Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus is being crucified — nailed to a cross, the Roman method of public execution reserved for criminals and enemies of the state — when he speaks these words. The soldiers who carried out the execution are gambling for his clothing beneath him, treating his death as routine work. Rather than cursing his killers, Jesus prays for their forgiveness, citing their ignorance as a reason for mercy. The scene captures one of the most radical acts in human history: a man praying for his executioners while they gamble at his feet. This single sentence defines something central to Jesus' entire life and teaching.
Father, you forgave from the cross — I have no excuse for the grudges I carry in ordinary life. Soften what has hardened in me. Give me the grace to pray for those who have hurt me, even when they don't know they did. Amen.
There's a detail here that's easy to miss: while Jesus is praying for forgiveness, the soldiers below him are gambling over his clothes. They're not even watching. They have no idea what is happening above them. And yet Jesus prays for them anyway — not because they've repented, not because they asked, but because they simply don't know. That phrase "they do not know what they are doing" isn't an excuse Jesus is making up. It's a theological claim about the nature of sin: most harm is done in ignorance, not malice. Think about the people you find hardest to forgive. Chances are, at least some of them genuinely don't know the damage they caused. They went home fine while you carried the weight. Jesus doesn't ask you to pretend that's okay. But he does model something stunning: you can name the wrong and still pray for the person who did it. Forgiveness isn't saying what happened didn't matter — it's refusing to let it become the last word.
Why do you think Jesus specifically mentioned that they "do not know what they are doing"? What does that suggest about the relationship between knowledge and moral responsibility?
Is there someone in your life right now who has hurt you — possibly without fully realizing it? How does this verse speak to that situation?
Does forgiving someone require them to acknowledge what they did? What is the hardest thing about forgiving someone who has never apologized?
How might practicing this kind of forgiveness change the way you relate to people who frustrate or wrong you in daily life — a difficult coworker, a family member, a neighbor?
What is one small step you could take this week toward forgiving someone you have been holding a grudge against — even if they don't deserve it yet?
And he kneeled down , and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:60
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luke 6:28
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1 Peter 2:20
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luke 6:27
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Romans 12:14
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1 Peter 2:23
And Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves.
AMP
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
ESV
But Jesus was saying, 'Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.' And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
NASB
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
NIV
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
NKJV
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
NLT
Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing." Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them.
MSG