1. CARELESS WORDS
"If thou be Christ, save thyself and us".
Spoken by the rebellious thief.
(a) His big mistake - He doubted - "If".
(b) His bad manners - He demanded - "save thyself and us". Speaking to Almighty God in such a way was both blasphemous and irreverent.
2. CAREFUL WORDS
"Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss...Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom".
(a) His rebuke of the sceptic - "Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds".
(b) His regard for the Saviour - "this man hath done nothing amiss".
(c) His request to the Sovereign - "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom".
3. CARING WORDS
"Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise".
(a) Something to look forward to - "paradise".
(b) Someone to hold on to - "me".
Wash me, O Lamb of God,
Wash me from sin!
Thou, while I trust in Thee,
Wilt keep me clean.
Each day to Thee I bring
Heart, life — yea, ev’rything;
Saved, while to Thee I cling,
Saved from all sin!
