Unfortunately, religion has defrauded us through harmony of the gospels setting the table for our misunderstanding. This is just one of several events mostly surrounding Christ’s crucifixion that we have been fed through religion that are inaccurate.
Following are the applicable scripture of this account from each gospel. I am starting with
Luke ….then Matthew, Mark, and John. The scriptures that I did not post are linked in effort to condense this post …..as they did not add relevant information to the event. My comments are in
Red ….The rest…. is what God had written …
As you will see from Luke there were two
malefactors (
dyo kakourgos) crucified
with Jesus and later after an unknown amount of time, two
thieves (robbers) (
dyo lēstēs) were brought to be put to death.
The KJV has "
thieves" which is a horrible translation (many other versions got it right). The Greeks use an entirely different word for a
thief which is
kleptes…. and it means, one who acts stealthily. The word
lēstēs = robber, and that is used throughout this account of the crucifixion. A
robber is one who openly plans his dirty work using violence if necessary.
Malefactors - Greek = kakourgos is an evildoer.
Two – Greek = (dyo)
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Luke
23:32 And there were also two other,
malefactors (dyo kakourgos),
led WITH him to be put to death.
23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary,
there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
These two malefactors were led with Him and crucified at the same time that Jesus was crucified.
23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
23:35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
23:36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
23:37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Matthew
27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
27:36 And
sitting down they watched him there;
27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written,
THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27:38 “
THEN” were there two robbers (dyo lēstēs)
crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Then = Time (verse 38) were two robbers crucified with Him. This is after Jesus and the two malefactors had been crucified, after sitting down and watching him, after they accusation was placed over his head …..THEN were the two robbers crucified with Him.
27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
(
Mat 27:40,
Mat 27:41,
Mat 27:42)
27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
27:44 The robbers also, which were crucified with him,
cast the same in his teeth.
Both of these robbers cast the same in his teeth.
Mark – basically states the same thing as Matthew
15:24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
15:26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
15:27 And with him they crucify two robbers; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
↓ (
Mar 15:28,
Mar 15:29,
Mar 15:30)
15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.
And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
JOHN
19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
19:18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, “on either side” [one], and
Jesus in the midst.
The phrase “on either side” (in verse 18) is the Greek words enteuthen kai enteuthen….
.It means - on this side, and on that side
NOTE: The word “
ONE”
in verse 18 is omitted in every critical Greek text. it was added by translators. Any Greek-English interlinear will show there is no corresponding Greek word for the word “one”. (a deliberate forgery is a word or words purposely added to change a narrative, to bolster a belief)
The Greek version of John 19:18 reads - Where Him they crucified, and with Him others, two on this side and on that side, in between now Jesus.
19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
(
Jhn 19:20……through………
Jhn 19:30)
19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
John 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the
other which was crucified with him.
John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
The solders came to the robber first, then to the other, which would be the malefactor…then they came to Jesus.
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Why God had the gospels written the way they are….and why four crucified …..God only knows. Possibly the perspective of the different aspects of Jesus Christ ministry. Something the prophets of old foretold this in regard to the BRANCH in the OT, which fit with the 4 gospels as such….
Matthew - as
King,
Mark - as
Servant,
Luke – as
Man and
John – as
Son of God…
I don’t know….just a guess
What I do know is…. there always a significance to the things of God. But the one thing we don’t do is weave together sections of gospels into a single narrative, using our human reasoning to see how they harmonize….that is an attempt to bring God down to our level.
We read through scripture, we see what each gospel adds to the account, we see how it fits ….. We don’t make the similar identical and we don’t dismiss scripture because it doesn’t fit our narrative or assumed belief..... Because every day for Christians….. it is the integrity of the Word of God that we are responsible for.
Someone once told me that this is controversial ….because it goes against what he was taught ….Well, I didn’t author the Book…….. At the end of the day, it’s up to you what you accept. You can hold on to your beliefs or believe what is written.
