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NASB | Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud [agonized] voice, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" [Ps 22:1] |
Bible Question:
Dear Ezekiel, thanks for your reply but despite it, my question was still not answered. I'd like to know why Jesus said this. I agree that it was a fulfillment of the verse in Psalms, but, by its very nature, a fulfillment is a literal in-time occurence of something that is foretold before-hand. In other words, if a prophecy is fulfilled, then it happens just as it was prophesied. So, what is the meaning behind the prophecy? To just state that Christ was fulfilling prophecy in and of itself is circular reasoning. I.e. It was foretold throughout the OT that Messiah would suffer and die. Isaiah 53 is an excellent passage that Christ fulfilled. But Christ did not fulfill Isaiah 53 just to fulfill Isaiah 53. He died to provide reconciliation and forgiveness of sins. So, although I agree that He fulfilled the 'forsaken' prophecy, what actually happened when God forsook Him? That is my question. |
Bible Answer: To understand this statement we must look at the whole passage (v. 47-50). The great darkness that covered the land fromt the sixth to the ninth hour was a part of hell. God called hell "darkness". It was a part of God's curse that Christ carried because our sins were laid upon Him. The literal darkness represented the spiritual darkness against which He battled, for it was at this time that a great battle against the darkness of despair taking place. When our sins were laid upon Him He felt the guilt as though it were His own, (see Ps 22:6). He realized that the sins of the world laid upon Him caused a barrier between Him and God. Satan threatened Him with the horrible suggestion that the hell that blazed around Him might close over Him and hold Him. From the deepest depth of His heart came the cry of anguish "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It was a cry of desperate need and a prayer for help but above all it was a cry of immovable faith. The words "My God" proclaimed faith in His eternal relationship to God, which the power of hell could not shake. God immediately answered the cry, darkness was replaced with light symbolizing His full acceptance of the sacrifice. (exerts taken from BSF notes Lesson #31 of Matthew). prayon |