Luke 23:39 (WEB)
One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Luke 23:39–43 (KJV)
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Key words
- κακοῦργοιkakourgoi · Greek
- 'malefactors' (23:32) — two condemned men crucified with Jesus, as two condemned officials were imprisoned with Joseph.
- μνήσθητί μουmnēsthēti mou · Greek
- 'remember me' (v. 42) — the butler forgot Joseph (Genesis 40:23); this criminal asks to be remembered and is.
- σήμερον μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳsēmeron met' emou esē en tō paradeisō · Greek
- 'To day shalt thou be with me in paradise' — everlasting life for the one, as bodily life for the pardoned butler.
Why it matters
Of the two criminals crucified with Jesus, one is forgiven and promised paradise. Pitre's chart sets this beside Joseph in prison with the butler and the baker, one of whom is restored to life (p 140). The pattern — the innocent sufferer between two condemned men, one of whom is saved — is one more sign that Joseph prefigures Jesus.