covered by His crucifixion:
"For I delivered unto you [you Gentile Corinthians & other Gentiles -- see Phil. 3:3] first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures" (I Cor. 15:3). The truth is that Jesus was put to the cross by the sins of the whole world. We are all responsible. But what is Jesus' response to all these sins? "Forgive them." In God's heart and mind, we are already forgiven:
"God Who quickens the dead, and calls those things which are not as though they were" (Rom . 4:17).
The forgiveness of the whole world is not as yet a fact, BUT IT WILL BE. When?
"WHEN Thy Judgments are in the earth, [then] the inhabitants of THE WHOLE WORLD will learn righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9).
God has prophesied the outcome of the human race, and that outcome is that there shall be no more pain, death, sorrow or curse (Rev. 21), and that God will be "ALL in all" (I Cor. 15:28).
Yes, Judas did a evil and cowardly thing, but it was written and prophesied, and therefore someone had to do it. But let's not think that Judas will be forever doomed to a hellish torture. He will not. Judas repented and therefore is qualified for salvation:
"But this Man [Jesus], because He continues forever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:24-25).
The whole human race has this promise.
It is not spurious passages. What my understanding is that Judas and all of us are included in Jesus saying that "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".