“The Scripture
Was fulfilled
That says.
‘He was counted
Among the lawless.’”
Καὶ ἐπληρώθη ἡ γραφὴ ἡ λέγουσα, Καὶ μετὰ ἀνόμων ἐλογίσθη
This verse is only in a few Orthodox manuscripts. This points to the role of the 2 bandits to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 53:12, about the suffering servant. Mark said that scripture was fulfilled (Καὶ ἐπληρώθη ἡ γραφὴ) that said (ἡ λέγουσα) that the suffering servant Messiah would be counted among the lawless (Καὶ μετὰ ἀνόμων ἐλογίσθη).
“Thus,
All that you brought
Upon us,
All that you have done
To us,
You have done
By a true judgment.
You have handed us over
To our enemies,
Lawless,
Hateful rebels.
You have handed us over
To an unjust king,
The most wicked
In all the world.”
Azariah continued his prayer. Due to their sinfulness, God executed a proper and true judgment. He has handed over the Judeans to their enemies, the lawless and hateful rebels of Babylon. They were turned over to an unjust king, the most wicked king in the whole world. Remember, up until this incident of the golden statue, Azariah and his 2 friends were serving this king in his royal court. I could see how this furnace punishment might change their minds.
“If one sacrifices ill-gotten goods,
The offering is blemished.
The gifts of the lawless
Are not acceptable.
The Most High is not pleased
With the offerings of the ungodly.
He does not forgive sins
For a multitude of sacrifices.
Like one who kills a son,
Before his father’s eyes,
Is the person
Who offers a sacrifice
From the property of the poor.
The bread of the needy
Is the life of the poor.
Whoever deprives them of it
Is a murderer.
To take away a neighbor’s living
Is to commit murder.
To deprive an employee of his wages
Is to shed blood.”
There are some sacrifices that are not acceptable to the Lord. Sirach points out that stolen or ill-gotten goods sacrificed are blemished and thus unacceptable. Even good gifts from the lawless and the ungodly will not be acceptable. A lot of sacrifices do not forgive sins. If you sacrifice the property of the poor, you are like a person killing a son before his own father. The bread of the poor is needed for their life. You are a murderer when you take bread from the poor. If you take away the living of your neighbor, you are a murderer. To deprive anyone of their wages is like shedding their blood. In other words, to steal from the poor or take away their livelihood is like murdering them.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 