Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34) for the very people nailing him to the cross. It is the first of his seven last sayings. The prayer shows God’s mercy toward enemies, fulfills Isaiah 53:12, where the Servant pleads for sinners, and gives Christians the pattern for forgiving those who wrong them.
Key Takeaways
- Jesus asked God to pardon the soldiers and leaders even as they crucified him.
- This prayer fulfills Isaiah 53:12, where the Servant intercedes for rebels.
- Their ignorance of who Jesus was did not make them innocent.
- Forgiveness is offered to all but received through repentance and faith.
- Followers of Jesus are called to forgive those who hurt them and to pray for them.
The Setting
Luke 23:33 tells us that at the place called The Skull they crucified him, between two criminals, one on each side. At that moment, as soldiers drove in the nails and others prepared to gamble for his clothes, Jesus spoke. Luke records it simply: “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments” (Luke 23:34, ESV).
This is the opening saying of those Christians call the seven last words of Jesus. This post focuses on this one prayer. For all seven, see our study on the seven last words of Jesus.
Who Was Jesus Praying For?
Luke doesn’t say exactly who them refers to. Around the cross were the Roman soldiers carrying out orders, the religious leaders who had pushed for his death, and the crowd that mocked him. The most natural reading includes all who took part. And in a wider sense, the prayer reaches everyone whose sin made the cross necessary, including us.
What Does They Know Not What They Do Mean?
Jesus wasn’t saying they were innocent. They knew they were executing a man. What they didn’t grasp was who he was. Peter later told the crowds in Jerusalem that they and their rulers had acted in ignorance (Acts 3:17). Yet in the same sermon he called them to repent and turn back so their sins could be wiped away (Acts 3:19). Ignorance didn’t remove guilt; it made room for mercy.
Was Everyone at the Cross Forgiven?
Jesus’ prayer wasn’t a blanket declaration that everyone present was pardoned regardless of their response. Throughout Luke, forgiveness comes through repentance and faith (Luke 24:47). The prayer shows that God was willing to forgive even the worst of sins, and it began to be answered almost immediately: a Roman centurion praised God (Luke 23:47), a crucified criminal was promised paradise (23:43), and weeks later about three thousand people in Jerusalem were baptized (Acts 2:41).
For more verse-by-verse teaching like this, browse our Bible studies on the Gospels.
Why the Prayer Matters
It fulfills Scripture
Isaiah foresaw the suffering Servant who would carry the sins of many people and plead for the rebellious (Isaiah 53:12). At the cross, Jesus did both at once: he bore sin and prayed for sinners. Today he still lives forever to intercede for his people (Hebrews 7:25).
It shows the heart of God
Most crucified men cursed their executioners. Jesus prayed for his. Peter, who saw it, wrote that Jesus didn’t return insults or make threats while he suffered, but kept entrusting himself to the God who judges fairly (1 Peter 2:23). The cross isn’t God grudgingly allowing forgiveness. It’s God pursuing it.
It practices what Jesus preached
Jesus had taught his followers to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors (Matthew 5:44). On the cross he did exactly that, in the most extreme situation imaginable.
It shaped the early church
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, echoed his Lord as he was stoned, asking God not to hold this sin against his killers (Acts 7:60). Jesus’ prayer became a model for his followers.
A Note on the Manuscripts
Some early manuscripts of Luke don’t include this prayer, and the ESV notes this in a footnote. Many scholars still consider it original, since it fits Luke’s themes of ignorance and forgiveness, and it’s echoed in Stephen’s prayer in Acts. Either way, it agrees with everything Scripture teaches about Jesus’ mercy.
What It Means for Us
You can be forgiven. If Jesus prayed for those driving in the nails, no sin puts you beyond his mercy. Turn to him and receive it.
You are called to forgive. Forgiven people forgive. Paul says to forgive one another just as God forgave us in Christ (Ephesians 4:32). Jesus made the same point in the parable of the unforgiving servant.
You can pray for those who hurt you. Start where Jesus started: bring the person to God. Prayer often softens our hearts before anything else changes.
You can leave justice with God. Forgiving doesn’t mean pretending wrong is right. Like Jesus, we entrust ourselves to the God who judges justly. See also our God’s forgiveness devotional and Bible verses about forgiveness.
Reflection Questions
- What strikes you most about when Jesus prayed this prayer?
- How does they know not what they do describe people who hurt you?
- Whom do you need to bring to God in prayer this week?
- How does Jesus’ forgiveness of you shape your forgiveness of others?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Father, forgive them” mean?
It’s Jesus’ prayer from the cross asking God to pardon those crucifying him (Luke 23:34). It reveals God’s merciful heart, fulfills Isaiah 53:12, and shows that forgiveness is available even for the worst sin.
Who was Jesus forgiving in Luke 23:34?
Most likely everyone involved in his crucifixion: the soldiers, the leaders, and the crowd. In a broader sense, the prayer extends to all sinners whose sins Jesus bore on the cross.
Did “Father, forgive them” mean everyone was automatically forgiven?
No. The prayer shows God’s willingness to forgive, but forgiveness is received through repentance and faith. Peter later urged the same crowd to repent and turn back so their sins could be wiped away (Acts 3:19).
Is “Father, forgive them” in every Bible manuscript?
No. Some early manuscripts of Luke omit it, and the ESV includes a footnote. Many scholars still regard it as original to Luke, and its message matches Jesus’ teaching and Stephen’s prayer in Acts 7:60.
Which of the seven last words is “Father, forgive them”?
It’s traditionally counted as the first of Jesus’ seven sayings from the cross, spoken as he was being crucified. See our seven last words of Jesus study for all seven.
A Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for praying for those who hated you, and for me. I receive your forgiveness with gratitude. Give me grace to forgive those who’ve wronged me, to pray for them, and to trust the Father who judges justly. Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.