There were two criminals crucified with Jesus. At first, according to Matthew’s account, both men mocked and insulted Jesus, just like much of the rest of the crowd present that day. Then later, according to Luke, one of the criminals apparently had a change of heart. He stopped mocking, and then had a brief, but significant conversation with Jesus.
First, the story according to Matthew and Luke:
Matthew 27:38-44 — Then two robbers were crucified with Jesus, one on the right and another on the left. And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise, the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
Luke 23: 32-43 — Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Jesus to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
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Next, a video of the conversation between the penitent thief and Jesus, from the wonderful 1977 TV mini-series Jesus of Nazareth.
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In the brief reading that follows, Randy Alcorn explains why he loves this story. (It is from his blog post on February 16, 2026, posted on his website at: http://www.epm.org
A thief on the cross asked Jesus to save him (Luke 23:40-43). He had nothing to offer Christ, no way to pay Him back. He could not make restitution or be baptized. He couldn’t give to the temple, care for the poor, tell people about Jesus, or take communion. All he could do is ask Jesus to remember him, to think of him, to give him a chance to be part of his kingdom.
And then come those incredible, life-changing, and grace-filled words of Jesus, despite every one of them being spoken by our Savior in agony: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). It makes me weep as I think about it.
We are all like that thief on the cross—we have nothing to contribute, nothing we can do to qualify us for salvation.
This video clip is so powerful, and whenever it comes to mind, I just can’t get over it. The thief on the cross is the ultimate example that in no way can we earn our way to Heaven. Instead, simply turning to Jesus is the most and the best we can ever do, and even that is only by His grace.
(This story is one reason why I believe many people might even moments before death cry out for salvation. The thief on the cross proves that “deathbed conversion” is certainly possible. And if someone is unable to speak, or too weak to respond, those around them would not know of that conversion. We may be surprised and delighted to one day see them in the presence of Christ.)
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Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Amen.
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