{"id":45139,"date":"2020-11-29T22:45:49","date_gmt":"2020-11-29T19:45:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45139"},"modified":"2025-05-09T14:20:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T11:20:14","slug":"was-it-one-or-both-of-the-criminals-who-mocked-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/11\/29\/was-it-one-or-both-of-the-criminals-who-mocked-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"Was it one or both of the criminals who mocked Jesus?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In <\/span>Matthew <\/span>27:<\/span>44 <\/span>and <\/span>Mark <\/span>15:<\/span>32, <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>told <\/span>that <\/span>both <\/span>criminals <\/span>who <\/span>were <\/span>crucified <\/span>with <\/span>Jesus <\/span>mocked <\/span>Him. <\/span>However, <\/span>in <\/span>Luke <\/span>23:<\/span>39, <\/span>it <\/span>states <\/span>that <\/span>only <\/span>one <\/span>criminal <\/span>mocked <\/span>Him, <\/span>which <\/span>seems <\/span>to <\/span>present <\/span>a <\/span>contradiction. <\/span>Why <\/span>is <\/span>this <\/span>so? <\/span>Let\u2019s <\/span>carefully <\/span>examine <\/span>these <\/span>passages:<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Bible <\/span>Passages:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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    Matthew <\/span>27:<\/span>44 (<\/span>NIV):<\/span><\/strong> “<\/span>In <\/span>the <\/span>same <\/span>way <\/span>the <\/span>rebels <\/span>who <\/span>were <\/span>crucified <\/span>with <\/span>him <\/span>also <\/span>heaped <\/span>insults <\/span>on <\/span>him.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Mark <\/span>15:<\/span>32 (<\/span>NIV):<\/span><\/strong> “<\/span>Let <\/span>this <\/span>Messiah, <\/span>the <\/span>King <\/span>of <\/span>Israel, <\/span>come <\/span>down <\/span>now <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>cross, <\/span>that <\/span>we <\/span>may <\/span>see <\/span>and <\/span>believe.” <\/span>Those <\/span>crucified <\/span>with <\/span>him <\/span>also <\/span>heaped <\/span>insults <\/span>on <\/span>him.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Luke <\/span>23:<\/span>39-<\/span>43 (<\/span>NIV):<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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      “<\/span>One <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>criminals <\/span>who <\/span>hung <\/span>there <\/span>hurled <\/span>insults <\/span>at <\/span>him: ‘<\/span>Aren\u2019t <\/span>you <\/span>the <\/span>Messiah? <\/span>Save <\/span>yourself <\/span>and <\/span>us!'”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      “<\/span>But <\/span>the <\/span>other <\/span>criminal <\/span>rebuked <\/span>him. ‘<\/span>Don\u2019t <\/span>you <\/span>fear <\/span>God,’ <\/span>he <\/span>said, ‘<\/span>since <\/span>you <\/span>are <\/span>under <\/span>the <\/span>same <\/span>sentence? <\/span>We <\/span>are <\/span>punished <\/span>justly, <\/span>for <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>getting <\/span>what <\/span>our <\/span>deeds <\/span>deserve. <\/span>But <\/span>this <\/span>man <\/span>has <\/span>done <\/span>nothing <\/span>wrong.'”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Then <\/span>he <\/span>said, ‘<\/span>Jesus, <\/span>remember <\/span>me <\/span>when <\/span>you <\/span>come <\/span>into <\/span>your <\/span>kingdom.'”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Jesus <\/span>answered <\/span>him, ‘<\/span>Truly <\/span>I <\/span>tell <\/span>you, <\/span>today <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>with <\/span>me <\/span>in <\/span>paradise.'”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Understanding <\/span>the <\/span>Difference:<\/span><\/h3>\n

      At <\/span>first <\/span>glance, <\/span>these <\/span>passages <\/span>seem <\/span>contradictory. <\/span>However, <\/span>they <\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>harmonized <\/span>when <\/span>we <\/span>understand <\/span>the <\/span>different <\/span>perspectives <\/span>each <\/span>Gospel <\/span>presents. <\/span>Matthew <\/span>and <\/span>Mark <\/span>both <\/span>state <\/span>that <\/span>both <\/span>criminals <\/span>mocked <\/span>Jesus<\/span><\/strong> during <\/span>the <\/span>crucifixion. <\/span>This <\/span>is <\/span>likely <\/span>a <\/span>reflection <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>initial <\/span>reactions <\/span>of <\/span>both <\/span>criminals <\/span>before <\/span>any <\/span>change <\/span>took <\/span>place <\/span>in <\/span>their <\/span>hearts.<\/span><\/p>\n

