“Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”

Soldiers and guards are given enormous discretion within their duties.  They assume the mantle of their superiors.  Was Jesus forgiving the doers, the guards carrying out his execution or all involved: the priests, Judas, the mob, Pontius Pilate and finally the soldiers who carried out the crucifixion.  We know he forgave one of the thieves who was crucified with him.

I always believed Jesus meant everyone, including us, but today am not sure.  It could have been Jesus spoke of only soldiers doing the actual hands-on crucifixion, but not extending the prayer of absolution to Pontius Pilate or Judas, of whom Jesus said, “It would have been better had [he] not been born.”

Of Pilate, we don’t know.  The Roman Catholic Profession of Faith dropped the name-drop that Jesus died “under Pontius Pilate”.  I suppose Pilate is like a governor representative of the community he governed, not any better than those that allowed a mob to assume power in his stead, handing him over to the Roman guards to be executed.  The soldiers did their duty and cast lots for Jesus’ garments as he hung on the cross. “They know not what they do.”

https://johnrubens.wordpress.com/2016/08/11/discretion-and-duty