Luke 23:43

“And Jesus said unto him, etc.] Jesus immediately answered him, though he said not one word to the other that railed at him, or to the multitude that abused him; and promised him more than he asked for, and sooner than he expected. Verily I say unto thee, today thou shall be with me in paradise; ˆd[ ˆgb, “in the garden of Eden”; not the earthly paradise, nor the church militant, but the future place, and state of the happiness of the saints, even heaven, and eternal glory, which the Jews frequently call by this name; (see Gill on “<471204>2 Corinthians 12:4”) and is so called, because, as the earthly paradise, or Eden's garden, was of God's planting, so is the heavenly glory of his providing…”

“Jesus said, &c.--The dying Redeemer speaks as if He Himself viewed it in this light. It was a "song in the night." It ministered cheer to His spirit in the midnight gloom that now enwrapt it. Verily I say unto thee--"Since thou speakest as to the king, with kingly authority speak I to thee." To-day--"Thou art prepared for a long delay before I come into My kingdom, but not a day's delay shall there be for thee; thou shalt not be parted from Me even for a moment, but together we shall go, and with Me, ere this day expire, shalt thou be in Paradise" (future bliss, Co2 12:4; Rev 2:7). Learn (1) How "One is taken and another left"; (2) How easily divine teaching can raise the rudest and worst…”

“Today ... - It is not probable that the dying thief expected that his prayer would be so soon answered. It is rather to be supposed that he looked to some “future” period when the Messiah would rise or would return; but Jesus told him that his prayer would be answered that very day, implying, evidently, that it would be “immediately” at death. This is the more remarkable, as those who were crucified commonly lingered for several days on the cross before they died; but Jesus foresaw that measures would be taken to “hasten” their death, and assured him that “that” day he should receive an answer to his prayer and be with him in his kingdom. Paradise - This is a word of “Persian” origin, and…”

“In paradise - The place where the souls of the righteous remain from death till the resurrection. As if he had said, I will not only remember thee then, but this very day. Luke 23:44”

“23:43 Jesus corrected the man by assuring him that today he would be vindicated in God’s presence (see also 2:11; 4:21; 5:26; 19:9). • The word translated paradise comes from a Persian word that means “garden”; it was used in Jewish literature for the Garden of Eden and also for heaven, the place of eternal bliss for God’s people (see 2 Cor 12:4; Rev 2:7; cp. Luke 16:22-23; 2 Cor 5:8).”

“To day: Luk 15:4, Luk 15:5, Luk 15:20-24, Luk 19:10; Job 33:27-30; Psa 32:5, Psa 50:15; Isa 1:18, Isa 1:19; Isa 53:11, Isa 55:6-9, Isa 65:24; Mic 7:18; Mat 20:15, Mat 20:16; Rom 5:20, Rom 5:21; Ti1 1:15, Ti1 1:16; Heb 7:25 with: Joh 14:3, Joh 17:24; Co2 5:8; Phi 1:23 in: Co2 12:4; Rev 2:7 Luke 23:44”