Jesus final words to us has to have special meaning. 

“Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.  The beginning of the message caused me to ask: “Father show me the meaning of these words”. Who are these called “them”? They could be just “those, who truly don’t know what they are and have been doing.  Or they could be others.

See 2 Cor. 7:1-9

If we are hearing what Paul states in this passage; then we must conclude as Pastor Tom points out: that godly sorrow sees people through the Fathers eyes.  Jesus said pray for them: who are your enemies. 

Three ways to pray:

Pray for frustration to come for any evil that is in them.

Pray for there to be a conviction for their sins.

Pray for their repentance and conversion.

This is what Paul has shown us:

Paul’s former letter was condemning of the sin and the sinner in the camp. In this his second letter he is joyful, because his letter has brought repentance. 

Paul’s purpose then was the repentance of those who before had caused him pain. These were his enemies.  His purpose was to have “them” saved. You must ask yourself is then repentance necessary for one’s salvation? This seems to go without saying. The message is all about Paul’s purpose being their repentance in verse 9. If we truly love our enemies we must not give in, appease or accompany them in their sin, but for the sake of their salvation stand firmly with the truth of God’s word, while praying the prayer containing those points made above.

If we are to be pure before our Father in dealing with our enemies; then we cannot avoid His purpose, which is their repentance toward Him that He would forgive them.

My own repentance in this matter is that I might not point out the sin of others,& without having a proper motivation for their salvation even as Paul displayed here.