Sayings of Jesus on the cross
The sayings of Jesus on the cross (sometimes called the Seven Last Words from the Cross) are seven expressions biblically attributed to Jesus during his crucifixion. Traditionally, the brief sayings have been called "words".
The seven sayings are gathered from the four
Since the 16th century, these sayings have been widely used in sermons on
.Overview
In the following table, the seven sayings are arranged according to their traditional order.[9] However, all seven sayings cannot be found in any one account of Jesus' crucifixion. The ordering is a harmonisation of the texts from each of the four canonical gospels. Three of the sayings appear only in Luke and three only in John. One other saying appears both in Matthew and Mark, and another ("It is finished") is only directly quoted in John but alluded to in Matthew and Mark.[3]
Quotations here and throughout this article are taken from the
Sayings of Jesus on the cross | Matthew | Mark | Luke | John |
---|---|---|---|---|
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. | 23:34 | |||
Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. | 23:43 | |||
Woman, behold thy son! and Behold thy mother! | 19:26–27 | |||
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? | 27:46 | 15:34 | ||
I thirst. | 19:28 | |||
It is finished. | 19:30 | |||
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. | 23:46 |
Theological interpretations
Traditionally, these seven sayings are called words of:
- Forgiveness,
- Salvation,
- Relationship,
- Abandonment,
- Distress,
- Triumph, and
- Reunion.[1]
The sayings form part of the Stations of the Cross, a Christian meditation that is often used during Lent, Holy Week and Good Friday.
The Dominican author Timothy Radcliffe sees the number seven as significant, as the number of perfection in the Bible. He writes that as God created the world in seven days, "these seven words belong to God's completion of that creation".[10]
Historicity
The seven sayings
1. Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
— Luke 23:34[13]
This first saying of Jesus on the cross is traditionally called "The Word of Forgiveness".[1] It is theologically interpreted as Jesus' prayer for forgiveness for the Roman soldiers who were crucifying him and all others who were involved in his crucifixion.[14][15][16][17]
Some early manuscripts do not include this sentence in Luke 23:34.
2. To day shalt thou be with me in paradise
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
— Luke 23:43[20]
This saying is traditionally called "The Word of Salvation".
A seemingly simple change in punctuation in this saying has been the subject of doctrinal differences among Christian groups, given the lack of punctuation in the original Greek texts.
3. Woman, behold, thy son! Behold, thy mother!
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
— John 19:26–27[22]
This statement is traditionally called "The Word of Relationship" and in it Jesus entrusts
Jesus also addresses his mother as "woman" in John 2:4.
4. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
— Mark 15:34[27]
And the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
— Matthew 27:46[28]
This is the only saying which appears in more than one gospel.[1] In both accounts, the words spoken by Jesus have been transliterated from Aramaic into Greek, and there are slight differences between the two versions (Mark: Ἐλωΐ, Ἐλωΐ, λαμὰ σαβαχθανί; Matthew: Ἠλί, Ἠλί, λεμὰ σαβαχθανί). In both cases, σαβαχθανί seems to be the Greek transliteration of Aramaic שבקתני šəḇaqtanī, meaning "forsaken me".
Both versions can be said to be in Aramaic rather than in closely related Hebrew because of the verb שבק (šbq) "abandon", which exists only in Aramaic.[29][30] The Hebrew counterpart to this word, עזב ('zb), is seen in the second line of the Old Testament's Psalm 22, which the saying appears to quote. Thus, Jesus is not quoting the canonical Hebrew version (ēlī ēlī lāmā 'azabtānī), attributed in some Jewish interpretations to King David himself, but rather the version in an Aramaic Targum (translation of the Bible). Surviving Aramaic Targums do use the verb šbq in their translations of the Psalm 22.[31]
In the next verse, in both accounts, some who hear Jesus' cry imagine that he is calling for help from Elijah (Ēlīyā in Aramaic).
The Aramaic word form שבקתני šəḇaqtanī is based on the verb šǝḇaq/šāḇaq, 'to allow, to permit, to forgive, and to forsake', with the perfect tense ending -t (2nd person singular: 'you'), and the object suffix -anī (1st person singular: 'me').
