One of the crucial highly effective sermons within the Bible was preached by a dying man— Dismas, a thief — on the cross. This highly effective second is recorded in Luke 23:40–42, the place a felony, with solely minutes left to die, spoke phrases that exposed deep religious reality about getting into everlasting life.
When Jesus Christ was crucified, two criminals have been hanging beside Him. One was Gestas, which means “cruel-hearted,” and the opposite was Dismas, remembered because the repentant thief. . Each have been struggling the identical ache. Each have been going through loss of life inside hours. Each had the identical alternative to answer Jesus. But their decisions have been utterly completely different. One thief mocked Jesus. The opposite found everlasting life.
Allow us to have a look at these 7 Necessary phrases spoken by DISMAS whereas hanging in ache:
1. “Don’t you concern God?” (Verse 40)
The very first thing the repentant thief spoke about was not his ache, his struggling, and even his personal life. As an alternative, he requested the opposite thief a critical query: “Don’t you concern God?”. Even whereas dying, he understood one thing crucial — Fearing God is important if an individual desires everlasting life. The Bible tells us many occasions, “Don’t concern.” However the identical Bible additionally clearly says: “The concern of the Lord is the start of knowledge (Proverbs 9:10).” This reveals us one thing very significant. God doesn’t need us to be afraid of individuals, their opinions, their actions, or the issues, the long run, the struggles, or the obstacles round us we face in life. However there may be one concern that ought to stay in our hearts — THE FEAR OF GOD.
Let’s look at ourselves in the present day — Can we actually concern God, or are we extra afraid of individuals’s opinions and talks?
2. “You might be below the identical condemnation” (Verse 40)
Hanging beside Jesus, the repentant thief turned to the opposite felony and reminded him: “You might be in the identical condemnation.” In different phrases he was saying: “We each are sinners. We each are going through loss of life. At the least now, cease mocking and switch to God.” What a robust second! A felony grew to become a preacher. He realized that even on the final second, repentance can nonetheless change eternity.
Allow us to look at ourselves — If a thief might acknowledge his sin on a cross, are we keen to acknowledge our sins whereas we nonetheless have time?
3. “We’re punished justly” (Verse 41)
Right here we see the guts of true repentance. The thief didn’t blame the society, the federal government, his childhood, or different individuals for his punishment. As an alternative, he overtly admitted saying: “We’re getting what our deeds deserve.” Actual repentance begins once we cease making excuses and humbly confess our sins to God. That sincere second can change into the turning level of our life, similar to it was for the thief on the cross. The second he admitted his sin, the door to salvation opened, and his journey to the Heavenly Kingdom started.
Let’s look at — Are we keen to return to God with a humble coronary heart and ask for His forgiveness in the present day?
4. “This man has achieved nothing improper” (Verse 41)
Whereas the gang mocked Jesus and questioned Him, the thief boldly spoke the reality (Preached): “This man has achieved nothing improper.” Think about the ability of that second. A felony, hanging on a cross, publicly declared the Holiness of Jesus. In a spot stuffed with hatred and accusations, he grew to become a witness for righteousness. Identical to the thief on the cross, we’re referred to as to acknowledge Jesus for who He actually is and boldly declare His Holiness, even when the world round us thinks in another way. In a spot stuffed with negativity and mockery, the thief grew to become a witness.
Let’s query ourselves for a second — Am I being a witness for Jesus within the locations the place I’m in the present day?
5. “Jesus” (Verse 42)
Subsequent, the thief merely referred to as Him by identify. “Jesus.” The identify Jesus means “The Lord saves” or “Savior.” When the thief referred to as Him by identify, he was not simply expressing religion however was boldly preaching that Jesus is Saviour who got here to avoid wasting the sinners. And that small act of proclaiming with religion about Jesus modified every thing.
Let’s look at —Are we keen to discuss Jesus to others, similar to the thief declared Him on the cross?
6. “When You come into Your Kingdom” (Verse 42)
Whereas everybody else noticed a dying man on a cross, the thief noticed a King. He didn’t ask Jesus to return down from the cross. He didn’t ask to be rescued from loss of life. As an alternative, he believed in a future kingdom and stated: “When You come into Your Kingdom.” In different phrases we will say, he declared that Jesus is King, even whereas Jesus was struggling and about to die in simply few hours. The Theif had a religion — a form of religion that seemed past his current ache & struggling, believed within the everlasting actuality of God’s Kingdom.
Let’s query ourselves — What number of occasions in 2026 have we boldly preached that Jesus is King and He’s coming quickly?
7. “Bear in mind me” (Verse 42)
Lastly, the thief prayed one of the vital humble prayers in the whole Bible: “Bear in mind me.” He had nothing to supply.
- No good works.
- No time to carry out spiritual rituals.
- No alternative to vary his life.
All he had was religion and a honest prayer. And that was sufficient. Instantly Jesus responded with one of the vital comforting guarantees ever spoken: “Really I let you know, in the present day you may be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). In a single second, a condemned felony acquired the promise of everlasting life.
Let’s query to ourselves — If our life ends in the present day… will Jesus say, “You may be with Me”?
Abstract
A dying thief grew to become the primary particular person promised to enter into Christ’s Kingdom immediately from the cross. His ultimate phrases present us that Fearing God → Recognizing our Sins → True repentance → Recognizing the Holiness of Jesus → Accepting Him as our Saviour → Proclaiming about Jesus → and a Praying with a humble Coronary heart can open the door to Heaven—even within the ultimate stage of our life.
On that day, two thieves have been crucified subsequent to Jesus. The distinction between the each was not intelligence, background, or alternative. The distinction was a resolution & one prayer of religion. One thief rejected Jesus and misplaced eternity. The opposite trusted Jesus and gained paradise. And the identical selection nonetheless stands earlier than each particular person in the present day.
- Each noticed the identical man.
- Each heard the identical phrases.
- Each had the identical alternative.
However just one selected repentance and had everlasting life. At present, we additionally have the identical Holy Bible, we hear the identical message of Jesus, and we pray to the identical God who taught us the best way of salvation. The query will not be what they did that day on the cross. The query is—what’s our resolution in the present day?
Bear in mind, Nobody is simply too sinful. Nobody is simply too late. Nobody is simply too removed from God. At present is the day to determine.
Allow us to flip away from sin and are available to the King — the Most Excessive.
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On-line References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impenitent_thief
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=lsFUw-s-RV4&si=ytVDr8Nsz5kSKrU0
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