THE TWO THIEVES AT CALVARY

Pastor James J. Barker

Text: MATTHEW 27:38-44; LUKE 23:32-43



INTRODUCTION:


  1. A preacher was talking one day to a young man about salvation and he asked him, "Are you ready to meet God?"
  2. The young man shrugged his shoulders and admitted that he was not ready. "But," he added, "Remember what happened to the thief on the cross!"
  3. "Which thief?" the preacher wisely replied. That barb hit the mark and the young man repented and was saved.
  4. I want to preach today on the two thieves, emphasizing that there were two thieves that day at Calvary – one went to paradise, but the other went to hell.
  5. Like all of the other events surrounding the death and resurrection of our Lord, this too was a fulfillment of prophecy (Isa.53:12).
  1. THE REPENTANT THIEF WENT TO PARADISE

FIVE FACTS CONCERNING THE REPENTANT THIEF:

    1. He was only seconds away from eternity (Luke 23:32).
    2. He was offended at the rude behaviour of the other thief (Luke 23:39,40). Does it grieve your soul when wicked men take the name of God in vain and use His holy name as a curse word?
    3. He sincerely repented of his sin. At first, he too mocked and insulted our Lord, but then he repented (Matt.27:44; Luke 23:40,41).
    4. He asked Jesus to save him (Luke 23:42). This is the most important thing he ever did – how about you?
    5. He was gloriously saved (Luke 23:43). Thank God for His marvelous and matchless grace (cf. Luke 23:34). Spurgeon told of a big bully in school who was very mean and abusive to the younger students. He was so bad that the teacher asked the other students if he should be expelled. All agreed that he should except for one little fellow who was always getting picked on. This little boy was only five years old and knew that if the bully stayed, he would continue to beat on him. "Why do you want him to stay, knowing how mean he is?" asked the teacher. "Because if he is expelled, perhaps he will not learn any more about God, and so he will become more wicked." "Do you forgive him, then?" asked the teacher. "Yes," he said, "father and mother forgive me when I do wrong; and God forgives me too; therefore I must do the same."
      1. Note: "to day" (Luke 23:42,43) – i.e. immediately (cf. II Cor.5:8).
      2. There is no purgatory. There is no "soul sleep" or "limbo."
      3. This thief was not baptized, nor did he partake of the Lord’s Supper. He never had time to join the church. He simply repented, believed, and was saved.
  1. THE IMPENITENT THIEF WENT TO HELL

FIVE FACTS CONCERNING THE IMPENITENT THIEF:

    1. He too was only seconds away from eternity. Time is running out. You can leave this building and drop dead on the front steps, or get hit by a car or get sick and die – you do not know!
    2. He went along with the crowd (Luke 23:35-39). They were all taunting our Lord, telling Him to "come down from the cross" (Matt.27:38-44). William Booth said, "They claimed they would have believed if He had come down; we believe because He stayed up."
    3. His mind was blinded by Satan (cf. II Cor.4:3,4). The great missionary to Africa, David Livingstone, was once pounced upon by a lion. After the lion pinned him to the ground, he started breathing upon him. Livingstone later said that the breath of the lion soothed him to sleep. Likewise, the devil is a roaring lion who blinds and soothes sinners to sleep.
    4. His heart was cold and hard. I am concerned about some people who listen to Gospel preaching week after week and never get saved. Their hearts are growing colder and harder.
    5. He went off into eternity unrepentant, lost, damned forever to fire and brimstone and unspeakable horror. Oh – the horrors of eternal torment in hell! Nearly every day we are confronted with news stories of terrorist bombings, and tragic fires, and terrible weeping and wailing – but my friends, hell is infinitely more painful and sorrowful. Jesus said that in hell "there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matt.13:42,50) and the fire "never shall be quenched" (Mark 9:43,45,48).
  1. WHICH THIEF WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY WITH?
    1. Like the two thieves on Calvary, you too may be only seconds away from eternity. None of us is guaranteed another day in this world (cf. Amos 4:12; Heb.9:27; James 4:14).
    2. The impenitent thief railed on our Lord, but the repentant thief asked the Lord to save him. Which thief will you meet when you leave this world?
    3. Will you go along with the crowd or will you take your stand for Jesus Christ, even if it means being rejected by your worldly friends and relatives? If you are not saved, today is the day of salvation! Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ who died for you. Don’t worry what others may think, be more concerned what God thinks.
    4. There were three crosses up on Mount Calvary that day. Which side of the cross are you on?

CONCLUSION:

The greatest thing about heaven is that Jesus will be there. Notice Jesus said to the penitent thief, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43; cf. John 14:13).

SAFELY HOME

I am home in heaven, dear ones;

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,

Safely home in heaven at last.

Did you wonder why I so calmly

Trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! But Jesus’ love illumined

Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me

In that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,

Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,

For I love you dearly still;

Try to look beyond life’s shadows,

Pray to trust our Father’s will.

There is work still waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now while life remaineth –

You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting,

Oh, the joy to see you come!

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