Luke 23:42Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, I refer to Him as King because I witness Him crucified upon the cross, for it is the role of a king to give His life for His people. He stated, “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11), and likewise, a good king sacrifices his life for those he leads. Therefore, for laying down His life, I elevate Him as King. “Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!” Do you grasp how the cross embodies the kingdom of heaven? Would you like to explore further evidence of this? Christ did not leave it behind on earth, but ascended with it to heaven. How is this evident? It is revealed that He will return with it at His glorious second coming. This underscores the honor bestowed upon the cross, which He also deemed as glory. Let us delve into how He will return with the cross. A demonstration of this is needed. “If they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; ‘Look, He is in the inner chambers,’ do not believe it” (Matt. 24:26). This statement refers to His second glorious coming in light of false Christs, prophets, and Antichrists, so that no one straying should be trapped by them. Since the Antichrist will appear before Christ, to prevent seekers of a shepherd from being ensnared by the wolf, I highlight the signs of the shepherd’s arrival. As His first coming was obscure, do not think the second will mirror it; He provided this sign. It would be fitting for that coming to be hidden because He came to seek the lost, but it will not be so. How, you ask? “For as lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:27). He will manifest to all simultaneously; no one will need to inquire, “Is Christ here, or is He over there?” Just as we do not ask if lightning has indeed struck, when the arrival of Christ occurs, we will not need to wonder whether He has come. Yet the question remains, Will He come bearing the cross? We have not overlooked the promise—listen now. Then—when the Son of man returns—“the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light” (Matthew 24:29). The abundance of light at that moment will render even the brightest stars invisible. “Then the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven” (Matt. 24:29, 30). Do you perceive the immense power of the cross as a sign? The sun darkens, the moon fades, but the cross shines brighter, so you come to know that it surpasses both. Just as, when a king enters a city, soldiers carry banners on their shoulders to announce his arrival, so too, when the Lord descends from heaven, angelic hosts will precede Him, showcasing the sign of the cross and announcing His royal arrival. “Then the powers of heaven will be shaken” (Matt. 24:29) refers to the angels, who will tremble with great fear. Why, you may ask? The fearsome nature of that judgment necessitates the assessment of all creation before the awe-inspiring Judge. But why do the angels tremble? Are they to be judged? Just as in human courts, the innocent near the guilty feel trepidation before the judge, so too will the angels quake, despite their innocence, confronted with the overwhelming majesty of the Judge. For what reason will the cross come forth then, and why will the Savior approach with it? To remind those who crucified Him of their own ingratitude—thus He presents them the very symbol of their disgrace. And the prophet proclaims, “and they shall weep for Him,” upon seeing the One whom they accused, becoming aware of their sin. Why do you find it surprising that He arrives with the cross when He will reveal His very wounds? “They shall look upon Him whom they have pierced” (Zech. 12:10). Just as He revealed His scars to Thomas to dispel his doubt, exclaiming, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side ... for a spirit has not flesh and bones” (John 20:27; Luke 24:39), so too will He manifest His wounds and the cross, confirming that He is indeed the crucified one.

