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Matthew 27:44 In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Mark 15:43 Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Luke 24:39-43 One of the criminals rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God, “he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus remember me when you come to your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Commentary:

By interpreting the reference to the two men crucified with Christ from both Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:43, one concludes that they simply insulted Christ and that was the end of the story. Further study of the scripture, however, sheds an entirely new light. In the Gospel of Luke, the simplicity of salvation is unfolded. This criminal had no time to do good works or time to learn scriptures. Through his recognition of who Christ was, his repentance and his placement of trust upon Christ, he received the undeserving gift of eternal life. This is why each of us must rely on the entire Bible when establishing the basis of our Christian knowledge.