Thank you for your feedback and your question. Most people mistakenly assume that the thief was “saved” when Jesus said to him: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Two important principles of Bible study are to read a difficult-to-understand verse in its context and then in the broader context of the entire Bible. The meaning of this verse must agree with the rest of the Bible, for “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).

So let’s look at the context in which Christ made this statement. He was replying to the thief’s plea, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Obviously, then, “paradise” means the Kingdom of God—not heaven, a meaning that people attempt to read into verse 43.

What does a broader context of the entire Bible tell us? The Kingdom referred to is the rule of God’s government over the entire earth, with Christ as its King. Who will enter that Kingdom? The “sheep” of His flock, or Christians, will inherit the Kingdom at the return of Christ (Matthew 25:31-34; Daniel 7:27). Human beings, “flesh and blood,” cannot inherit that Kingdom, only those converted and remaining faithful in their obedient service to God (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

It is unreasonable to think that the thief was instantly converted. He may have been sorrowful for his mistakes, but he did not have the opportunity to seek baptism, the gift of the Holy Spirit (which comes through prayer and the laying on of hands by God’s ministry). Moreover, he had no opportunity to live a life of obedience to God—all aspects of the biblically revealed process of conversion. Contrary to stories people tell of “deathbed repentance,” conversion does not occur instantaneously. The thief merely made a positive comment about Jesus Christ, and Christ spoke comforting words to him in return.

We also need to answer this question: Did Jesus Himself enter “paradise” that day? By His own mouth, He was in the grave for the next three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40). This, in itself, tells you that the thief did not join Christ anywhere that day. After being resurrected, Christ told Mary Magdalene, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father…’” (John 20:17).

What, then, is the accurate way to understand what Christ said to the thief? The New King James Version reads, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” However, the Greek text of the Scriptures has no punctuation; translators added it, thinking to smooth out the text. In this instance, they misplaced the punctuation due to a lack of understanding of the above factors.

If we simply delete the comma after “you” and instead place it after “today,” the meaning changes significantly—and agrees with the rest of the Bible. It reads, “Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise.” Christ gave the thief the absolute promise on the day they were dying that he would (eventually, but not that same day) be with Christ in His Father’s Kingdom.