As a contrast, Adam was expelled from paradise by the devil, while Christ welcomed the robber in. Observe the disparity: the former cast out a man guilty solely of disobedience, yet the latter ushered a thief, laden with countless sins, into paradise. Is it not more remarkable that He received the robber, and that He did so first before the apostles? This serves as assurance that no one should ever doubt the possibility of entrance into paradise or despair over salvation—witnesses of one who committed numerous transgressions now dwelling in royal halls. Yet consider: did the robber not display evidence of toil, achievements, or fruits? In truth, he demonstrated none; one word of faith sufficed to grant him entrance into paradise before the apostles, revealing that it was not his own merit that mattered, but rather the grace of God that facilitated all. What did the robber declare? Did he fast? Did he weep? Did he show brokenness? Certainly not; he attained salvation on the cross itself, following his simple declaration: “Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!” What do these words signify? He sought blessings without worthy deeds; yet the One who perceived his heart heeded not the words, but recognized the sincerity of his soul. Those who utilized the teachings of the prophets, who witnessed miracles, accused Christ saying He “has a demon” and “deceives the people” (John 7:12, 20); yet the robber, who had not heard the prophets or seen the miracles, saw the crucified One and paid no attention to the mockery surrounding Him. Rather, he penetrated to the divine essence and declared, “Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!” This is indeed extraordinary and marvelous! You witness the cross and associate it with the kingdom? What do you perceive that signifies the kingdom? A man crucified, silenced, mocked, scorned, vilified, spat upon, scourged. Is this fitting for the kingdom, you ask? Understand that he perceived through the lens of faith and judged not by the evidence of appearances! Hence, God also recognized these words as genuine; just as the robber discerned the divine, God discerned the robber’s heart and affirmed: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Let us rush toward the tree of life, the tree of the cross, which bears the fruits of righteousness, which attains perfection through virginity, which yields holiness and diverse gifts, thus granting manifold blessings to humanity. This tree alone, in its simple form, has brought forth splendid salvation—not merely as the Savior symbolically foretold, but as the faithful robber clearly experienced. Indeed, just as Adam was cast out of Paradise because of a tree, “Thou art righteous, O Lord, and just are Thy judgments” (Ps. 118:137)—for a single sin Adam is expelled, so for one sincere confession the robber is welcomed into Paradise. Alongside the lawless One, you ascend the cross and save the lawless. The robber exclaimed to Him, “Remember me, O Lord, when You come into Your kingdom!” Truly, this robber did not cease from his wrongdoings until finally, alongside the others, he inherited the very kingdom of heaven. When he observed that those nearby were unresponsive to his entreaties, he turned directly to the Lord’s Heart, proclaiming, “Remember me, O Lord, when You come into Your kingdom.” When you confess this crucified man as your Lord, honoring the condemned one with the title of king, what marvel would it be, brethren, if Paul—after a series of momentous events, tremendous miracles—declared, “If they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor. 2:8)? Paul states this in light of miraculous deeds, signs, and countless demonstrations of power, following the resurrection and ascension. Yet the robber, witnessing such utter humiliation, beholding the agony of the cross, addresses the crucified one as Lord, pleading, “Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!” What merits did you present to earn remembrance? Quite the opposite; what did you do that warranted punishment? Have you not committed murder? Have you not stolen? Encompassed by numerous offenses, do you desire the truth to recall your unrighteousness? “Righteous are You, O Lord, and just are Thy judgments” (Psalm 118:137)! Render to me as per Thy righteousness. I perceive Your visible humiliation, the reproach of the lawless, yet I fix my gaze not on this visible disgrace, but rather on the concealed kingdom revealed within it. I disregard what is seen; let not You focus on my visible transgressions, but may You acknowledge the faith of my heart. “Remember me, O Lord!” O great act of justice! Remember me in Thy kingdom! Is it not just that one deemed a traitor among Thy disciples by the devil should find an evangelist in one of the devil's followers? Can it not be that the disciple of unrighteousness can embrace the truth? Are You not the One who transforms darkness into light, and wrong into right? Make the robber an evangelist; overcome corruption with righteousness; extinguish wickedness with truth; and glorify Thy humanity. To You be glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.

The uncircumcised acknowledged Christ as the King of the Jews—not their own ruler—while the Jewish people recognized Caesar as their sovereign. Those who perceived a temporary dominion faded away with it, yet those who acknowledged the True King, as promised in that dominion, entered into a realm of consolation. The recognition of Caesar, whom they called king, led to the destruction of their city; conversely, the Gentiles who acknowledged the kingdom of the Lord inherited resurrection and life eternal. “If Thou art the Christ, save Thyself and us.” The Lord chose not to descend from the Cross at this request, for He intended to elevate the one who believed in Him from his position beside the Cross; after all, it is easy to win over followers through miraculous deeds. However, a greater act took place: it was the truth of the Lord that turned the skeptic into a worshiper. Thus, the apostle asserts, “the weakness of God is stronger than men” (cf. 1 Cor. 1:25). Through the apparent weakness of the Cross, the Lord has subdued all nations. Extend your strength toward the Cross, so that the strength of the Crucified may extend to you. For anyone who does not reach out their hands to His Cross will not be welcomed to His banquet; those who were invited but arrived satisfied will be excluded from His meal. Do not allow yourself to be filled, nor approach the Son's feast in this manner, lest you be ordered to leave the table unsatisfied. “Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.” With the eyes of faith, seeing the honor of the Lord in what appeared to be disgrace, and recognizing glory instead of humiliation, the robber said: “Remember me,” for despite the reality of the nails and the Cross, he had not forgotten His kingdom and the glory that will be revealed at the end of time, even though it is not yet fully known.

