It’s interesting to me that in the crucifixion scenes of all the Gospels, Gospel of Luke is the only one that includes these red-letter words of Jesus: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
In my research, I discovered there has been scholarly debate about this passage and whether it was part of Luke’s earliest manuscripts, since some ancient manuscripts do not include it. But forgiveness and being reconciled to God is certainly a theme throughout Luke and the other Gospels. In fact, Luke seems to emphasize forgiveness more than the other Gospels.
- Luke 7:47–48 — the sinful woman forgiven
- Luke 15 — the father welcoming his prodigal son
- Luke 17:3–4 — forgive repeatedly
- Luke 19:10 — Jesus came “to seek and save the lost”
My encouragement to our ʻohana is for us to extend mānoa compassion and grace to the non-Christians in our lives. May we cultivate Christ-like forgiveness and be His aloha to anyone who enters our lives day by day.
I am faced with daily decisions whether to choose grace and forgiveness — toward the crazy drivers on the roads, the rude employee I encounter at a store, or even when a family member upsets me.
Lord, please help me extend Your aloha and forgiveness to outsiders, the outcast, and even to ʻohana when I feel mistreated. Oh my Lord, what an example You were — choosing love when You were despised, rejected, and tortured.
Oh my… thank You, Jesus!
