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Unlock the depths of Christian theology by exploring why Jesus quoted David’s words from Psalm 22:1 before His crucifixion. This comprehensive study offers keen insights into the Messianic fulfillment and the intricate tapestry of God’s Word spanning both Testaments.

The question of why Jesus, during His crucifixion, cried out the words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”—a quote from Psalm 22:1—has long been the subject of intense theological scrutiny. To understand this fully, one must examine the linguistic, historical, and theological layers embedded in the text.

Contextualizing the Quotation in the Passion Narrative

First, it is essential to establish the context in which Jesus quotes this psalm. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus utters these words while He is on the cross, nearing the end of His earthly life. By this point, He has endured severe physical torment, public humiliation, and the apparent absence of divine intervention.

The Hebrew Scripture Backdrop: Psalm 22 in the Old Testament

To comprehend the depth of Jesus’ words, one needs to explore Psalm 22 in the ASV. This psalm was penned by David during a period of intense suffering and apparent abandonment by God. David begins the psalm with the exact words Jesus would later use: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” However, as one reads through the psalm, it shifts from despair to hope, from abandonment to divine vindication.

The Messianic Undertones

The New Testament, particularly in the ESV, offers multiple instances where Old Testament texts are employed to communicate theological truths about Jesus Christ. Psalm 22, while initially an expression of David’s personal anguish, is seen by many conservative scholars as a messianic text, prefiguring the suffering, death, and eventual exaltation of Jesus. When Jesus quotes this psalm, He identifies Himself not just with David but also with the entire narrative arc of redemption that extends from the Old Testament into the New.

The Theology of Divine Abandonment

Now, one might wonder, was Jesus genuinely abandoned by God? In terms of the ontological nature of the Trinity, the Father did not literally forsake the Son. However, in a relational sense relating to His humanity, Jesus felt the weight of the sins of the world and the severity of divine justice. His quotation of Psalm 22 expressed the depth of His suffering as a representative of humanity, and not an indication that the intra-Trinitarian relationship was broken.

Jesus as the Ultimate Sufferer

Jesus’ cry from the cross echoes the sentiments of every suffering individual who has felt abandoned by God. But unlike ordinary humans, Jesus suffered as the sinless one who carried upon Himself the sins of the world. In this respect, He fully embodied the meaning of the suffering servant foreseen by Old Testament prophets, becoming the ultimate expression of unjust suffering. His cry is thus not only His own but also encompasses the suffering of humanity as a whole.

The Shift from Abandonment to Hope

It’s important to note that Jesus’ utterance should be read in tandem with the entirety of Psalm 22. While the psalm starts in despair, it moves toward a strong affirmation of faith in Jehovah’s ultimate deliverance. This shift from lament to praise is profoundly mirrored in the events that followed Jesus’ crucifixion: the resurrection and ascension.

Conclusion

When Jesus quotes Psalm 22:1, He is doing far more than merely expressing His personal anguish. He is aligning Himself with the Old Testament tradition of the suffering righteous and pointing toward His role as the culmination of that tradition. Moreover, by invoking this particular psalm, Jesus provides a lens through which to view His death and resurrection, encapsulating the themes of despair, abandonment, and ultimate vindication. He takes upon Himself the role of the ultimate Sufferer but also the ultimate Redeemer, offering a profound commentary on the human condition and the divine plan.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).