Matthew 27:46
And about 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
Jesus’ cry—“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”—is a direct quotation of Psalm 22:1. The Aramaic rendering “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” would have been understood by a Jewish audience as a cry of deep distress, echoing the psalmists who lament betrayal and abandonment yet continue to trust God. In the moment, Jesus in his humanity experiences the cup of suffering, extraction from divine fellowship, and the weight of human sin. The crowd interprets this aloud as a request for Elijah; thus, the verse sits at the crossroads of misinterpretation and revelation. Theologically, this moment does not imply Jesus’ denial of God but reveals the depth of his identification with human pain and alienation. It also raises questions about the nature of Jesus’ atonement: is it possible to be forsaken so that others can be reconciled? The quotation thus serves as a bridge between lament and trust, inviting readers to hear a psalmist’s voice and then trust the One who fulfills it.
The cry reflects the mystery of the incarnation: Jesus fully experiences human anguish while remaining the Son of God. It underscores the substitutionary nature of the cross—Jesus bears separation so others might be brought near. The phrase also foregrounds the tension between visible abandonment and hidden faithfulness. Theologically, it reveals that abandonment is not the end of Jesus’ story; it points forward to resurrection and eternal fellowship with the Father. As readers, we are invited to bring our own cries of despair to God, trusting that God can transform even our darkest moments into sources of grace and revelation.
In our own lives, we may feel forsaken—by God, people, or circumstances. This verse validates that pain and invites a faithful response: lament honestly, then anchor your hope in God’s steadfast love. Practical steps: journal your prayers and the ways you feel abandoned; recite promises from Scripture when feelings overwhelm; seek supportive faith communities who can pray with you; hold onto the truth that Jesus understands your loneliness and intercedes for you. The psalmist’s language becomes a doorway: even when you cannot sense God’s presence, you can still trust God’s faithfulness. Let your lament lead you toward deeper trust, not away from faith.
Cross-References: Psalm 22:1; Mark 15:34; Hebrews 5:7-9; Romans 8:38-39; Psalm 42:11