Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. I. HOW DO SINNERS COME AT THEIR NOTION THAT SIN IS SO TRIFLING AN AFFAIR? 1. They have a very limited view of their own feelings and purposes while in a course of sin; and infer that they cannot be very guilty, because they have never been conscious of a very evil intention. 2. Many derive their limited views of their sins from their meagre conceptions of the Divine law. 3. Others erect a bar to conviction of personal guilt out of materials taken from infirmities incident to human nature. 4. Others diminish their conceptions of their guilt, by comparing themselves with greater sinners. 5. Sin appears very different according to the different light and circumstances in which it is seen. 6. Again, delay of punishment goes to confirm men in the opinion that sin is a trifle. II. THAT THEIR VIEWS OF SIN ARE EXCEEDINGLY LIMITED, OR THAT SIN IS QUITE ANOTHER THING IN FACT, FROM WHAT IT IS IN THE SINNER'S ESTIMATION. 1. It is very different in its effects from what they esteem it. 2. Sin is very different if we consider the state of heart which gives birth to it. 3. The costly expiation for sin shows it to be no trifle. 4. The retributions of eternity will make sin to appear quite another thing from what it is here esteemed. (P. Cooke.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. |
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