What Does Luke 23:42-43 Mean?
Luke 23:42-43 describes a dying criminal beside Jesus, begging, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' In that moment of faith, Jesus replies, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.'
Luke 23:42-43
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
Key Themes
- Salvation through faith in Jesus
- Divine mercy for sinners
- Eternal life as a promise of grace
Key Takeaways
- Faith in Jesus secures eternal life, even at the last moment.
- Jesus offers paradise freely, not based on deeds but on trust.
- No one is too far gone for God’s saving grace.
A Criminal’s Last-Minute Prayer
This moment happens during Jesus’ crucifixion, as two criminals are executed beside him - one mocks, but the other turns to Jesus in faith.
The repentant man asks, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom," not demanding rescue but asking to be remembered. In response, Jesus says, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise," offering immediate promise, not only future hope.
Even in his final breaths, this man finds peace not through good deeds or a perfect life, but through trusting Jesus right at the end.
A Thief’s Faith and the Promise of Paradise
This moment between Jesus and the repentant criminal reveals how deeply faith, not fame or goodness, connects us to God.
The man calls Jesus by name - 'Jesus' - not as a title, but as a person he’s placing his hope in, and he acknowledges Jesus’ coming kingdom, a term that means God’s promised rule where justice, peace, and life win over sin and death. When he says, "remember me," he isn’t merely asking to be thought of. In biblical culture, being "remembered" means being included in a covenant, as God remembered his promise to Abraham and Sarah, or as Mary sings in Luke 1:54‑55 about God remembering his mercy. Jesus’ reply - "today you will be with me in paradise" - is a royal promise from a king who rules even while dying.
Paradise here means the garden of God’s presence, a place of peace and healing beyond death, something the Jewish people hoped for when God’s kingdom finally came.
Today you will be with me in paradise.
This story appears in Luke’s Gospel alone, and it highlights Jesus’ power to forgive and welcome anyone, even a criminal, showing that his kingdom isn’t earned - it’s received. This moment points ahead to the hope we all can share: that no one is too far gone to be brought near by faith.
Today You Will Be With Me in Paradise
This story is only recorded in Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus’ message of mercy to the broken fits perfectly with Luke’s theme of God’s love for sinners and outsiders.
Today you will be with me in paradise.
Luke has shown throughout his Gospel how Jesus welcomes tax collectors, the poor, and the shamed - people like the prodigal son who returns with nothing but regret - and here, even a criminal is welcomed not because of what he’s done, but because of who he trusts. This is the heart of the good news: no matter how far you’ve fallen, turning to Jesus in faith means you’re not too late, because as Jesus said, 'Today you will be with me in paradise.'
Jesus' Promise and the Wider Hope of Scripture
This moment with the repentant criminal fits into the larger story of what Jesus promises all who trust him.
In John 14:2-3, Jesus says, 'In my Father’s house are many rooms... "I go to prepare a place for you," showing that paradise is a real home Jesus is preparing, not just a dream. And in 2 Corinthians 5:8, Paul says, 'We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord,' which lines up with Jesus’ promise that being with him after death means being truly home.
This promise to the criminal shows that Jesus is the one who opens the way into God’s presence - not through law or perfection, but through personal trust in him.
Today you will be with me in paradise.
Where the Old Testament left the hope of life after death shadowy, Jesus brings it into clear light, fulfilling the longing for a Savior who rescues nations and welcomes sinners into his kingdom. This moment points to the New Testament’s full picture: knowing Jesus gives a sure hope for today, not just for someday.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine carrying guilt for years - mistakes that haunt you, choices you can’t undo. Maybe you’ve told yourself you’re too far gone, that you’d have to clean up your life before God could ever welcome you. But this moment with the dying criminal flips that lie on its head. He didn’t have time to fix his past, to earn favor, or prove himself. He simply turned to Jesus and said, 'Remember me.' And Jesus, from the cross, said, 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' That promise is for anyone who feels broken, late, or unworthy. It means that right now, in your mess, in your regret, you can still whisper Jesus’ name and hear Him say, 'You’re with Me.' That changes everything - how we see ourselves, how we face death, and how we live today with hope instead of shame.
Personal Reflection
- Is there a part of my past I’ve let keep me from fully trusting Jesus? What would it look like to bring that to Him today?
- When I think of God’s kingdom, do I see it as something I must earn - or as a gift offered through faith, like the criminal received?
- How does knowing that paradise could begin 'today' change the way I live right now?
A Challenge For You
When guilt or shame whispers that you’re not good enough, stop and speak Jesus’ name out loud, as the criminal did. Then, remind yourself of His promise: 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' Do this daily, turning regret into trust.
A Prayer of Response
Jesus, I come to You just as I am - no perfect record, no long list of good deeds. Like the criminal, I simply ask, 'Remember me.' Thank You for saying that today, I can be with You in paradise. Help me live like I believe that promise, not trying to earn it, but resting in it. I trust You, right now.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Luke 23:39-41
The mocking and repentance of the two criminals set the stage for the thief’s plea and Jesus’ mercy.
Luke 23:44-46
The darkness and Jesus’ final cry show the cosmic weight of the moment just after the promise of paradise.
Connections Across Scripture
Romans 10:9
Confessing Jesus as Lord brings salvation, mirroring the thief’s simple act of faith.
Colossians 1:13-14
Believers are transferred into Christ’s kingdom, where redemption and forgiveness are found, just as the thief entered paradise.
Revelation 22:12
Jesus returns with reward, fulfilling His promise to bring His people into eternal life.