The prophecies have come to fruition.

What is the nature of the Crucified? “It is finished” (John 19:30), He declares. At this moment, the insightful thief grasps the profound truth, responding to this life-giving voice. Although he was nailed to the cross, with outstretched hands and feet, he utilized his free will to speak and plead: the faith in his heart called out as he addressed Him, “Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom.” To this plea, the Crucified replied, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

This is indeed a wondrous and grave mystery: from this moment, he who suffered on the cross will enter paradise without delay—Christ selects a thief to accompany Him in His triumph; one is welcomed into paradise, while the other is not. Why is this the case? Did not this wise thief anticipate paradise with the Lord of Paradise, being crucified beside the one on His right rather than the one on His left? Not at all; with his few words—“Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom”—he received far more than he asked, as Christ proclaimed, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” Clearly, paradise cannot be seized through the means of thievery, for predatory hands cannot grasp it.

Indeed, in the Crucified, the thief recognized the Divine without question, and for his declaration of faith, he was invited to paradise—not because he snatched it from the Lord. Therefore, let none be misled who views the Crucified merely as an ordinary, impoverished, and sinful man. If a pure mortal cannot bestow immortality upon another mortal, how can one who is fundamentally flawed and corrupted extend everlasting life to another equally flawed? Likewise, how can a mere man unlock paradise, which God barred to our first parents, placing a cherub with a flaming sword to guard its entrance (Gen. 3:24)?

Thus, how do you perceive Jesus Christ, who opens heaven, you who refuse to see, examining the incarnation of Immanuel through what some have termed a Jewish lens? If you see Christ merely as the finest of men, then this very Christ, whom you regard solely as a crucified human, somehow opens paradise and surpasses God Himself, who closed it—one and the same, yet presenting an apparent contradiction. Is this not a foolish fable, a false teaching deserving mockery—or even greater sadness? However, we declare the Crucified is true God incarnate, and we revere Him, the Lord who opened heaven.

The call of the Crucified holds deeper truths worthy of faith and undeniable evidence. This life-giving voice, which the thief heard, was also proclaimed to Lazarus by the same Crucified One prior to His own crucifixion, amidst the presence of the very Jews who sought His death, gnashing their teeth, exclaiming: “You, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33), while a great miracle occurred. Yet faith emerges, and the divine voice assures, saying to the dead man’s sister, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God” (John 11:40). Similarly, to the blind man He questioned, “Do you believe in the Son of God? It is He who speaks with you” (John 9:35, 37). Like our wise thief, the blind man worshipped Him, proclaiming, “I believe, Lord.” In this confession, the blind man attained not only physical sight but also recognized the Light Bearer—God from God, the Word. Such is the fruit of the proclamation that puts forth our true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I urge you all, beloved followers of Christ, to emulate the faith of the crucified thief at His right hand, uniting your voice with his and condemning the other thief for his disbelief. That thief, having turned away from the voice of Christ, has lost the blissful opportunity to reside at the right hand of these two, relegated to the rear. Consider now the tragic nature of unbelief! The actions of the two thieves stand before you, relayed in the sacred texts, which through their undeniable testimonies, inspire you with steadfast faith that the Crucified One is indeed God and the Son of God. To Him be the glory.

This illustrates a profound truth: prior to awakening from complacency, the mind is aligned with malevolent forces. Yet, when our Lord Jesus Christ revives it from its negligence, granting it clarity and insight, it can rise to the cross; at that moment, the powers of evil begin to cast aspersions, hoping that the mind, weakened by this onslaught, will relinquish its efforts and revert to its former state of negligence. Thus, we understand the story of the two criminals whom our Lord Jesus Christ separated. One blasphemed against Him, attempting to sway Him from His mission, while the other persisted in his pleas until he received the promise: “Today with Me you shall be in paradise” (Luke 23:43). This man was a thief of paradise, yet now he partakes of the fruit from the tree of life.

