THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO
1. There are some things in life that we do again and again.
2. Some jobs are done so often they are little more than a routine.
3. In the Bible we have some indications that soldiers were accustomed to crucifying people.
4. Notice from Lk. 23:32 that Jesus was led, along with two criminals, to a certain place.
5. Luke does not present this information as being unusual or out of the ordinary.
6. Leading men to the place for executions was a common thing for first century soldiers.
7. For some this was a regular part of being in the military.
8. When they arrived at the right place Jesus and the other two men were crucified.
9. The text says, “There they crucified him” (verse 33).
10. Nailing people to a cross was a common task.
11. Dropping the cross into a hole was not something that was new.
12. These soldiers didn’t need to get out an instruction manual to figure out how to crucify Jesus.
13. These men knew how the process operated.
14. The soldier’s familiarity with the process is also indicated in Mt. 27:36.
A. Matthew records that the soldiers who put Jesus to death watched Him.
B. These men were not shocked because they had seen men die before.
C. They were familiar enough with the process that they could look at Jesus and watch Him die.
D. In fact, these men were so used to death they were able to gamble for the Lord’s clothing.
E. Instead of being shocked by the action and needing to get away, these men stayed by the cross.
F. The picture seems to be that the soldiers were playing a game of chance to pass the time.
G. Everything I can find in the gospels points to only one conclusion:
H. The
soldiers, at least for a time, must have seen the day of Christ’s crucifixion
as an ordinary day.
I. The soldiers who were assigned this duty believed the death of Jesus and the thieves was routine.
15. Even the Lord’s dying words indicate that the soldiers were having an average day.
16. Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
17. This statement tells us that those involved in the crucifixion did not realize what they were doing.
18. Those involved with the death of Jesus failed to understand what was happening.
19. Let’s think of Jesus ten-word sentence (Father forgive them for they know…) as a prayer.
20. Jesus asked the Father to forgive these men because they did not understand what they were doing.
21. The Lord’s ten-word request (prayer) has a great deal of significance for our day and time.
A. I am going to divide this ten-word sentence (prayer) into three parts.
B. The first part will be, “know not” (i.e. the people were ignorant; they didn’t understand).
C. The second part will be, “what they do.”
D. The remaining section of the sentence will focus on the word “forgive.”
22. Jesus said the soldiers did not understand what they were doing (they were unaware of their actions).
23. These men did not understand they were putting an innocent person to death.
24. They did not realize that Jesus was the Son of God.
25. If it is difficult to believe that these men were ignorant listen to Acts 3:14-15, 17 (read).
26. According to God the crucifixion of the Lord was an act of ignorance.
27. This was certainly true of the soldiers who were at the cross.
A. In our day and time there are still sins of ignorance.
B. People unknowingly say or do something that hurts someone else.
C. Most of us have seen someone complain about how they were treated.
D. Or, we have heard someone say that they were hurt by what someone said.
E. If we were to talk to the person who did the damage we might learn the “wrongdoer” is surprised.
F. The ones who have said or done something offensive are often ignorant about what they have done.
G. Many do not know they have said or done something that created a problem.
H. If we listen to those who are offended we might hear, “They know what they have done.”
I. “There is no way they could be ignorant about what they did to me.”
J. According to Lk. 23 people may not be aware of what they are doing or have done.
K. People may not know their speech has injured someone.
L. People may be unaware that their actions have offended someone.
28. This lack of awareness (ignorance) brings us to the second thought in Lk. 23:34.
A. Jesus said, they “know not” what they do.
B. Moments ago we established that people may be unaware of the harm they do.
C. Now it is time to be more specific about how this ignorance works.
D. People can be ignorant about both their words and deeds.
i). I recently read about a preacher who was speaking to a group of people.
ii). The people in this group were from a British background.
iii). The author made a reference to a bloody military battle.
iv). To him and us this is not offensive. The word bloody describes a terrible war.
v). To those in the audience the word bloody was very offensive.
vi). The people in this audience viewed the remark as a statement of profanity.
vii). This speaker did not realize that he had offended his listeners.
