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“Father, Forgive Them” (Luke 23:34) - Did Christ Pray For All Who Crucified Him?
"And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And they cast lots to divide his garments." (Luke 23:34)
Did Jesus pray for all who crucified Him while He was on the Cross? The answer is no, according to St. Thomas Aquinas. Since Christ’s prayers were absolutely efficacious, being perfectly conformed to God's will, He only prayed for those in the world who would accept Him and were predestined to eternal life.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Pt. 3, Q. 21, A. 4, Whether Christ’s Prayer Was Always Heard: “Objection 2. Further, He [Christ] prayed that the sin of those who crucified Him might be forgiven, as is related (Luke 23:34). Yet not all were pardoned this sin, since the Jews were punished on account thereof. Therefore it seems that not every prayer of His was heard… I answer that, according to the will of reason, Christ willed nothing but what He knew God to will. Wherefore every absolute will of Christ, even human, was fulfilled, because it was in conformity with God; and consequently His every prayer was fulfilled. For in this respect also is it that other men's prayers are fulfilled, in that their will is in conformity with God, according to Romans 8:27… Reply to Objection 2: Our Lord did not pray for all those who crucified Him, as neither did He for all those who would believe in Him; but for those only who were predestinated to obtain eternal life through Him. Wherefore the reply to the third objection is also manifest.”
The Errors of Peter Abelard, Condemned by Innocent II, July 16, 1140, #10: “That they have not sinned who being ignorant have crucified Christ, and that whatever is done through ignorance must not be considered sin.” - Condemned.
St. John Chrysostom, On Luke 23:34: “But He [Jesus] says, Forgive them, if they should repent. For He is gracious to the penitent, if they are willing after so great wickedness to wash away their guilt by faith.”
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