What Does Luke 23:43 Mean?

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

If you click on any advertisement for an exotic getaway, somewhere in the description you’re sure to find the word “paradise” to describe the experience: “Come relax in paradise!” We seldom use or read the word apart from the context of a vacation. But when Jesus promises paradise in Luke 23:43, He has in mind something much better than a tropical getaway.

The scene described in this passage of Scripture is well known. The Lord has been crucified between two thieves. Both begin by mocking Him, joining the crowds and priests who were engaged in the same satanic derision. Only Luke records what happened next. Whether it was the astounding mercy of Jesus asking His Father to forgive His tormentors (Luke 23:34) or the realization of his fast-approaching death, one of the thieves has a change of heart.

He first rebukes the other thief, “We deserve this, but this Man—He is innocent” (see Luke 23:40–41, paraphrased). He looks at Jesus and offers the simplest of petitions: “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Jesus’ answer to this request teaches us the wonders of the gospel.

We will look at five words or clauses from this verse to help us understand the promise Jesus made to the thief and still offers to us.

“Today”

This one word changes our entire understanding of what happens after death. Jesus assures us that through simple faith and faith alone in Him, we are saved immediately. In every other world religion, philosophy, or aberrant form of Christianity that believes in an afterlife, salvation is always in doubt because it is suspended, in some measure, on our performance. There is no divine assurance of “today” found in any other religion or philosophy.

The gospel is different. Our eternal salvation is immediate upon death because Jesus’ work on the cross is sufficient. After all, this thief had no opportunity to perform any good works. Just the opposite, in fact—his life was a sad tale of evil works, which is why he was being crucified in the first place.

But he recognized that his only hope for paradise was found in the Man hanging next to Him. All the thief did was ask, and Jesus assured him that when he died, he would begin a new life. Immediately. The same offer still stands for us today.

“You”

Jesus offers paradise to this man and him only. The other thief and those who passed by continued to deride the Savior (see Matt 27:39–44). We learn, therefore, that the promise of paradise is personal and exclusive.

It is personal because we, as individuals, must believe in Jesus for ourselves. No one can do it for us. It is exclusive because only those who ask Jesus will be saved. Put more simply, Jesus did not die on the cross to make salvation possible, but to save, fully and finally, any who place their faith in Him—and only those.

“Will Be”

Paradise with Jesus is immediate and personally appropriated. It is also certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt. That’s what Jesus is affirming in these two words.

Once again, every other world religion or philosophy falls short on this crucial point. At best, they can offer only a vague, flimsy wish for heaven. Why? Because, to the degree that our hope of paradise depends in any way on what we do, to that same degree our certainty diminishes.

But heaven, according to Jesus, is not wishful thinking. It is a reality guaranteed by His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. When we know we’re going to paradise, the obstacles we meet along the way are transformed into stepping stones to a higher plane of existence. This unshakable hope has enabled Christians to endure all kinds of trials, difficulties, and sufferings with joy.

“With Me”

As his life dripped down the crossbeam next to Jesus, the born-again thief must have taken the greatest comfort from these two words. It wasn’t the promise of relief from unimaginable suffering that filled this criminal with hope, but the promise of life forever with the One who granted him eternal life as a free gift.

A recent poll revealed that most Americans still believe in heaven. But most people’s conception of heaven or paradise is just a better version of their best life here. By contrast, the Christian’s greatest bliss is not what he will get from heaven but from being with the One who gives it all. Heavenly life is so glorious precisely because we will enjoy unbroken communion with the King of Glory.

“In Paradise”

The Greek word for “paradise” comes from a Hebrew word that means “garden,” usually in reference to the garden of Eden. Jesus is promising eternal life in a restored, escalated Eden for all who, like this thief, cry out to Him in plain, unadorned faith.

We need to be careful here. While the paradise into which we enter at death is incomparably greater than we can conceive, it is still incomplete until Jesus returns. It is only when Jesus comes again that the restored Eden will finally be realized, in all its breathtaking fullness.

In the meantime, if we have “thief-like” faith, every one of our “todays” will look forward to that bright “today” when we will be with Him forever in paradise.