THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LAST 7 WORDS

 

Importance of the seven last words

The seven last sayings, also called the seven last words of Jesus, not only reveal what was most important to our loving Savior, but several of them helped complete the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies about that momentous day.

These meaningful sayings gave understanding, instruction, motivation and inspiration to the disciples and to the Church through the ages. What can we gain from studying each of them today?


1. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Luke records this first of the seven last sayings of Jesus. In saying this, Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy that He would make “intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).

To whom was He speaking? In reality, all of us. As Peter explained weeks later, “all the house of Israel” crucified Christ (Acts 2:36). Then Peter told everyone in the temple that they “killed the Prince of life” (Acts 3:15). Paul expanded the list of sinners to every human being (Romans 3:23).

But Peter went on to say, “I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers” (Acts 3:17). So does God lower His standard of righteousness to our level of ignorance? No! Ignorance is not innocence, so Peter urged them to repent—turn from the sins that Christ had to die for—and be forgiven. (For deeper study, see “Sacrifice of Jesus” and “How to Repent.”)

Although because of sin we, too, were enemies of God, He never turned cold-hearted toward us, as Jesus’ words here so powerfully demonstrate. Can we, therefore, do anything less than strive to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)?  (For deeper study, see “When Forgiveness Isn’t Easy.”)

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