Sarah Mitchell
Psalm 22, also known as My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?, is a psalm in the Bible. It is recited by Jews, Orthodox, Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans. The New Testament makes several allusions to Psalm 22, particularly during the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus quotes the first verse of the psalm, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?, from the cross. This verse is also alluded to in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark. Jesus's quotation of Psalm 22 is seen by some as an indication that he was not God, as God cannot forsake himself. However, others interpret it as a way for Jesus to identify with humanity's suffering and as a fulfillment of prophecy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Book | Old Testament of the Bible |
| Recited by Jesus | Yes |
| Recited by Jesus during | Crucifixion |
| Verse recited by Jesus | Verse 1 |
| Verse 1 | "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" |
| Indicates | Jesus was not God |
| Indicates | Jesus was a righteous sufferer |
| Indicates | Jesus was the son of David |
| Refers to | Jesus' death as prophesied |
| Refers to | Jesus' bones not being broken |
| Refers to | Jesus as a sacrifice for sins |
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What You'll Learn
Jesus' final words
Jesus's final words are referred to as the Seven Last Words from the Cross and are an integral part of the liturgy in the Catholic, Protestant, and other Christian traditions. They are seven expressions attributed to Jesus during his crucifixion and gathered from the four canonical gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
In Matthew and Mark, Jesus cries out to God, quoting the first verse of Psalm 22: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46). This is also quoted as "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" in Mark 15:34 and "Eloey, Eloey, lema sabaktanei" in Matthew 27:46. According to some, this was Jesus identifying with all of us who have known betrayal, abandonment, humiliation, dehumanization, and injustice.
In Luke, he forgives his killers, reassures the penitent thief, and commends his spirit to the Father. This is known as "The Word of Forgiveness" and is interpreted as Jesus' prayer for forgiveness for those involved in his crucifixion. He also says, "Today, you will be with me in paradise," known as "The Word of Salvation."
In John, he speaks to his mother, saying, "Woman, behold thy son!" and then to the disciple, "Behold thy mother!" entrusting his mother, Mary, into the disciple's care. This is known as "The Word of Relationship." He also says he thirsts and declares the end of his earthly life, stating, "It is finished," indicating that his suffering for the sins of the world was complete.
Jesus's final words reflect his divine nature and his obedience to God's will. They have been widely used in sermons and set to music, providing comfort and strength to Christians throughout the ages.
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Jesus' divinity
The divinity of Jesus Christ is a central tenet of Christianity, with the New Testament making numerous references to Christ's divinity. The Bible directly states that Jesus is God, and ascribes several divine characteristics to him, including eternity, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and immutability. The names of God are often applied to Jesus, such as "the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father", "Immanuel" ("God with us"), "The Lord (Jehovah) our Righteousness", and "Son of God".
Jesus himself claimed deity and placed himself in the position of Yahweh, assuming divine prerogatives and performing works that only God can do, such as healing the paralytic and forgiving sins. He also referred to himself in ways that hinted at his deity, such as identifying himself as the Son of Man, a figure with everlasting dominion and authority. The apostle Paul refers to the divinity of Christ, calling Jesus the "great God and Savior" (Titus 2:13) and stating that Jesus existed in the "form of God" before his incarnation (Philippians 2:5-8).
Christology, the branch of Christian theology that studies the nature and work of Jesus Christ, explores the relationship between his humanity and divinity. Early Christian writings gave Jesus titles such as Son of Man, Son of God, Messiah, and Kyrios, derived from Hebrew scripture. The Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD affirmed the hypostatic union of Christ's two natures, one human and one divine, a view held by most major branches of Western Christianity and Eastern Orthodoxy. However, some churches, such as the Oriental Orthodox Churches, adhere to Miaphysitism, which asserts a single composite divine-human nature.
The recitation of Psalm 22 by Jesus on the cross is seen as further evidence of his divinity. In his final words, Jesus quotes the psalm, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46), indicating his identification with humanity's suffering and his trust in God despite apparent abandonment. Christians interpret other verses of Psalm 22 as prophecies of Jesus's crucifixion, such as "they have pierced my hands and my feet" (Psalm 22:16) and "I can count all my bones" (Psalm 22:17).
In conclusion, the divinity of Jesus is a fundamental belief in Christianity, supported by biblical references, Christ's own claims and actions, and theological interpretations. The recitation of Psalm 22 serves as a powerful reminder of Christ's identification with human suffering and his trust in God, further highlighting his divine nature.
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Prophecies of crucifixion
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is prophesied in the Old Testament, specifically in Psalm 22, and fulfilled in the New Testament. According to the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Mark, Jesus recited the opening verse of Psalm 22 from the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46).
Psalm 22, also known as "Deus, Deus meus" in Latin, is about an individual crying out to God to save them from their enemies and, ultimately, thanking God for rescuing them.
