Luke the beloved physician wrote when Jesus was hanging on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If you be the king of the Jews, save yourself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If you be the Christ, save yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation?”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse forty-one of his book Luke shared how the second “malefactor” said, “this man has done nothing amiss” where we read:
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:
but this man has done nothing amiss.
The verse reads, “And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:” Luke began with the words, “And we indeed justly” or “and we, two criminals, even so and also agreeably, properly, uprightly and equitably deserve our sentence” ;“for we receive” which means “because, since and on account that we, criminals, take aside what is promise” “the due reward” or “the befitting, congruous and corresponding debt, tribute and execution” “of our deeds” which means pertaining to our, the two criminals, undertakings and acts”. Luke shared how the second criminal admitted that he and the other “malefactor” deserved the punishment they were receiving because of their “acts and undertakings”.
The verse continues, “... but this man has done nothing amiss.” Luke added the words “but this man” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover this male human being” “has done nothing amiss” or “has performed not one thing wrong, out of place, wicked, unrighteous, improper and harmful”. Luke shared how the second criminal declared that Jesus was innocent because He did nothing wrong.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how this second criminal admitted that he and the other malefactor deserved the punishment they were receiving. Jesus, however, was innocent, and though He was being crucified, He did nothing wrong to deserve it. This was indeed the “innocent” dying for the guilty, and every person in the world is guilty of sin. (“all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” - See Romans 3:23). Every person who believes and trusts in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and inherit everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words understand, know and believe in God's Son Jesus who died so they may live forever with Him.
Next time Luke shares how the second malefactor says to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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