34a. Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
On the omission of these words from certain manuscripts see the note on this passage on page 1040.

In all probability what we have here is the first of
The Seven Words of the Cross:

a. From 9 o’clock until noon:
(1) “Father, forgive them: for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
(2) “I solemnly declare to you, Today you shall be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
(3) “Woman, look, your son! … Look, your mother!” (John 19:27).
b. The three hours of darkness: from noon until 3 o’clock; no words reported.
c. About 3 o’clock:
(4) “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).
(5) “I am thirsty” (John 19:28).
(6) “It is finished” (John 19:30).
(7) “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

It is certainly in keeping with the spirit of Luke’s Gospel that the three “words” in which the love of God as reflected in the Son is most emphatically set forth are found here (words 1, 2, and 7).

It is deplorable that so much opposition has arisen against this first saying. Some would exclude it entirely, and others try to tone it down.

The reasoning of some is as follows: those who killed Jesus were reprobates. God does not in any sense bless reprobates. Therefore Jesus cannot have asked that they be forgiven. Besides, the verb here used has a very wide meaning (this, by the way, is true). Conclusion: Jesus must have meant, “Father, hold back thy wrath; do not immediately pour out the full measure of thy fury.”

The true meaning of the earnest supplication is probably as follows:

a. “Forgive them” means exactly that. It means “Blot out their transgression completely. In thy sovereign grace cause them to repent truly, so that they can be and will be pardoned fully.”

b. That this is the meaning is clear from the fact that the grammatical construction is exactly the same as in 11:4, “And forgive us our sins,” and as in 17:3, “If he repents, forgive him.”

c. Is it even conceivable that he who insists so strongly that his followers must forgive every debtor, and that they must even love their enemies, should not exemplify this virtue himself?

d. When Stephen, at death’s portal, clearly in imitation of the dying Christ, prayed, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge,” was he not giving us the truest interpretation of Christ’s supplication, “Father, forgive them”?

e. Take special note of the word Father. What trust, what love! We are reminded of “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him” (Job 13:15, A.V.).

f. Is it not marvelous beyond words that Jesus, in his earnest intercession for his torturers, even presents to the Father a special plea, an argument, as it were, for the granting of his petition, namely, “for they do not know what they are doing”?

It was true: the soldiers certainly did not know. But even the members of the Sanhedrin, though they must have known that what they were doing was wicked, did not comprehend the extent of that wickedness.

Did the Father hear and answer this prayer? Part of the answer may well be the fact that Jerusalem’s fall did not occur immediately. For a period of about forty years the gospel of salvation full and free was still being proclaimed to the Jews. Not only that but also: many were actually led to the Lord. On the day of Pentecost three thousand were converted (Acts 2:31, 42); a little later thousands more (Acts 4:4). Even “a large number of priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). Not the people as a whole, but many families and individuals were converted.

g. By offering this prayer Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isa. 53: “Yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” See also on Luke 22:37.

Hendriksen, William ; Kistemaker, Simon J.: New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1953-2001 (New Testament Commentary 11), S. 1027