The New Testament makes several allusions to Psalm 22 during the crucifixion of Jesus. For instance, in addition to the opening verse, Verse 7, "They hurl insults, shaking their heads" is quoted in Mark 15:29 and Matthew 27:39. Verse 8, "He trusted in the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him", is quoted in Matthew 27:43.
Furthermore, Psalm 22 contains prophecies indicating the manner of Jesus's crucifixion. For example, Christians interpret "They have pierced my hands and my feet" (Psalm 22:16) and "I can count all my bones" (Psalm 22:17) as foretelling that Jesus would be nailed to a cross (John 20:25) and that none of his bones would be broken (Numbers 9:11-13).
Psalm 22:18, "They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment", is also quoted in Mark 15:24, Matthew 27:35, Luke 23:34, and John 19:24. This prophecy was fulfilled when the Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus' seamless undergarment after his death (John 19:23-24).
Other prophecies in Psalm 22 include Jesus's intense thirst as He died on the cross (Psalm 22:15), and Jesus being with criminals in His death (Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 53:12; Mark 15:27).
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Jesus' anguish
Jesus's anguish is a central theme in the Christian tradition, and Psalm 22 is often cited as a reflection of the emotional and physical torment that Jesus endured during his crucifixion.
The opening line of Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", is quoted in the Gospel of Mark and Matthew as the words of Jesus on the cross. This anguished cry is seen as an expression of Jesus's emotional suffering, his sense of abandonment, and his faith in God's ultimate victory. The cry also underscores the belief that Jesus was the son of David, the rightful heir to the throne.
The New Testament makes several allusions to Psalm 22 during the crucifixion narrative. For instance, Psalm 22:18, "They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots", is referenced in all four gospels to describe the actions of the Roman soldiers. This verse underscores the proximity of Jesus's death and the fulfilment of Scripture.
Other verses in Psalm 22 that are alluded to in the New Testament include Psalm 22:8, "He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him...for he delights in him", which is echoed in the crowd's mocking of Jesus for his trust in God. Additionally, Psalm 22:6, with the word "worm" translated as "crimson", and Psalm 22:16, "they have pierced my hands and my feet", are seen as prophecies indicating the manner of Jesus's crucifixion.
Jesus's anguish is not only reflected in his words from the cross but also in his prayers. He prayed for deliverance from his suffering while submitting to God's will, enduring the humiliation, rejection, and contempt of those around him.
Psalm 22, therefore, serves as a powerful reminder of Jesus's humanity and his identification with human suffering. It illustrates his unwavering faith in God, even in the depths of his anguish, and provides comfort and strength to believers facing their own trials.
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The righteous sufferer
Psalm 22, also known as "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?", is a psalm in the Bible that is regularly recited in Jewish, Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies. The psalm describes the psalmist's agony and suffering, crying out to God to save him from his enemies and thanking God for eventually rescuing him.
Jesus, an observant Jew, recited the first verse of Psalm 22 from the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?". By reciting this verse, Jesus drew upon the psalm's broader context of a righteous sufferer who waits for deliverance by God. This is evident in the following verses of Psalm 22, which describe the psalmist's anguish and feelings of abandonment by God. Jesus, in his darkest hour, expressed his trust and confidence in God, even in the face of immense suffering and despair.
The New Testament makes several allusions to Psalm 22 during the crucifixion of Jesus. For example, Psalm 22:7, "They hurl insults, shaking their heads", is quoted in Mark 15:29 and Matthew 27:39, reflecting the scorn and derision Jesus faced. Psalm 22:18, "They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots", is another allusion, described in all four gospels (Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, and John 19:24). This verse portrays the psalmist's proximity to death, as his enemies anticipate his demise.
Some Christians interpret Psalm 22 as containing prophecies about the manner of Jesus's crucifixion. For instance, "They have pierced my hands and my feet" (Psalm 22:16) and "I can count all my bones" (Psalm 22:17) are seen as foretelling the crucifixion method and the fact that none of Jesus's bones would be broken, respectively.
In conclusion, Jesus's recitation of Psalm 22 on the cross identifies him as the righteous sufferer described by David in the psalm. Jesus, in his humanity, expressed his anguish and despair, while also proclaiming his unwavering faith in God, even in the face of rejection, ridicule, and physical torment.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Jesus recited the first verse of Psalm 22 from the cross.
Psalm 22 is about a person crying out to God to save them from the taunts and torments of their enemies and thanking God for rescuing them.
By reciting the first verse of Psalm 22, Jesus was expressing his despair at being forsaken by God and his hope for salvation.
There are several allusions to Psalm 22 in the Gospels, including:
- "They hurl insults, shaking their heads" (Psalm 22:7, Mark 15:29, Matthew 27:39)
- "He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him...for he delights in him" (Psalm 22:8, Matthew 27:43)
- "They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing, they cast lots" (Psalm 22:18, Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, John 19:24)