According to this divine truth, one cannot approach Jesus Christ without both personal desire and heavenly assistance. Thus, when an individual turns to Jesus Christ, it is by both their own yearning and the divine power at work within them. The repentant thief sought salvation for his soul through genuine repentance, and the heavenly Father drew him to the Savior of the world. His sincere acknowledgment of his sins cultivated within him a profound awareness of grace, allowing him to see in Jesus the Son of God and the Savior. This is the pathway to understanding the profound mysteries of faith and to maturing the soul. What does the penitent seek from the Lord? He does not plead for liberation from the cross, nor relief from his agony, nor acceptance into the kingdom of the Messiah. He regards his execution as just, desiring to endure it to the end as a restitution for life, believing himself unworthy of anything greater. He requests a single favor from the Lord—to be remembered in the hour of His glory. “Remember me, O Lord,” he implores, “when Thou comest in Thy kingdom.” He asks to be remembered, a lowly sinner, at the moment when You reveal the greatness of Thy reign: I trust that You are the Son of God and the Messiah, the Lord of all; do not cast aside my feeble faith, just as You have not rejected other sinners. Your remembrance of me, a sinner, will be an immense mercy, for it will demonstrate that You do not despise the sinner nor turn away in wrath, but graciously accept him despite his transgressions. Thus, the thief approached the Lord with faith.

In His mercy, He transforms even the hardest heart, making it receptive to grace and deeming it worthy of the grand promise: "Thou shalt be with Me in Paradise to-day."

How could this be, O Jesus? The cherubim wielding fiery swords guard the gates of Paradise, preventing entry, yet You pledge to admit the thief! Indeed! I am the Lord of the Cherubim, and even hell with its flames yields to My authority. Yet, what earthly ruler, upon entering his city, would allow a criminal to accompany him or permit a subject to share in his triumph? Nevertheless, our glorious King does just that; He brings a man, once a wrongdoer but now cleansed, into His realm, a man whose presence enriches rather than taints the sanctity of Heaven. The grandeur of the heavenly kingdom lies in having a King who is both powerful and benevolent, capable of inviting even the wicked into the pure delights of paradise.

Throughout His ministry, when He summoned tax collectors and sinners to His royal abode, He demonstrated His ability to transform and sanctify them, making them deserving of the highest honors and rewards—much like a physician whose brilliance is showcased when he successfully treats afflictions deemed incurable. What remarkable act warranted this thief such unique grace from the Savior and facilitated his rapid transition from crucifixion to the joys of paradise? One word encapsulates this profound mystery and exceptional act of mercy: humble confession. The thief admits his guilt and his deserving of death while also boldly declaring the innocence and divinity of the Supreme King, wrongfully condemned by the crowd: "We are condemned justly, for we are receiving the due reward for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

Through this confession, all legal obligations are satisfied, for as foretold by the prophet, forgiveness of sins is granted: "Thou shalt speak thy iniquities before, that thou mayest be justified" (Isaiah 43:26). It is not merely a single sin that implicates him, but rather his entire life. Only after genuinely acknowledging his wrongdoings and openly expressing his faith in Jesus Christ does he feel emboldened to utter the plea, "Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." From this, let us understand the fruits of confession; let us remember not to lose hope in ourselves, but to consider the boundless mercy of our God, and earnestly pursue the transformation of our lives.

This confession exceeds what even the closest disciples of the Savior could grasp at that time, as they struggled to comprehend the notion of a suffering Messiah. If we accept that he had previously encountered the Lord and listened to His teachings; that despite his criminal actions, he retained a sense of morality and spirituality; that he had closely observed Christ in His final hours, drawn in by His moral splendor; and that the proximity of His death inspired profound thoughts, we still find ourselves unable to fully unravel the profound mystery behind his remarkable faith. This leads us to recognize the special grace of God, which illuminated his understanding and serves as a lesson for all generations and nations, demonstrating that God chooses the foolish to confound the wise, and the weak to bring to naught the strong. He uses the insignificant, the humble, and the things deemed worthless to dismantle the powerful, ensuring that no flesh may boast before Him (1 Cor. 1:27-29).

The depth of his repentance is evident in that, prior to pleading, "Remember me, Lord," he recognized his deserving of execution for his actions and sought to rouse his fellow criminal, who had scorned Jesus, to fear God and feel remorse. The profound faith of the wise thief in Jesus Christ and his hopeful longing for Him is illustrated by his declaration of such faith and hope while witnessing Jesus crucified beside him, in a state of humiliation and disgrace, surrounded by mockery and derision, with all but His mother and beloved disciple having forsaken Him. The challenge for the thief to regard the one crucified alongside him as the Almighty Lord, King of all creation, and Savior of sinners was monumental; thus, the greatness and wonder of his faith and hope are even more remarkable under such dire circumstances.