Having established that God never abandoned Jesus on the Cross, the issue of Matt. 27:46 then comes in — what did Jesus mean when He said “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
First, observe He was quoting from the Psalms (Ps. 22:1) which is a Messianic Prophecy concerning the Christ. Jesus did this often; point to how certain situations in His life were a direct fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy. He is doing the same thing here.
Second, note that “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” was not ALL Psalms 22 said. The Psalms were meant to be read as a composite whole. Jesus is thus quoting the entirety of Psalms 22, not just the first verse. Matthew’s account only captures Jesus quoting the first verse and immediately digresses to the crowd mocking Him (vs. 47-49). This doesn’t mean Jesus stopped quoting, Matthew simply records other significant events around Him while He quotes the entire 22nd Psalm. This means we would have to read the WHOLE Psalm to understand Jesus’ statement fully.
Observe the succedent verses in Psalms 22:
Psalms 22:3-5, 19-24 (NKJV)
3 But You are holy,
Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You;
They trusted, and YOU DELIVERED THEM.
5 They CRIED TO YOU, and WERE DELIVERED;
They TRUSTED IN YOU, and were NOT ASHAMED.
19 But You, O Lord, DO NOT BE FAR from Me;
O My Strength, HASTEN TO HELP ME!
20 DELIVER ME from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog.
21 SAVE ME from the lion’s mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen!
YOU HAVE ANSWERED ME.
22 I WILL DECLARE YOUR NAME to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For HE HAS NOT DESPISED NOR ABHORRED THE AFFLICTION OF THE AFFLICTED;
NOR HAS HE HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM HIM;
But WHEN HE CRIED to Him, HE HEARD.
A contextual reading of the entire 22nd Psalm shows that the opening line “My God, My God. Why have you forsaken me?” was merely a literary style employed for poetic effects (to set a sombre tone). The author definitely knows he was not forsaken by God (as seen in vv. 4-5, 21, 22 & 24) but used that line to describe how he FELT (a figure of speech) at the time of trials.
So if anything, Jesus only FELT abandoned (see Psalm 31:22, NIV) but in that very moment strengthened His heart on God’s Word to never leave Him. The Lukan account records His last words on the Cross being, “Into your hands I commit My spirit.” (Luke 23:46). He wouldn’t say this if God was no longer in fellowship with Him. Jesus was not forsaken at the Cross.
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2020.
