What does Matthew 27:46 Mean?

Study Notes

why
Psalms 22:3 gives the answer to this significant and terrible cry:

Verse Meaning

Jesus cried out the words of Psalm 22:1 because His Father was abandoning Him. It was out of a similar sense of abandonment that David originally wrote the words of this psalm. [source][source]

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". . . the psalm expresses the spiritual desolation of a man who continues to trust and to appeal to God in spite of the fact that his ungodly opponents mock and persecute him with impunity." ^[1] [source]

Separation from the Father must have been the worst part of the Cross for Jesus who had never before experienced anything but intimate fellowship with His Father. Jesus became the center of God"s judgment on mankind"s sin (cf. Romans 3:21-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21). ^[2] [source]

"Here Jesus was bearing the sins of the whole world, and even God the Father had to turn away as Jesus bore the curse and identified Himself with the sins of the whole world. When Jesus actually died, He commended Himself back into the Father"s hands." ^[3] [source]

The NASB has "Eli, Eli" that transliterates the Hebrew words that mean "My God, my God." The NIV has "Eloi, Eloi," the Aramaic words that mean the same thing. Probably the NIV is correct here. Jesus evidently quoted these words in Aramaic (cf. Mark 15:34). The remaining words "lama sabachthani" are Aramaic. Matthew translated Jesus" Aramaic words into Greek, or perhaps a later copyist made the change. [source][source]

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By comparing the Gospel accounts we know that Jesus spoke seven times while hanging on the cross. First, He said, "Father, forgive them" ( Luke 23:34). Second, He told one of the insurrectionists crucified with Him, "Today you shall be with me in paradise" ( Luke 23:43). Third, He told His mother, "Woman, behold your Song of Solomon ," and He told John , "Behold, your mother" ( John 19:26-27). Fourth, He cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ( Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). Fifth, He said, "I thirst" ( John 19:28). Sixth, He exclaimed, "It is finished" ( John 19:30). Seventh, He cried, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit" ( Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:46). [source][source]

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Context Summary

With hushed hearts we stand in the presence of "that sight." It is the tragedy of time; the one supreme act of self-surrender; the unique unapproachable sacrifice and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. It is here that myriads of sin-sick, terror-stricken souls, in every century, have found refuge. It is here that martyrs have been made strong to endure. It is here that Jacob's ladder rested, in the lower places of the earth, for He that ascended is the same also that first "descended into the lower parts of the earth." He became "obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore"¦." See Philippians 2:8.

The centurion had seen other crucified ones die, but never one like this. He recognized the superhuman elements of the scene. But for us, the emotions of this hour are not those of wonder, but of loving gratitude and faith. He "loved me" He "gave Himself up for me," Galatians 2:20. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 27

¹  Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate
³  Judas hangs himself
¹⁹  Pilate, admonished of his wife,
²⁰  and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas
²⁷  Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns;
³³  crucified;
³⁹  reviled;
⁵⁰  dies, and is buried;
⁶²  his tomb is sealed and watched