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The Reactions of the Criminals Crucified with Jesus -Some Discrepancies?
by Dr. D ~
Q: There seems to be some discrepancies in the Gospels concerning the reactions of the two thieves crucified with Jesus. In Matt. 27:44 and Mark 15:32, both criminals insulted Jesus along with the Priests and teachers. However, in Luke 23:39-43, only one insulted Jesus while the other stood up for him?
A: The Crucifixion lasted for at least 6 hours–from the third hour till the ninth. Do the Gospels represent all the events and everything that happened and was said by everyone there? –of coarse not!
Here is the best explanation:
1. Both criminals joined in with the others mocking Jesus in the beginning (as Matt. and Mark records).
2. Then much later as death was immanent, one of the thieves changed his mind about Jesus and repented (as Luke records).
It is not difficult to imagine that one could change their mind after watching and hearing what Jesus said for nearly 6 hours from the cross. After all, Jesus was a remarkable person and more than that, the very Son of God.
How did Jesus respond to all the insults? He asked his Father to forgive everyone there, including the two thieves. Even a hardened criminal could well have been affected by such a statement of forgiveness, especially from one who was also facing death. *Top
December 20th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Dr D,
It appears that these “discrepencies” can be easily resolved, as with almost all apparent difficulties in Scripture, with a careful reading of the Greek Originals. There are not just two, but four, that were crucified with our Lord. In Matthew and Mark’s account, the persons are identified as “lestai”, the Greek word for robbers, and in Mark’s testimony the word is “kakourgoi” = malefactors.
There is no basis for the assumption that there was only two others involved. That is purely a traditional stance, not found in the Word of God.
The first two were “led with Him to be put to death” (Luke 23:32). When they were come to Calvary, “they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, the other on the left” (v.33)
After He was crucified, along with the two malefactors, and AFTER they parted His garments, and “sitting down they watched Him there”, “then were there two robbers crucified with Him, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” (Matt 27:38, Mark 15:27)
Additionally, when they broke the legs of the first and then the other, they did not pass by Jesus, but “having come to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs” (John 19:32,33).
It is of the utmost importance to view the inspired Autographs as close to the Originals as possible in order to be accurate and avoid error, such as in this instance of assuming that there is only mention of two others when according to the Holy Writings there is four. A thorough examination with a Greek cocordance will yield unending joy to the serious student of God’s revelation to us.
December 20th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I must correct my reference to the Greek word, “kakourgoi”, which I placed in Mark’s account, it is not. That word is found in Luke’s chronicle, in Chapter 23 verse 32.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Phil,
John the Beloved Apostle was actually there and he says that there were only two–one on each side–see John 19:18:
-Here it is transliterated in Greek:
-Here’s my rough literal translation:
-Here’s the ESV -probably the most accurate modern English translation:
April 7th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
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