Sermon Seeds on the Seven Words

by

Walter J. Mayers and Others

Copyright 1972 by Baker Book House Company. Database © 2011 WORD search Corp.

THE FIRST WORD

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.—Luke 23:34

THE PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS

“And Jesus said: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.…”—Luke 23:34

How truly noble Jesus here appears! How truly Divine! When men arc dying they pray for personal forgiveness, but the Son of Man has no need of this and is absorbed in prayer for others—even His crucifiers. May we examine this sublime yet simple prayer? Yes, but it must be with great reverence. It will teach us, if we drink of its spirit, how to suffer, pray, forgive, and die. As we listen to this prayer, we are reminded of—

I. MAN’S GREAT SIN

A. At the cross all sin seems focussed.

Those who gathered there were typical sinners—soldiers, acting under others; the populace wrongly influenced; the ruling class, using their power against Christ; the priests, the very ringleaders in this great wrong. All were sinning against God, by trying to rid themselves of Christ.

In this they acted—

1. Hastily

2. With prejudice and passion

3. Unjustly

4. Harshly These are the characteristics of all sin.

B. Their ignorance was no excuse.

It made the sin worse, for they were blinded by pride and self-will. “We must account at the day of judgment [says Matthew Henry], not only for the knowledge we had and used not, but for the knowledge we might have had, and would not.”

C. What need, then had they for forgiveness?

A need unseen, unfelt, and as yet, unknown; but nonetheless great and real. Their need, then, is akin to ours now.

II. GOD’S GREAT PREROGATIVE

A. He only can forgive against whom the sin is committed.

What erroneous ideas are often entertained concerning God’s attitude towards sinners. Yet the Scriptures assure us:

1. He is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9)

2. He is just to forgive (1 John 1:9)

3. He is ready to forgive (Ps. 86:5)

4. He is even eager to forgive (Isa. 1:18; 55:7)

Christ’s prayer stamps all this on our hearts, for He would not have prayed for an impossibility. If there is one thing more certain than another about God, it is that He is not vindictive, harsh, and hard to move. On the contrary, He is good, gracious, and generous.

B. The prerogative of forgiveness is not often exercised by an earthly monarch.

God has made provision to exercise it constantly and safely. Sometimes on the accession of a king, forgiveness is granted to a certain number of prisoners. It was from His cross-throne that the dying, yet living, lips of Jesus emphasized in His prayer-proclamation the royal prerogative of forgiveness.

C. God’s forgiveness is complete and conditional.

It is followed by momentous consequences.