Scripture

The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

~Matthew 27:44, NASB

Quote

Those who speak of Christ speak of a good matter: no subject is more noble, more infinitely deep, more fruitful or more profitable.

~Matthew Henry

Alexander Whyte talks about three thieves instead of two. Yes, there were two crucified with Jesus, one on the right and one of the left. According to Matthew and Mark, they joined the Jews in mocking Jesus. They cursed and blasphemed Him. But there were three malefactors and evidently they were all guilty of insurrection. The same word used to describe the two who died with Jesus is used of Barabbas. This word can be translated thieves, rebels, brigands or robbers. Matter of fact, the KJV translates it ‘thieves’, NKJV ‘robbers’, NIV rebels, CSB ‘criminals’, and the NLT ‘revolutionaries’. Whyte believed that all three were members of the same gang. He believes that part of the bitterness that comes out of the two thieves on the cross is in the fact that Barabbas got off scott free while they were being executed. In their minds, Barabbas was just as deserving of death as they were.

Whyte believed that the repentant thief changed his mind while on the cross. At first he too was bitter about the injustice {Barabbas getting off} and he cursed Jesus like the others but something happened that changed his mind. Whyte thinks the prayer of Jesus got to him; “Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.” I am sure Jesus behavior was also a factor. It was customary for the victims to curse their executioners. They would even spit on them. Jesus cursed no one; instead He prayed for their forgiveness.

Martyn Lloyd Jones said in reference to Jesus meekness, “You see it is the whole of His life. You see it in reaction to other people, you see it especially in the way He suffered persecution and scorn, sarcasm and derision.” {Studies In The Sermon on the Mount} Peter said, “He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered.” {1 Peter 2:22-23} We talked about this very thing in our men’s Bible Study class yesterday. When someone threatens us or those we love, that old snake nature comes out and we strike back. I think of the poem that Bertha Smith used, “O to bend this stiff necked I, to bow the head and die; beholding Him on Calvary that bowed His neck for me.”

One other wonder that Whyte points out: the same sun that melts wax hardens clay. One thief was moved to repentance and one became less repentant. I must admit, the three thieves was something I had never considered and I found Whyte’s comments very interesting.

Extra

I know we are not supposed to brag on our grand children and I do try hard not to but this pass Saturday, playing on a bad ankle, Ty scored his 1,000th point in high school basketball. Most of the clan was there to be a witness. If he hadn’t missed a third of the season last year, he would have had a shot at 1,000 rebounds. Several have scored a 1,000 points but I don’t know of anyone who has a thousand rebounds. Anyway, we are very thankful to the LORD for allowing Ty to play and giving him athletic ability. It has been a joy to watch him progress.

My grandfather, Joe David Bailey was an only son. He had three sons: Eugene {my father}, Crutcher, and James Floyd. Daddy had four sons, Uncle Crutcher three and Uncle Floyd two. The next generation {Joe David’s} had only five and in Ty’s generation, there is only two. The Bailey’s are dwindling. My grandmother was impressed that I named my son after her husband. Daddy told me when Joe David was just a boy that she was going to help him through college, but I was to say nothing about it because she was not going to aid any of the other greats. I was looking for a big grant. It was 75$ and I think we spent it before he got to college.