Present day
“To day” – This would not happen tomorrow or some
indefinite undisclosed time in the future. On this day of their deaths, they
would be in paradise. Death, for the Christian, ushers one into the presence of
God (2
Corinthians 5:8; Philippians
1:23; cf. also Ecclesiastes
12:7; Luke
16:22; Romans
14:8).
Definite Promise
“shalt be” – This is an accurate prophecy, a positive
promise, with an unquestionable result. The fulfillment hinges on their deaths
happening that day. Were the two left on the cross to die the next day, the
promise would not have been fulfilled. Jesus not only controlled the dismissal
of his spirit, but all the events of his arrest, sentencing, and crucifixion (John
18:6; John
19:11; John
19:30; Acts
4:27-28).
Particular person
“thou” – The promise was to this man in
particular, but for example, not to the other thief (cf. also, “I say unto thee…”
Universal salvation is a hopeless hope, the pipe dream of the biblically uninitiated.
God’s people will dwell with him in eternal glory while others are cast from
his presence (Revelation
20:15-21:3; 2
Thessalonians 1:8-9; 2
Corinthians 2:15-16; John
6:37; Matthew
1:21).
Divine presence
“with me” – The promise is to dwell with Jesus, be
in his presence. Wherever Jesus is, ’tis heaven! Jesus said, “that where I am
ye may be also” (John
14:3). He will never leave us or forsake us, neither in life nor in
death (Isaiah
41:10; Hebrews
13:5). Things we do not understand of heaven and eternity fade into
the background by the dear words “be with me.” May we desire to live where
Jesus lives. If he is in the garden, we should want to be be there. If he is in
the wilderness, we should want to be there. If he is in the valley or on the
mountaintop, we want to be there. It does not matter – where Jesus is – that is
the place to be!” On land or sea, what matters where? Where Jesus is, ’tis
Heaven there.”[i]
Beautiful place
“in paradise” – Paradise (Gk. paradeisos) derives from a Persian word with the idea of a
beautiful garden or park.[ii] It
is used in three verses in the New Testament (Luke 23:43, 2
Corinthians 12:4, and Revelation
2:7. With Revelation 2:7, cf. Revelation
22:2; the tree of life is in paradise and in the New Jerusalem). His
people will behold the beauty of the Lord (Psalm
27:4), worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Psalm
29:2), and dwell eternally in a gloriously beautiful place (Psalm
48:2; Revelation
22:1-5).
Luke 23:42-43 And he said unto Jesus, Lord,
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily
I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
[i] Hymn by Charles F. Butler,
circa 1898.
[ii] In the Septuagint,
the Greek word παράδεισος was used to translate Hebrew words for “garden” (see,
e.g. Genesis
2:8; Numbers
24:6 ; Ezekiel
28:13).
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