      In <\/span>contrast, <\/span>Luke\u2019s <\/span>account<\/span><\/strong> tells <\/span>us <\/span>that <\/span>one <\/span>criminal <\/span>mocked <\/span>Jesus<\/span><\/strong> while <\/span>the <\/span>other <\/span>rebuked <\/span>him <\/span>and <\/span>asked <\/span>for <\/span>forgiveness. <\/span>The <\/span>one <\/span>who <\/span>mocked <\/span>Jesus <\/span>said, “<\/span>Aren\u2019t <\/span>you <\/span>the <\/span>Messiah? <\/span>Save <\/span>yourself <\/span>and <\/span>us!” (<\/span>Luke <\/span>23:<\/span>39). <\/span>But <\/span>the <\/span>other <\/span>criminal, <\/span>who <\/span>had <\/span>a <\/span>change <\/span>of <\/span>heart, <\/span>rebuked <\/span>his <\/span>fellow <\/span>criminal, <\/span>acknowledging <\/span>their <\/span>guilt <\/span>and <\/span>defending <\/span>Jesus\u2019 <\/span>innocence. <\/span>He <\/span>then <\/span>asked <\/span>Jesus, “<\/span>Jesus, <\/span>remember <\/span>me <\/span>when <\/span>you <\/span>come <\/span>into <\/span>your <\/span>kingdom” (<\/span>Luke <\/span>23:<\/span>42).<\/span><\/p>\n

      Key <\/span>Points <\/span>of <\/span>Resolution:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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        Initial <\/span>Mockery <\/span>from <\/span>Both <\/span>Criminals:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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          In <\/span>the <\/span>beginning, <\/span>both <\/span>criminals <\/span>may <\/span>have <\/span>mocked <\/span>Jesus. <\/span>This <\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>inferred <\/span>from <\/span>Matthew <\/span>and <\/span>Mark\u2019s <\/span>accounts. <\/span>Both <\/span>criminals <\/span>were <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>same <\/span>desperate <\/span>situation, <\/span>and <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>not <\/span>uncommon <\/span>for <\/span>people <\/span>in <\/span>severe <\/span>pain <\/span>to <\/span>lash <\/span>out, <\/span>even <\/span>at <\/span>innocent <\/span>individuals, <\/span>in <\/span>an <\/span>attempt <\/span>to <\/span>cope <\/span>with <\/span>their <\/span>suffering.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n

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          The <\/span>Change <\/span>of <\/span>Heart:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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            Theological <\/span>Insight:<\/span><\/strong> It\u2019s <\/span>crucial <\/span>to <\/span>note <\/span>that <\/span>even <\/span>in <\/span>this <\/span>moment <\/span>of <\/span>great <\/span>suffering, <\/span>one <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>criminals <\/span>underwent <\/span>a <\/span>significant <\/span>change <\/span>of <\/span>heart. <\/span>The <\/span>other <\/span>criminal <\/span>recognized <\/span>his <\/span>own <\/span>guilt, <\/span>acknowledged <\/span>Jesus’ <\/span>innocence, <\/span>and <\/span>called <\/span>out <\/span>for <\/span>mercy. <\/span>This <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>powerful <\/span>reminder <\/span>of <\/span>God’s <\/span>grace <\/span>and <\/span>patience, <\/span>even <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>most <\/span>dire <\/span>circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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            Luke\u2019s <\/span>portrayal<\/span><\/strong> shows <\/span>the <\/span>moment <\/span>of <\/span>transformation <\/span>in <\/span>one <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>criminals. <\/span>This <\/span>criminal, <\/span>after <\/span>mocking <\/span>Jesus <\/span>at <\/span>first, <\/span>experienced <\/span>a <\/span>change <\/span>after <\/span>observing <\/span>Jesus\u2019 <\/span>calm <\/span>demeanor <\/span>and <\/span>His <\/span>acts <\/span>of <\/span>compassion\u2014<\/span>such <\/span>as <\/span>praying <\/span>for <\/span>forgiveness <\/span>for <\/span>His <\/span>executioners (<\/span>Luke <\/span>23:<\/span>34). <\/span>He <\/span>realized <\/span>that <\/span>Jesus <\/span>was <\/span>not <\/span>just <\/span>another <\/span>criminal, <\/span>but <\/span>the <\/span>Messiah, <\/span>and <\/span>he <\/span>repented.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n

