The Repentant Thief

Luke 23:42-43 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Many times, we read the account of the two thieves on the crosses on each side of Jesus and miss the point. One commentary on this passage states that one of the two thieves on the cross continued in unbelief right up until the time he died, but the second repented and believed unto salvation. The one assures us that no one need despair, since it is always possible to accept Christ at any time before death. The other warns us, on the other hand, that no one should presume. Long-continued rebellion against God is likely to become so fixed in one’s character that sincere repentance may become impossible.

Proverbs 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

The key point for us is that the repentant thief, beholding Christ and hearing the first of the seven so-called “words from the cross”, came to believe that Jesus truly was Lord and that He could, indeed, grant forgiveness and salvation. The penitent thief had no opportunity to be baptized, to change his lifestyle, or to do anything whatever except repent, believe on Christ, and confess his faith. And that was sufficient!  Both thieves would die that day, and the soul of the unrepentant thief would soon descend into Hades, there to await condemnation at the future judgment day. The other, because of his trust in Christ, would go with Him to paradise.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The commentator explains that the tragedy communicated here is that far too many people, assuring themselves that it is never too late, keep waiting until it becomes forever too late! The overwhelming majority of people who come to trust in Christ for salvation do so when they are young. Very few come to the Lord when they are old or about to die. Like the repentant thief, be a repentant Sinner that trusts in the Savior of the world as the blessed Redeemer and Lord of your life, having your whole life transformed by accepting the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life.