In Hebrew, the saying would be "אֵלִי אֵלִי, לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי" (ēlī ēlī, lāmā 'azabtānī in
This saying is taken by some as an abandonment of the Son by the Father. Another interpretation holds that at the moment when Jesus took upon himself the sins of humanity, the Father had to turn away from the Son because the Father is "of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong" (
Others see these words in the context of Psalm 22 and suggest that Jesus recited these words, perhaps even the whole psalm, "that he might show himself to be the very Being to whom the words refer; so that the Jewish scribes and people might examine and see the cause why he would not descend from the cross; namely, because this very psalm showed that it was appointed that he should suffer these things."[34]
5. I thirst
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
— John 19:28[35]
This statement is traditionally called "The Word of Distress" and is compared and contrasted with the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4.[1]
Only John records this saying, but all four gospels relate that Jesus was offered a drink of sour wine (possibly
This statement of Jesus is interpreted by John as fulfilment of the prophecy given in Psalm 69:21, "in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink";[37] hence the quotation from John's gospel includes the comment "that the scripture might be fulfilled". The Jerusalem Bible cross-references Psalm 22:15: "my palate is drier than a potsherd, and my tongue is stuck to my jaw".[38]
6. It is finished
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
— John 19:30[39]
This statement is traditionally called "The Word of Triumph" and is theologically interpreted as the announcement of the end of the earthly life of Jesus, in anticipation for the Resurrection.[1]
The Greek word translated "It is finished" is tetelestai (τετέλεσται).[40] The verse has also been translated as "It is consummated."[41]
The utterance after consuming the beverage and immediately before death is mentioned, but not explicitly quoted, in Mark 15:37 and Matthew 27:50 (both of which state that Jesus "cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost").
7. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
— Luke 23:46[42]
From Psalm 31:5, this saying, which is an announcement and not a request, is traditionally called "The Word of Reunion" and is theologically interpreted as the proclamation of Jesus joining God the Father in Heaven.[1]
The words of Luke 23:46, or the fuller Psalm 31:5, have subsequently been attributed as
These includeSee also
- Musical settings of sayings of Jesus on the cross
- Stations of the Cross
- Aramaic of Jesus
- Crucifixion of Jesus
- Life of Jesus in the New Testament
- Three Hours' Agony
References
- ^ ISBN 0-8028-3784-0.
- ISBN 978-0-8146-5216-9.
- ^ ISBN 0-8264-8011-X.
- ISBN 978-0-06-117393-6.
- ISBN 1-59781-863-1.
- ^ ISBN 1-57607-856-6.
- ISBN 978-0742543843.
Interestingly, the Methodist Book of Worship adopted by the General Conference of 1964 presented two services for Good Friday: a Three Hours' Service for the afternoon and a Good Friday evening service that includes the "Adoration at the Cross" (the Gospel, Deprecations, and Adoration of the Cross) but omits a communion service, which would be the Methodist equivalent of the Mass of the Presanctified.
- ^ "Good Friday". The Encyclopedia Americana, Volume 13. The Encyclopedia Americana Corporation. 1919. p. 51 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.
The 'Three Hours' Devotion, borrowed from Roman usage, with meditation on the 'seven last words' from the Cross, and held from 12 till 3, when our Lord hung on the Cross, is a service of Good Friday that meets with increasing acceptance among the Anglicans.
- ISBN 1-931018-31-6.
- ISBN 0-86012-397-9.
- ^ ISBN 0802839312.
- ^ Michael R. Licona, Why Are There Differences in the Gospels? What We Can Learn from Ancient Biography (Oxford University Press, 2017), pp. 165–166.
- ^ Luke 23:34
- ISBN 0-86554-563-4.
- ISBN 0-86554-373-9.
- ISBN 0-664-25441-1.
- ISBN 88-7653-625-6.
- ISBN 978-0-8054-9444-0.
- ^ Ehrman, Bart (March 24, 2019). "Did Jesus Pray "Father Forgive Them" from the Cross?". The Bart Ehrman Blog.
- ^ Luke 23:43
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4443-3732-7.
