Ten Ways We See Psalm 22 Fulfilled in the NT

1 Aug

In his book Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture, Graeme Goldsworthy reminds us that, “The meaning of all the Scriptures is unlocked by the death and resurrection of Jesus”.[1] Here are ten ways we see Psalm 22 fulfilled through Jesus. [2]

1. Psalm 22:1

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning?”

Matthew 27:46: About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Mark 15:34: And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

(Jesus quotes Psalm 22 from the cross)

2. Psalm 22:7–8

“Everyone who sees me mocks me; they sneer and shake their heads: 8 “He relies on the Lord; let Him rescue him; let the Lord deliver him, since He takes pleasure in him.””

Matthew 27:39–43: Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “The One who would demolish the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him and said, 42 “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 He has put His trust in God; let God rescue Him now—if He wants Him! For He said, ‘I am God’s Son.’ ”

Mark 15:29–32: Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The One who would demolish the sanctuary and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself by coming down from the cross!” 31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking Him to one another and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself! 32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with Him were taunting Him.

Luke 23:35: The people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing: “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”

(People passing by mock Jesus)

3. Psalm 22:14–15

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax, melting within me. 15 My strength is dried up like baked clay; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You put me into the dust of death.”

John 19:28–30: 28 After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty!” 29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop and held it up to His mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

(Jesus’ suffering on the cross reflects the kind of suffering described in Psalm 22)

4. Psalm 22:16

“For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet.”

John 20:25–27: So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!” 26 After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”

(Thomas sees the piercings in Jesus’ hands. See also, Matthew 27:39–44, Mark 15:29–32, Luke 23:35 above for examples of people surrounding him and closing in on him.)

5. Psalm 22:18

“They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.”

Matthew 27:35: After crucifying Him they divided His clothes by casting lots.

Mark 15:24: Then they crucified Him and divided His clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get.

Luke 23:34: And they divided His clothes and cast lots.

John 19:23–24: 23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” They did this to fulfill the Scripture that says: They divided My clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for My clothing. And this is what the soldiers did.

(As in Psalm 22, the soldiers divide Jesus’ clothes and cast lots for them.)

6. Psalm 22:22

“I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the congregation.”

Hebrews 2:11-12: For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying: I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing hymns to You in the congregation.

(Jesus calls those who have been sanctified his brothers and sisters.)

7. Psalm 22:24

“For He has not despised or detested the torment of the afflicted. He did not hide His face from him but listened when he cried to Him for help.”

Hebrews 5:7–8: During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8 Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.

(As in Psalm 22, Jesus prays to and is heard by God, concerning the torment of those who are afflicted.)

8. Psalm 22:27

“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord. All the families of the nations will bow down before You.”

Philippians 2:10–11: At the name of Jesus every knee will bow — of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth — 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

9. Psalm 22:30

“Their descendants will serve Him; the next generation will be told about the LORD.”

Matthew 28:18–20: Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(The next generation will hear about the Lord, because the Lord Jesus has commanded us to keep sharing the gospel until the end of the age.)

10. Psalm 22:31 (NIV)

“They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!”

John 19:30: When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

(Just as Jesus dies, he says, “It is finished”, because, in the words of Psalm 22:31, “he has done it”. He has completed the mission given him by the Father. )

Notes:

[1] Graeme Goldsworthy, Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000), 54.

[2] All citations from HCSB unless stated otherwise.

Martin Robinson