Sermonette: Jesus and the Robber

Sermonette: Jesus and the Robber

Did the Robber Go To Heaven?
#613s
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Given 24-May-03; 21 minutes

listen:

description: (hide) Richard Ritenbaugh points out that the account of the two robbers crucified with Jesus contrasts a blasphemous, evil man with a truly repentant man (perhaps an insurrectionist against the Romans), who may have earlier heard Jesus preach. The qualifier when used by the condemned man, indicates he understood it to be a future event. Jesus’ reply is an affirmation that his attitude of repentance would lead to his resurrection into this Kingdom. The adverb today (because of its closer proximity to the verb say than to the verb will be) modifies the former. The Greek text employs no commas. Jesus went immediately to the grave (not to Paradise) when He was crucified. Paradise refers to the soon-coming Kingdom of God.