- ^ John 19:26–27
- ^ "John 2:4". Bible Hub. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ISBN 9781134509508.
- ISBN 0385015178.
- ^ Brown 1966, pp. 107–9
- ^ Mark 15:34
- ^ Matthew 27:46
- ^ Greenspahn, Frederick E. 2003. An introduction to Aramaic. P.25
- ^ Davies, William D. and Dale C. Allison. 1997. Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew. Volume III. P.624
- ^ The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon Archived 2010-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Targum Psalms 22 Archived 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion
- ^ "Habakkuk 1:13". Bible Hub. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- OCLC 2882455.
- ^ "Pulpit Commentary – Mark 15:34". Bible Hub. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ John 19:28
- ISBN 978-0-687-46555-2.
Once again we find John using a small detail to point to something of deeper significance. God had commanded that hyssop branches be used to sprinkle the blood of the Passover lamb above the doors of the dwellings of the Israelites when the firstborn of the Egyptians were killed (Exodus 12:22). It was hyssop wrapped in yarn that was used to sprinkle blood and water upon the lepers (Leviticus 14) and on the ceremonially unclean (Numbers 19) so that they might be made clean again. When David offered his prayer of confession in Psalm 51, he cried out to God, 'Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean' (verse 7); and the writer of Hebrews notes that after Moses gave the people the commandments, 'he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you."' (Hebrews 9:19–20).
- ^ Nicoll, W. R. "Expositor's Greek Testament – John 19". Bible Hub. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Jones, Alexander, ed. (1966). The Jerusalem Bible. Darton, Longman & Todd. John 19:28.
- ^ John 19:30
- ^ "What does the Greek word 'tetelestai' mean?". Bible.org. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Douay-Rheims Bible – John 19:30". Bible Hub. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.
- ^ Luke 23:46
- ^ "A Wonderful Prayer". The Christian Treasury. 35. Edinburgh: Johnstone, Hunter: 117. 1879.
- ^ a b c d e Thompson, Augustus Charles (1869). Seeds and Sheaves: Or, Words of Scripture; Their History and Fruits. Gould and Lincoln. pp. 282–284.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8254-9742-1.
- ^ Lockyer 1975 p. 48
- ^ Butler 1866, June 14
- ^ Lockyer 1975 p. 83
- ^ Lockyer 1975 p. 52
- Longman, Brown, Green, & Longmans. p. 331.
- ^ Lockyer 1975 p. 147
- ISBN 978-0-7905-6158-5.
- ISBN 978-0-7222-8370-7.
- ISBN 978-0-271-00684-0.
- ^ Lockyer 1975 p. 73
- ^ Lockyer 1975 p. 175
- ^ Lockyer 1975 p. 85
- ^ Butler 1866, September 18
- ^ Carruthers, James (1831). The History of Scotland: During the Life of Queen Mary, and Until the Accession of Her Son James to the Crown of England. Edinburgh. p. 453.
- ^ Butler 1866, June 21
- ^ Butler 1866, March 23
- ^ Lockyer 1975 p. 166
- ^ Lockyer 1975 p. 107
- ^ Germann, Wilhelm (1870). Missionar Christian Friedrich Schwartz: sein Leben und Wirken aus Briefen des Halleschen Missionsarchivs (in German). Erlangen: Andreas Deichert. p. 381.
In deine Hände befehle ich meinen Geist, du hast mich erlöset, du getreuer Gott!
Bibliography
- Butler, Alban (1866). The Lives of the Saints. Dublin: James Duffy – via Bartleby.com.
- ISBN 978-0-8254-3102-9.
Further reading
- Anderson-Berry, David (1871). The Seven Sayings of Christ on the Cross. Glasgow: Pickering & Inglis Publishers.
- Knecht, Friedrich Justus (1910). . A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture. B. Herder.
- Long, Simon Peter (1966). The Wounded Word: A Brief Meditation on the Seven Sayings of Christ on the Cross. Baker Books.
- ISBN 0-8010-6573-9.
- Rutledge, Fleming (2004). The Seven Last Words From The Cross. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN 0-8028-2786-1.