Can someone please tell me?

Question

Where does this saying come from "Forgive them for they do not know" and does it mean God will forgive the people that never heard the gospel?

Answer 1

Jesus said this from the cross. He died for the sins of the whole world, so it is obviously Gods business who benefits from this. I know my work is to have faith because I have heard this good news, and to tell anyone else who is interested.

Answer 2

As so many others have answered, Christ said this regarding the Roman soldiers that were engaged in the act of carrying out his execution. But you can't extend that to those who haven't heard the Gospel, otherwise the Gospel would be bad news, and not the good news that it is intended to be. Without the savior, we are condemned to an everlasting state apart from the presence of God. The Gospel is that in Christ is found forgiveness and reconcilliation with God. Christ came because people are sinners and deserve their unhappy reward. He is not the problem, but the answer. We can take comfort in the fact that if someone truly was reaching out to God by virtue of the revelation he understood, God would reach back, and as someone once said, He would move heaven and earth and Western Union to get the Gospel to them.

Answer 3

Jesus said that as He hung on the cross, knowing that the common people had done it out of ignorance of the Scriptures which had prophesied that this would happen to Him;

Luke 23:33-35

33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.



As far as those who have never heard the Gospel, the apostle Paul speaks of this in the book of Romans, when he said;

Romans 2:14-16

14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,

15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

Paul was saying that we each have an understanding of the difference between good and evil within us, and those who have never heard the Gospel will be judged by how well they tried to do what they instinctively knew to be good, and how well they tried to avoid what they knew to be evil.


Foxfire

Answer 4

I think this is referring to us-we should forgive people because they don't know that they are sinning. The saying comes from the Bible. There are many sins that people don't think are sins, and many atheists who couldn't care less about sin. Should somebody's sin affect us, we should forgive them because they don't know how it hurts us and them.

God offers salvation to people who have not heard, but he also knows the heart and the soul, so if a person hasn't genuinely been searching for God, they won't find Him. That entails quite a lot, and it's very difficult to know if someone from another country, for example, who has never heard the name Jesus will be saved. However, it's possible they can come to believe that there is a God, but they don't know who He is or about His plans. That's why we need to help by going on missions and supporting missionaries through prayer and donation. These are the guys setting those kinds of people straight-the people who aren't looking for fights. They're looking for answers.

Martin S has a pretty strong answer, but he says "if God plans on saving someone". I think I know what he believes, but to clarify this implication, I'm sure God doesn't want anyone to go to Hell. I think everyone has been given the opportunity in their lives to know the truth, and like Martin says, it might only be the truth as it has been revealed by their environment. But again, there are hearts that are earnest in the search for a higher deity, and the human conscience is universal. We all know right from wrong, even if we deny it. That points to a God; they just have to listen to it.

Answer 5

Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.

It means that Jesus didn't want his Father to hold their sins committed in ignorance against them. As to God forgiving people who have never heard the gospel. that's one of those deep questions that people struggle over. The best answer I've heard is that if God plans on saving someone He will make that person aware of his existence and that they will be responsible for whatever truth God has revealed to them about their need for Him to save them.

Answer 6

Christ said it as he was suffering on the cross.
All the peoples of the old testament never heard the gospel or the teachings of Christ so according to some clergy and theologians I know, they will probabaly be judged according to the standards of the old tetasment.

Though I find this a hard pill to swallow, Jesus said I am the vine and you are the branches and you only get to the father through me. The only thing is that I follow this teaching since I was born into Christianity. Other religions like Islam for example teach the same thing that they are the right path to God and wo-be-tide you if you leave or convert to another religion. Jesus or Mohammed never appeared in the sky or to any of us in person to say yeh or nay as to who is write so I have a lot of empathy for those who are born and indoctrinated into other religions.

Ultimately it is God who shall make these decisions and not us as individuals.


Michael

Answer 7

The Bible verse you are referring to takes place as Jesus is crucified on the cross.

Luke 23:34, it says: Jesis said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.".

I believe that it means God will forgive the people who have never heard the gospel.

Perhaps, they will have a choice of accepting Jesus as their saviour.

I believe that because the robber that was crucified with Jesus was received forgiveness for his sins simply by asking Jesus to save him.

Answer 8

MEANING: Jesus' words from the cross, asking forgiveness for those who put him to death. More widely, of course, the plea was for all humanity.

ORIGIN: From the Bible, Luke 23 (King James Version):

23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
23:35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

This phrase, which is supposed to be the first of the sayings Jesus uttered on the cross, forms part of a meditation that is used by Christians during the major festivals of the Christian year:

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
Woman, behold your son: behold your mother. (John 19:26.)
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34)
I thirst. (John 19:28)
It is finished. (John 19:30)
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. (Luke 23:46)






note: the above is solely to answer the question and may not reflects my personal beliefs.

Answer 9

It's Jesus asking God to forgive those who doubted and prosecuted him just before they killed him (I think). I thought it was in the book of John or the Easter Story. He may have said it some time before he was crucified. And you are right, God will forgive those who recognize and confess their sins and ask Him for forgiveness. I don't think it's automatic. It's kind of like with AA where the drinker has to recognize that they have a problem. Sins have to be recognized so that responsibility is taken.

Answer 10

It is not a "saying.." Jesus spoke those words on the cross to his Father in Heaven as he was dying, asking God for forgiveness for the people who were responsible for crucifying him. The entire statement is "Forgive them for they do not know what they do."

Answer 11

The Bible, Luke 23:34 - Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.


This scripture refers to not placing blame on those who don't realize the wrong they commit. Ignorance is considered forgivable but stupidity is considered rebellion.