What Does Luke 23:39-43 Mean?
Luke 23:39-43 describes two criminals crucified alongside Jesus. One mocks Him, but the other defends Jesus and asks to be remembered in His kingdom. Jesus responds with a promise of paradise, showing that salvation is available to all who turn to Him in faith, even at the last moment.
Luke 23:39-43
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."
Key Facts
Book
Author
Luke
Genre
Gospel
Date
Approximately 80-90 AD
Key People
- Jesus
- The repentant criminal
- The mocking criminal
Key Themes
- Salvation by grace through faith
- The immediacy of eternal life
- Jesus' authority over paradise
Key Takeaways
- Faith in Jesus opens paradise, even at life’s end.
- Christ’s promise of salvation is immediate, not earned by works.
- God’s mercy welcomes the broken who call on Him.
Two Criminals, Two Responses
Luke 23:39-43 takes place at the very end of Jesus’ life, as He is crucified between two criminals.
One man mocks Jesus, demanding He save them if He really is the Messiah, while the other defends Him, acknowledging their guilt and Jesus’ innocence. He then turns to Jesus and says, 'Remember me when you come into your kingdom,' showing faith that Jesus still has power beyond the cross.
Jesus responds with one of the most comforting promises in Scripture: 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.' This shows that salvation isn’t earned by a lifetime of good behavior but received by trusting Jesus, even at the last breath. The scene fulfills Isaiah 53:12, where the Messiah is 'numbered with the transgressors,' yet brings hope to the broken.
The Thief’s Faith and the Promise of Paradise
This exchange between Jesus and the repentant criminal reveals far more than a simple act of mercy - it unveils the heart of the gospel: salvation through faith, not works, and Christ’s divine authority over life, death, and eternity.
In the ancient world, crucifixion was not only a method of execution but a public display of shame and dishonor, meant to strip a person of all dignity. Being 'numbered with the transgressors' (Isaiah 53:12) was a deliberate fulfillment of prophecy, showing that the Messiah would not come to condemn the guilty but to rescue them. The repentant thief, though guilty and dying, makes a stunning confession: he acknowledges Jesus’ innocence (Luke 23:41), believes in His coming kingdom (v. 42), and asks simply to be remembered. In a culture where honor and memory were deeply connected, to be 'remembered' meant more than a passing thought - it meant being brought into someone’s future, into their legacy.
Jesus’ response - 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise' - is radical. The word 'today' is striking. It signals immediacy. Paradise was a Jewish term for the dwelling place of the righteous with God, often linked to the restored Garden of Eden. By promising immediate entry, Jesus bypasses any idea of waiting or purification after death. This is not merely comfort; it is a declaration of power. He says, 'You will be with me today,' asserting His authority over the afterlife.
Jesus’ authority isn’t limited by death - He can open paradise in the moment of dying.
Other Gospels mention the mocking criminals (Matthew 27:44, Mark 15:32), but only Luke records this conversation, highlighting his theme of Jesus’ mercy toward outcasts and sinners. The key word 'paradise' (from the Persian word for 'garden') evokes Eden and God’s presence, suggesting restoration beyond death. Jesus doesn’t promise a future kingdom only - he opens its door in the present. This moment shows that salvation is not about timing, status, or record-keeping. It is about relationship. One act of faith, even in the final breath, meets a Savior who reigns even from the cross.
Remember Me, and Today You Will Be With Me
This moment between Jesus and the repentant thief reveals how deeply God values a humble heart that turns to Him, no matter the past.
The thief’s simple plea - 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom' - was more than a request. It was an act of trust in Jesus’ future reign, even while hanging on a cross. In Jewish thought, to be 'remembered' meant to be brought into someone’s destiny, like Noah or Abraham, whose names were preserved by God. Jesus did not merely promise to remember him. He fast‑forwarded the blessing: 'today you will be with me in paradise,' showing that grace does not wait for perfect timing or perfect deeds.
Luke, more than any other Gospel writer, highlights Jesus’ compassion for sinners and outcasts - tax collectors, lepers, and now a condemned criminal - because his whole mission was to show that God’s kingdom welcomes those the world rejects.
Even with no time left, one act of faith opened the door to paradise.
This story teaches us that salvation is not about how long we’ve followed Jesus, but whether we turn to Him at all. The thief had no time to do good works or be baptized, yet his faith was enough - because what God offers is not earned, but given freely through grace.
Luke’s Unique Portrait of Mercy in the Midst of Mockery
While Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32 say both criminals mocked Jesus, only Luke records that one turned in faith, revealing his gospel’s special focus on grace for the outcast.
This difference isn’t a contradiction but a deeper layer of truth - Luke highlights what others leave out, showing that even in the darkness of crucifixion, someone heard Jesus’ cry and responded. It fits Luke’s pattern of lifting up the overlooked: shepherds, sinners, and now a dying thief.
This moment fulfills Isaiah 53:12, where the Messiah is 'numbered with the transgressors,' not as a victim but as a Savior drawing sinners to Himself even in death.
Luke shows that even when others reject Jesus, God’s mercy still reaches the broken who call on Him.
Jesus doesn’t wait for the thief to clean up his life or earn favor - He opens paradise on the spot, showing that His kingdom is not built on human effort but divine mercy. This act fulfills the Old Testament hope for a Redeemer who brings life out of guilt and shame. It also reveals Jesus as the true and better Adam, welcoming a sinner into paradise - the very garden God once closed.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I once met a man who carried decades of regret - years lost to poor choices, broken relationships, and a sense of being too far gone for God. He believed he had to earn back what he’d thrown away. But when he heard the story of the thief on the cross, something shifted. He realized that if Jesus could say 'today you will be with me in paradise' to a man dying for his crimes, then grace wasn’t about cleaning up enough to come to God - it was about turning to Him, exactly as he was. That moment did not merely change his view of heaven. It changed how he lived each day, no longer driven by shame, but by the quiet confidence that he was known, forgiven, and welcomed.
Personal Reflection
- Is there a part of my past I believe is too broken for God to redeem?
- Am I relying on my own efforts to earn God’s favor, or trusting in Christ’s promise like the thief did?
- When I think of 'paradise,' do I see it as a distant hope or a present reality offered through Jesus right now?
A Challenge For You
This week, take five minutes each day to talk to God as the thief did - honestly, with no pretense. Say something like, 'Jesus, remember me,' and rest in His promise. Also, share this story with someone who feels far from God, reminding them that no one is too late or too broken for grace.
A Prayer of Response
Jesus, thank you that your arms were open wide even as you hung on the cross. I believe you have the power to welcome me into your kingdom, not because of what I’ve done, but because of who you are. Help me to stop trying to earn your love and simply receive it. And when I doubt, remind me of your words: 'Today you will be with me in paradise.'
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Luke 23:38
The sign above Jesus’ head declares His identity as King of the Jews, setting up the criminals’ responses.
Luke 23:44
Darkness covers the land, showing cosmic significance following the promise of paradise.
Connections Across Scripture
Genesis 2:8
Describes Eden, the original paradise Jesus restores through His promise to the thief.
Revelation 2:7
Jesus promises access to the tree of life in paradise, fulfilling His words on the cross.
Romans 10:9
Affirms that confessing Jesus leads to salvation, just as the thief did in faith.