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            The <\/span>Role <\/span>of <\/span>Grace <\/span>and <\/span>Repentance:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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              Jesus\u2019 <\/span>response <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>repentant <\/span>criminal <\/span>in <\/span>Luke <\/span>23:<\/span>43 <\/span>is <\/span>significant: “<\/span>Truly <\/span>I <\/span>tell <\/span>you, <\/span>today <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>with <\/span>me <\/span>in <\/span>paradise.” <\/span>This <\/span>statement <\/span>emphasizes <\/span>the <\/span>power <\/span>of <\/span>repentance <\/span>and <\/span>faith, <\/span>even <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>final <\/span>moments <\/span>of <\/span>life. <\/span>The <\/span>criminal\u2019s <\/span>recognition <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus <\/span>as <\/span>the <\/span>Messiah <\/span>and <\/span>his <\/span>request <\/span>for <\/span>mercy <\/span>resulted <\/span>in <\/span>immediate <\/span>forgiveness, <\/span>demonstrating <\/span>the <\/span>boundless <\/span>grace <\/span>of <\/span>God.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n

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              The <\/span>Importance <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Time <\/span>of <\/span>Repentance:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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                The <\/span>story <\/span>of <\/span>these <\/span>two <\/span>criminals <\/span>highlights <\/span>the <\/span>fact <\/span>that <\/span>salvation <\/span>is <\/span>available <\/span>to <\/span>all, <\/span>but <\/span>there <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>limited <\/span>window<\/span><\/strong> of <\/span>opportunity <\/span>to <\/span>respond <\/span>to <\/span>God’s <\/span>call. <\/span>One <\/span>criminal <\/span>rejected <\/span>Jesus, <\/span>and <\/span>his <\/span>fate <\/span>was <\/span>sealed, <\/span>but <\/span>the <\/span>other, <\/span>though <\/span>a <\/span>sinner <\/span>like <\/span>the <\/span>rest <\/span>of <\/span>us, <\/span>experienced <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>mercy. <\/span>This <\/span>serves <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>stark <\/span>warning <\/span>about <\/span>the <\/span>fleeting <\/span>nature <\/span>of <\/span>time <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>urgent <\/span>need <\/span>to <\/span>repent <\/span>and <\/span>seek <\/span>salvation <\/span>while <\/span>we <\/span>still <\/span>have <\/span>the <\/span>chance.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Theological <\/span>Lessons:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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                  God\u2019s <\/span>Patience <\/span>and <\/span>Grace:<\/span><\/strong> The <\/span>story <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>two <\/span>criminals <\/span>demonstrates <\/span>that <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>grace <\/span>is <\/span>available <\/span>even <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>most <\/span>hopeless <\/span>circumstances. <\/span>One <\/span>criminal <\/span>rejected <\/span>it, <\/span>while <\/span>the <\/span>other <\/span>embraced <\/span>it, <\/span>showing <\/span>that <\/span>no <\/span>one <\/span>is <\/span>beyond <\/span>the <\/span>reach <\/span>of <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>mercy <\/span>as <\/span>long <\/span>as <\/span>there <\/span>is <\/span>breath <\/span>in <\/span>them. <\/span>As <\/span>stated <\/span>in <\/span>2 <\/span>Peter <\/span>3:<\/span>9 (<\/span>NIV):<\/span><\/strong> \u201c<\/span>The <\/span>Lord <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>slow <\/span>in <\/span>keeping <\/span>his <\/span>promise, <\/span>as <\/span>some <\/span>understand <\/span>slowness. <\/span>Instead <\/span>he <\/span>is <\/span>patient <\/span>with <\/span>you, <\/span>not <\/span>wanting <\/span>anyone <\/span>to <\/span>perish, <\/span>but <\/span>everyone <\/span>to <\/span>come <\/span>to <\/span>repentance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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                  The <\/span>Importance <\/span>of <\/span>Repentance:<\/span><\/strong> This <\/span>story <\/span>also <\/span>emphasizes <\/span>the <\/span>importance <\/span>of <\/span>repentance. <\/span>The <\/span>criminal <\/span>who <\/span>repented <\/span>was <\/span>promised <\/span>eternal <\/span>life <\/span>in <\/span>paradise, <\/span>showing <\/span>that <\/span>repentance, <\/span>no <\/span>matter <\/span>how <\/span>late, <\/span>can <\/span>bring <\/span>salvation. <\/span>Luke <\/span>15:<\/span>7 (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/strong> says, \u201c<\/span>I <\/span>tell <\/span>you <\/span>that <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>same <\/span>way <\/span>there <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>more <\/span>rejoicing <\/span>in <\/span>heaven <\/span>over <\/span>one <\/span>sinner <\/span>who <\/span>repents <\/span>than <\/span>over <\/span>ninety-<\/span>nine <\/span>righteous <\/span>persons <\/span>who <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>need <\/span>to <\/span>repent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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                  Living <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>Sense <\/span>of <\/span>Urgency:<\/span><\/strong> The <\/span>contrast <\/span>between <\/span>the <\/span>two <\/span>criminals <\/span>challenges <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>evaluate <\/span>our <\/span>response <\/span>to <\/span>Christ. <\/span>We <\/span>don\u2019t <\/span>know <\/span>how <\/span>much <\/span>time <\/span>we <\/span>have <\/span>left. <\/span>Psalm <\/span>39:<\/span>4-<\/span>5 (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/strong> says, \u201c<\/span>Show <\/span>me, <\/span>Lord, <\/span>my <\/span>life\u2019s <\/span>end <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>number <\/span>of <\/span>my <\/span>days; <\/span>let <\/span>me <\/span>know <\/span>how <\/span>fleeting <\/span>my <\/span>life <\/span>is. <\/span>You <\/span>have <\/span>made <\/span>my <\/span>days <\/span>a <\/span>mere <\/span>handbreadth; <\/span>the <\/span>span <\/span>of <\/span>my <\/span>years <\/span>is <\/span>as <\/span>nothing <\/span>before <\/span>you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Conclusion:<\/span><\/h3>\n

