Jesus Christ Quotes Psalm 22 in Crucifixion Prayer
Jesus Christ quotes Psalm 22 during his crucifixion prayer, saying "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34), referencing the opening verse of Psalm 22 [7]. This psalm is a crucial messianic prophecy that foretells Christ's sufferings and subsequent glorification.
The literary context of Psalm 22 is a lament followed by praise. The psalmist first cries out to God for help, describing his distress and abandonment (Psalm 22:1-21). He then transitions to a declaration of praise, vowing to declare God's name to his brothers in the midst of the assembly (Psalm 22:22) [1]. The New Testament writers saw in this psalm a detailed prophecy of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.
The historical setting of Psalm 22 is rooted in the Old Testament, with David traditionally considered the author. However, the New Testament application of this psalm to Christ indicates that its true fulfillment lies in his sufferings and glorification. The writer to the Hebrews quotes Psalm 22:22, applying it directly to Jesus, highlighting his solidarity with humanity and his role as the ultimate righteous sufferer [2].
Key terms in Psalm 22 include "my God, my God" (Psalm 22:1), which Jesus quotes on the cross, and "my brothers" (Psalm 22:22), which the writer to the Hebrews interprets as referring to believers in Christ [5]. The psalm also contains imagery that was fulfilled in Christ's crucifixion, such as being surrounded by dogs and lions (Psalm 22:16, 20-21).
The major exegetical decision surrounding Psalm 22 is its christological interpretation. While the psalm's original context is David's suffering, the New Testament writers, including the author of Hebrews, interpret it as a prophecy of Christ's passion [2, 5]. Early Church Fathers, such as Justin Martyr, also saw Psalm 22 as a prediction of Christ's crucifixion and his last prayers on earth [4].
The range of interpretations of Psalm 22 includes both its original context as a lament psalm and its fulfillment in Christ. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, views the psalm as a clear testimony to "the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow" [6]. Protestant academics also emphasize the psalm's messianic prophecies and its application to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection [2, 3, 7].
Psalm 22 has functioned significantly in Christian tradition, particularly in understanding Christ's passion. It has been used in liturgy and has informed theological reflections on Christ's sufferings and glorification. The psalm's themes of abandonment, suffering, and ultimate vindication continue to shape Christian understanding of the cross and resurrection.
The use of Psalm 22 in the New Testament, particularly in the context of Christ's crucifixion, underscores the early Christian community's understanding of Jesus' death as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This psalm remains a crucial text for understanding the theological significance of Christ's sufferings and the subsequent glorification that followed [2, 7].
Sources
- Psalms “I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the assembly, I will praise you. -- Psalms 22:22”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 2:12: 2:12 This verse quotes Ps 22:22, commenting on the phrase brothers and sisters in Heb 2:11. Psalm 22 contains profound messianic prophecies concerning the sufferings of Christ (Ps 22:1, 7-8, 16-18; see Matt 27:35, 43; John 19:23-24, 31-36). Psalm 22:22 shows the solidarity of the righteous sufferer (Jesus) with the people of God in praising God for his help.”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 23:35: 23:35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed (see Ps 22:7-8): Psalm 22 speaks of David, a righteous sufferer, crying out to God for protection. Jesus, David’s descendant, was the ultimate righteous sufferer who fulfilled Ps 22.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. CV.--THE PSALM ALSO PREDICTS THE CRUCIFIXION AND THE SUBJECT OF THE LAST PRAYERS OF CHRIST ON EARTH. (part 1): "And what follows of the Psalm,--'But Thou, Lord, do not remove Thine assistance from me; give heed to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword, and my(9) only-begotten from the hand of the dog; save me from the lion's mouth, and my humility from the horns of the unicorns,'--was also information and prediction of the events which should befall Him. For I have already proved that He was the only-be”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 22:22: 22:22-24 The psalmist praises the Lord and calls for the godly to join him. He tells of God’s goodness to the needy, including himself. 22:22 I will proclaim your name: The writer to the Hebrews ascribes these words to Jesus (Heb 2:12). • my brothers and sisters: Literally my brothers. In the New Testament quotation, the Greek translation picks up the broader meaning as “my brothers and sisters.””
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 22 (introduction): The Spirit of Christ, which was in the prophets, testifies in this psalm, as clearly and fully as any where in all the Old Testament, "the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow" (Pe1 1:11); of him, no doubt, David here speaks, and not of himself, or any other man. Much of it is expressly applied to Christ in the New Testament, all of it may be applied to him, and some of it must be understood of him only. The providences of God concerning David were so very extraordinary that we may suppose there were some wise and good men who then co”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 22:1: Ps 22 All previous laments pale in comparison with this outcry against the enemy and God’s abandonment. The psalm contains two main sections: the lament (22:1-21) and praise for redemption (22:22-31), which leads naturally to Ps 23. The apostles saw in this psalm an expression of the sufferings of Jesus Christ, who ultimately fulfilled the purpose of David’s humiliation, rejection by people, and divine abandonment (Matt 27:35, 39, 43, 46; Mark 15:34; John 19:23-24, 28; Heb 2:12). 22:1-21 The psalmist alternates between reflections on his present dire circumstances”