The Thief on the Cross

Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32 mention the two men crucified with Jesus, but make no mention of one of them proclaiming faith in Jesus as told in Luke. In fact, in Matthew and Mark it is said that both men were ridiculing Jesus.

I didn’t have time to edit my original post. I’m simply looking for thoughts, opinions and insights on the matter.

I don’t necessarily see discrepancies or false narratives, but perhaps versions of the incident that were not espoused upon to their fullest. Thank you for any input.

They both did ridicule Jesus but in another gospel one of the thief's had a change of heart. There was no discrepancy in the gospel accounts, just a different focus on certain events.

A man proclaiming faith in Jesus Christ during his last moments, and that man being assured of eternal life from Christ Himself, is pretty extraordinary, and I’m surprised it was not more focused upon by all four Gospels authors.

Perhaps this is to demonstrate the faith of those who believe

That’s why I’m surprised this wasn’t given more attention in the other Gospels.

My comment is based on that truth you repeat. I have always believed they both did seem to ridicule our Savior, but then the one relized something saying we should not ridicule Jesus for He is innocent, and we are guilty. At that moment, though the very last of this man-s very existence in the flesh, he not only confessed Jesus to be true, but also his own sin. Jesus loved him for this even as he loved us all in His agony. I believe this thief, whom certain have decided is Dimas was true to Jesus-Yeshua.

I like everything you said, however I do not understand your last sentence.

That is exactly why we need to properly harmonize the four Gospel accounts to get the full picture. They all wrote things a little differently. So the two men began by mocking Christ, but then all of a sudden one man realized that he needed to repent. And of course there is much more behind that than is revealed in the Gospels.

Unlike men, God and Christ used an economy of words. That should be a lesson for all the wordy theologians.

This is probably because this unique situation will never happen again.

Maybe it’s possible the sign Pilate posted just prior to the conversation might have influenced one of them along with other things.

I'm not entirely sure why it seems that way in one gospel and not in the other, it could just simply be the point of perspective. I thought that one mocked him and the other said he is innocent but maybe I read it wrong however the ones who wrote the gospels were there but since it was such a large gathering maybe one heard something that the other didn't it never says how close or far apart they were. After all each gospel is written according to each authors perspective of the events so it would make sense if one saw and heard something the other didn't that is the only logical conclusion I can think of

Are you sure of this? Were they even there? John may have been, not the others. Remember, every word of scripture is given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Which of the writers were at the birth of Christ, yet a couple of them wrote in detail of the events.

Matthew if I’m not mistaken was the tax collector, I’ve read Mark could have translated for Peter, Luke mentions passed down from others and says to give a account of them collectively.
Luke 1:1/2

When I say author I mean the people who were lead by the spirit to write

But remember, it’s not necessarily their perspective.

Actually, what happen was salvation and that happens countless times each day. You are right in that was a unique situation but then we each live in our own unique situation in regards to our personal relationship with the Lord. I want very much for Jesus to remember me too when He comes into His kingdom. I am like the thief on the cross hanging to the right of Jesus.

Mat 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Mat 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

Mar 15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
Mar 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

The thieves did appear to go against Jesus, and at this point the Pharisees, scribes, as well as other Jews, were going against Jesus, which the Romans would of been against Jesus, with none of them believing Jesus is the Messiah, and who He claimed for He did not come down from the cross, but looked at Him as defeated not understanding the plan of God.

Luk 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luk 23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luk 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luk 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luk 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

And in these scriptures one went against Jesus, and one did not go against Jesus.

Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

After Jesus died and this happened then some believed Jesus was the Son of God, and telling the truth, but the thief talked to Jesus before He died, and Jesus talked to Him.

But it does show that when Jesus was on the cross that some that went against Jesus could of changed their mind and then believed, and could happen before He died.

Mar 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

Mar 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

Mar 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Mar 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus hung on the cross for 6 hours before He died, which all that He said was not recorded in scriptures, which I am sure that He had a lot more to say while He was alive on the cross.

And Jesus was alive for 3 hours on the cross and during that the time the thieves went against Jesus, but we do not know when the thieves went against Him during that time period, for they could of went against Him at the first hour leaving 2 hours to be able to speak and reason with them, as well as other people at the cross.

So one of them might of changed his mind concerning Jesus and accepted Him.

Sometimes scriptures of the different Gospels do not include some things as other the other Gospels for they did not record it while another recorded it.

So Matthew and Mark recorded the thieves went against Jesus, but did not include that one of them changed his mind having ample time of Jesus being alive on the cross to still speak concerning the truth.

Where Luke did not record the incident of both thieves going against Jesus, but one going against Him, and another accepting Him leaving out the 2 thieves going against Him.

And John does not mention the 2 thieves, and does not mention the veil being ripped, and the centurion and others saying this is truly the Son of God.

Jesus was alive for 6 hours on the cross and He would of said more than what was recorded for He would of kept preaching the truth until His dying breath, and even said Father forgive them for they know not what they do, and everyone would of heard Jesus speaking including the 2 thieves, and something must of caught the attention of the one thief and he changed his mind and accepted Jesus, but at the first he was going along with the crowd, and maybe some in the crowd started to believe and help to influence him.

Another example.

Matthew.

Mary Magdalene, and Mary went to the grave.

Went to tell the disciples, and met Jesus on the way.

No mention of them telling the disciples, although they did.

Mark.

Mary Magdalene, and Mary, and Salome went to the grave.

Went to tell the disciples, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.

Told the disciples.

Luke.

Mary Magdalene, and Mary, and Joanna, and other women went to the grave.

No mention of meeting Jesus, but they did.

Told the disciples.

Peter ran to the grave.

John.

Mary Magdalene went to the grave.

Went and told Peter and John, but no mention of meeting Jesus along the way, but she did, and no mention of telling the other disciples but Peter and John, but she did.

Peter and John ran to the grave.

And then Mary was at the grave so she came back to the grave and saw Jesus, but no mention in the other Gospels.

So not all Gospels are going to tell the same story and give all the details as each other, although they could with some.

The 2 thieves that went against Jesus, one of them changed his mind, but Matthew and Mark record that they went along with the crowd and went against Him at the first, but Luke records that one of them accepted Jesus, and John does not mention the 2 thieves, and no mention of the earthquake, the veil being ripped, and the centurion and others saying this is the Son of God after Jesus died.

In John just mentions two others,

John 19:18
There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.