THIS Is What Really Happened to the Thief on the Cross | Luke 23:43 Explained

The question of what happened to the thief on the cross during Jesus' crucifixion has long intrigued Bible readers. In this discussion, we delve into the true meaning of Jesus' words and clarify common misconceptions.

When Jesus was crucified, two criminals were also crucified alongside Him. One of these criminals mocked Jesus, while the other, known as the penitent thief, recognized Jesus' innocence and asked to be remembered when Jesus came into His kingdom. Jesus responded with a promise, saying, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

This statement has often been misunderstood as a promise that the thief would go to heaven with Jesus that very day. However, a closer examination of the Bible reveals a different interpretation. According to John 3:13, no one has ascended to heaven except Jesus. Even King David, described as a man after God’s own heart, did not ascend to heaven after death. Instead, the Bible teaches that the dead remain in their graves awaiting resurrection.

Furthermore, Jesus Himself did not ascend to heaven on the day of His crucifixion. The Gospels detail that Jesus was buried and remained in the tomb for three days and three nights, as He prophesied, before His resurrection. After His resurrection, Jesus told Mary Magdalene, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father," confirming that He had not yet gone to heaven.

The confusion surrounding Jesus' promise to the thief largely stems from a misplaced comma in modern translations. The original Greek manuscripts of the New Testament were written without punctuation, and the placement of commas was added later by translators. When we consider the proper placement of the comma, the meaning of Jesus’ statement changes: "Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise." The emphasis here is on the timing of the promise being made that day, not on when the thief would enter Paradise.

So, what is this Paradise that Jesus mentioned? In the Bible, Paradise refers to a beautiful, garden-like place associated with God's presence. The Apostle Paul spoke of being caught up to Paradise in a vision, and the Book of Revelation describes a future Paradise on the new Earth, where the Tree of Life is located in the New Jerusalem. This suggests that the thief will enter Paradise in the future when God's kingdom is established on Earth.

This interpretation not only aligns with the broader scriptural context but also emphasizes the hope of resurrection and the coming Kingdom of God on Earth, where the thief will eventually enter Paradise alongside the faithful.

Key Questions Answered
1. Did the thief on the cross go to heaven on the day of Jesus' crucifixion?

2. What did Jesus mean when he told the thief, “Today you will be with me in Paradise”?

3. How does the placement of a comma change the meaning of Jesus’ promise to the thief?

4. What is the biblical understanding of Paradise as mentioned by Jesus?

5. Why did Jesus not ascend to heaven immediately after his crucifixion?

#BiblicalTruth #ParadiseExplained #JesusCrucifixion

[TomorrowsWorld]

For more information on different Biblical topics please visit us at www.tomorrowsworld.org.

[DanielBelliveau-yx]

Removing the wool pulled over the eyes of those who are deceived, and giving true clarification and edification, well done ! ! !

[calvinjackson]

Finally, FINALLY, the truth as it is in the BIBLE, NOT MAN'S TRADITIONS.

[drbill-rf]

Thank you. I have been making this argument to unlisterning ears for quite some time. Now I can refer these people to you.

[Rosie]

I have said the very same thing, for years now, that the comma was in fact
meant to be AFTER the word today, as in Jesus promised the thief on that
day, when He was speaking to him, that when Jesus was to come into His
Kingdom, the thief would have a place in that Kingdom. Well the Bible tells
us that Jesus will come into His Kingdom at the end of the tribulation, when
He returns at His second coming. Which is when Jesus told His followers that
He would raise them up unto Himself at the Last Day. God bless you all. ❤

[robertthaller]

People don't like the thought that we remain in our grave, they like their fantasy Christianity. You are completely correct in what you teach.

[dianneward]

I really enjoy the White Board. Short but straight to the point !! Well done Mr Simone

[RobertKaneRobertKane]

You can believe what they are saying, I once was blind to the truth" and had trouble understanding what I was learning' so I decided to copy the whole Bible old and new testament; together it took me from 2006 to 2008 to do it and every since then God has helped me to learn and understand so much I cannot believe it myself.i am a person who has lost my life twice and because of that it opened my eyes.Blessed be the Holy One forever.

[GregoryDean]

The English word “today” is translated from the Greek word sēmeron which the first definition in Strong’s G4594 is “on the day” which refers to the previous verse (v.42) where the criminal asks “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” So on the day refers to when Christ will be in His kingdom, not “today”.

[wanttruth]

What of those under the alter that cried "how long LORD"? Rev 6:10. Thank you.

[ianstewart]

So wasn't Elijah taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire, and when Moses appeared unto Jesus while he was praying in the garden, did he appear to him from the grave ?

[josedeleon]

If you are born of the spirit, you will be in heaven and if you are born of the flesh, you will be in paradise.

[FreddyPhatnutz-ueyl]

To be absent from the body, is to to be present with God. ❤ Now I'm really confused.

[foryourhealth]

2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (KJV)

[JeremyLangdon-us]

The phrase, "verily I say unto you" or "verily I say unto thee" is used in the Synoptic gospels a total of fifty-two times while in the Johannine gospel the phrase, "verily, verily I say unto you" or "verily, verily I say unto thee" is used a total of twenty-five times. Christian scholars acknowledge Jesus used this as a prefix phrase when He was about to say something of significance. No one else other than Jesus ever used it. When the Lord used this phrase it bore witness to His divine authority and the solemn nature of the declaration that followed. In every passage where this phrase is used Greek scholars have added a punctuation break after the phrase in question and before the rest of the statement, which lends irrefutable support to the plethora of Bible translations that insert the comma after "verily I say unto thee" and before "today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Look at Matthew 26:34 and Mark 14:30 as further examples wherein the time of day is similarly given (ie "...that this night..." and "...that this day, even in this night...") and it is evident that the comma placement in Luke 23:43 is correct.

[aussiebushhomestead]

Why are the 2 other accounts of this speak differently? 2 of the 3 accounts say that both thieves mocked Him. Is it possible that this is a manipulated account by the Catholic church to promote the deception of death bed confessions and paying for atonement?

[erinbeltran]

The TRUTH IS NO ONE KNOWS. You can and everyone can analyze scripture until you are blue in the face but no one knows. You think as humans do NOT as God does. You are like children, close minded. AND THIS IS the ONLY TRUTH.
ISAIAH 55:8 for my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord. As the Heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
PROVERBS:3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways submit to Him and He will make straight your paths.
(Essentially…quit analyzing and have faith) if you do your part and serve the Lord then what does it matter about who else went to Heaven? Everyone will focus on the world but not the work of their own salvation which is very hard as it is. May peace be with you.

[msimisimasuku]

Since already our Messiah was nailed on the cross at that moment, What other time would it have been convenient time for him to tell him that he would be with Him in Paradise?

[jubgamali]

How about the first fruits(saints) resurrected, they didn't go to heaven?

[josephrosa]

Is Enoch not in heaven, and did he not see death, Genesis 5:23-24? And how about Elijah being in heaven and did not see death, 2 Kings 2:11, Matthew 17:1-4? We know Moses saw death, but was he not resurrected and is in heaven, Moses and Elijah appeared at the transfiguration of Jesus, Deuteronomy 34:5-6, Jude 1:9, Matthew 17:1-4. There were those who were resurrected when Jesus died that the earth quaked, the rocks split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep (had died) were raised; and coming out of the graves AFTER His (Jesus') resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many, Matthew 27:51-53. Were they not the ones of captives who ascended with Jesus as trophies of His victory over death and the grave. Maybe this subject is spoken about in another video.