Prophecies of Jesus’ Crucifixion and More from the Psalms

Jesus and the authors of the New Testament often drew our attention to the Psalms to marry the Old Testament (OT) to the New Testament (NT). In this blog, we will compare prophecies of and about Jesus from the Psalms with fulfillments in the Gospels and Epistles.

In Psalm 2, we learn of His identity as the Son of God the Father.

OT: Psalm 2:7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my son, today I have begotten you.

NT: Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee.”

Jesus drew our attention to His fulfillment of Psalm 22 and Psalm 31 while on the cross.

OT: Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

NT: Matthew 27:46 — “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

NT: Mark 15:34 — “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is translated, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

OT: Psalm 22:11-18 Be not far from me for trouble is near and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax, it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; thou dost lay me in the dust of death. Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots.

NT: Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; John 19:23-24

OT: Psalm 31:5 Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

NT: Luke 23:46 “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit! And having said this, he breathed his last.”

OT: Psalm 31:9-16  Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief, my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away. I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. Yea, I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!—as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in thee, O Lord, I say, “Thou art my God.” My times are in thy hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors! Let thy face shine on thy servant; save me in thy steadfast love!

We learn of “two powers in Heaven” in Psalms 45 and 110. We further learn of God’s divine council of spiritual beings who had failed in their missions.

OT: Psalm 45:6-9 Your divine throne endures for ever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows; your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

OT: Psalm 82:1-8 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah. Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I say, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like men, and fall like any prince.” Arise, O God, judge the earth; for to thee belong all the nations.

OT: Psalm 110:1 The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.

NT: Matthew 22:44 — “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet.”

NT: Mark 12:36 — “David himself said by the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet.’”

NT: Luke 20:42-43 — similar citation.

NT: Acts 2:34-35 — “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand…’”

NT: Hebrews 1:13 — “And to which of the angels has he ever said, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool’?”

Thank you for your time.

SJ Thomason is a Christian wife and mom of two sons. She works as an associate dean and professor of business at a university in Florida. You can follow her on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@Dash_023