                  While <\/span>the <\/span>Gospels <\/span>of <\/span>Matthew <\/span>and <\/span>Mark <\/span>mention <\/span>both <\/span>criminals <\/span>mocking <\/span>Jesus, <\/span>Luke\u2019s <\/span>account <\/span>focuses <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>repentance <\/span>of <\/span>one <\/span>of <\/span>them, <\/span>showing <\/span>that <\/span>both <\/span>criminals\u2019 <\/span>initial <\/span>mocking <\/span>behaviors <\/span>eventually <\/span>gave <\/span>way <\/span>to <\/span>a <\/span>profound <\/span>spiritual <\/span>transformation <\/span>in <\/span>one <\/span>of <\/span>them. <\/span>The <\/span>message <\/span>here <\/span>is <\/span>clear: <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>grace <\/span>is <\/span>available <\/span>to <\/span>all<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>and <\/span>no <\/span>one <\/span>is <\/span>too <\/span>far <\/span>gone <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>forgiven <\/span>if <\/span>they <\/span>turn <\/span>to <\/span>Him <\/span>in <\/span>repentance.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  As <\/span>we <\/span>reflect <\/span>on <\/span>this, <\/span>we <\/span>should <\/span>remember <\/span>that <\/span>time <\/span>is <\/span>short. <\/span>Jesus <\/span>calls <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>repentance <\/span>today, <\/span>for <\/span>tomorrow <\/span>may <\/span>be <\/span>too <\/span>late. <\/span>Just <\/span>as <\/span>one <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>criminals <\/span>received <\/span>salvation <\/span>in <\/span>his <\/span>final <\/span>moments, <\/span>so <\/span>too <\/span>can <\/span>we <\/span>receive <\/span>eternal <\/span>life <\/span>if <\/span>we <\/span>repent <\/span>and <\/span>place <\/span>our <\/span>faith <\/span>in <\/span>Christ, <\/span>regardless <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>past mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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