29. At some point in life all of us will unknowingly offend someone in word or in deed.
30. We will also, if we live very long, be the offended (we will be the one who is injured).
31. It is very likely that some who offend us will do so in ignorance.
32. People will say or do something that is damaging to us and they will not realize it.
A. For instance, a person may try to give us some constructive suggestions.
B. The suggestions are not intended to be harmful or hurtful.
C. The person who is offering the advice has our best interest at heart.
D. Yet, we may take it the information as negative criticism.
E. We are offended and the person offering the suggestions is ignorant about our reaction.
F. In fact, the one who made the suggestions may feel pretty good about things.
G. He may go away thinking, “I’m glad I took the time to help him.”
H. I remember a member of the church who was severely handicapped.
i). Those who did not know this man would often rush forward to help him.
ii). “Here, let me help you.”
iii). This brother took offense to those who tried to come to his aid.
iv). If he wanted help he would ask.
v). Those who tried to help this member of the church were often ignorant; they didn’t know.
vi). They unknowingly offended this brother.
33. Before
I left
A. She felt like someone else in the group had harassed her.
B. The offender thought his remarks were funny.
C. He thought he was making jokes that everyone enjoyed.
D. The team member who felt harassed said she didn’t want to come on another trip.
E. The brother who was creating the problem was ignorant about the damage he had caused.
34. IN
THE WORK PLACE, IN THE HOME, AND CERTAINLY IN THE CHURCH, PEOPLE DO THINGS IN
IGNORANCE.
A. Even Jesus acknowledged this fact while He was on
the cross.
B. This of information is useful to us.
C. When we pray we may discuss many different things
with God.
D. We may ask for forgiveness, help, and express
appreciation.
E. We may pray for the sick and for those who are going
through difficult times.
F. We may ask for wisdom, patience, or a dozen other
things.
G. The Lord’s words on the cross give us with something
else to pray about.
H. We can pray the same prayer that Jesus offered from
the cross.
I. When people offend us, and they do so in ignorance,
we may pray…
J. Father forgive them for
they know not what they do.
i). We must realize that many things we find to be
offensive are not intentional.
ii). Take a moment to think back over the years we can
remember.
iii). Are there not times when we can remember saying to
someone,
iv). “I didn’t mean any harm. That wasn’t my intention. That is not what I was thinking.”
v). We have those memories.
vi). We can also remember others times when someone came
to us.
a). Those we know have said to us, “I didn’t mean
that. I was misunderstood.”
35. The next time we are offended by someone, especially
in the church, let’s remember some things.
A. First, the thing that has hurt us may not have been
intentional.
B. The transgression may not have been deliberate.
C. When we consider that injuries may not have been
planned, this is a mark of Christian maturity.
D. This implies that we are beginning to think like the
Lord.
E. In too many cases people are injured by something
that was not intended to be hurtful.
F. What if we are hurt by something that was
not deliberate?
G. I know of two Bible options.
H. Mt. 18:15-17 teaches that if someone sins against us
we are to pay him a visit.
I. This passage deals with someone who has actually
done something that is wrong.
J. In the situation we are studying the offender has not committed an intentional sin.
K. Thus, the principle in Mt. 18 does not necessarily need to be used.
L. I remember a member of the church who was about 35 w/I heard her make a thoughtful comment.
i). She said, “If someone has unknowingly hurt me why I should say anything to them?”
ii). The person who did the offending was not trying to inflict pain.
iii). Perhaps they were trying to help. Why make a good-hearted person feel bad?
iv). There is some truth and logic in this sister’s observation.
v). Some may wish to keep matters like we are studying private; not say anything.
vi). Others may feel like they need to let the person know they were injured.
vii). This is a matter that falls into the Rom. 14 category (personal judgment).
36. If the matter is not made known to the other person the principle from Lk. 23 applies.
37. When Jesus was mistreated by ignorant men He said, “Father forgive them.”
A. This can be one of the prayers that we as Christians can and should say.
B. When we pray we can talk to God about those who injure us in ignorance.
C. We ask God to help us have the right attitude towards these people.
D. Perhaps we will pray that those who unknowingly hurt us will understand the damage they are doing.
E. We will certainly want to say to God, “God, we forgive them for their ignorance.”
38. The next time we are offended consider whether or not the offense was intentional.
39. In most cases remarks and or deeds are not malicious.
40. Many times people do things in ignorance.
41. Our lives will be better, church will be better, God will be pleased, and we will grow as Christians if we pray, “Father forgive them—they know not what they do.”
42. If we have hard feelings in our heart because someone injured us in ignorance it is time to let it go.
43. If we can help you in this way, or help you in some other way, we are ready to do that now.