The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1933 Hebrews kc 5-1

I believe Jesus Christ quoted and taught the entire 22nd Psalm while He hung on the cross.

We learned in the first few verses of Hebrews chapter two that the Word of God, even that which was spoken in times past to our fathers by and through His prophets, is steadfast and sure and that every transgression and disobedience carries with it a "recompense of just reward". In other words, there is a penalty, a price that must be paid for sin.

Let's recap what Paul wrote just to refresh our memories:

Hebrews 2:2
For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
This leaves us sinners in a heap of trouble unless we do as Paul told us in the first verse of this 2nd chapter and earnestly heed the things we have heard concerning His salvation and His deliverance.
[3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

[4]God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

We are going to learn more about the Word who became flesh, Jesus Christ, and also those who carry on as His messengers, those who declare His righteousness and bear witness to His truth and justice in these last days. Hopefully this will bring joy to your heart even adding to the way in which you "see" our "Lord" and "Savior", Jesus Christ, and view your own trials and tribulations and even those of your brothers and sisters!

Paul is now going to teach us more concerning the Plan of God we read of in Psalm 8 in our last study where it was declared long ago that Christ would be made a little lower than the angels, i.e. made to dwell in the flesh as one of us.

For the purpose of comparison, here is Paul's quote from Psalm 8:5 in Heb. 2:7:

Hebrews 2:7
Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst Him with glory and honour, and didst set Him over the works of thy hands:
Paul now repeats Heb. 2:7 (from Psalm 8:5) with further explanation for our understanding:
Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
If we take the time to understand what Paul is teaching us, we will come to a richer understanding in "seeing" Jesus and the reasons He was made a little lower than the angels, i.e. made subject to pain and suffering and death. Of course we know that Christ was totally innocent, without iniquity, the perfect and unblemished Lamb of sacrifice for sin and that by His death on the cross He made our salvation possible in providing us with deliverance (salvation) from the certain penalty of death which accompanies transgression and disobedience. In fact, Jesus Christ is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7).

Many people like to say that "salvation is free", but it really is not in the sense that the just recompense for sin and disobedience MUST be executed, i.e. the price MUST be paid, which is what Jesus Christ did on our behalf, "standing in for every man" (Heb. 2:9), meaning anyone, "whomsoever will", who will come to repentance and believe in Him. So you see, our salvation cost Jesus Christ His life, which was an awesome price to pay, wouldn't you say?

But wait! There's more! You see, because of His death AND His enduring temptation and suffering He is able not only to deliver us from death and the hands of all our enemies, but to succor us (as in relieve or help us, vs. 18) through all our trials and tribulations. To wit, we have now read numerous times that Christ has been "crowned" with glory and honor as a result of His suffering and death. This is extremely important because the PLAN IS to bring many more sons unto glory. Open your eyes and ears... here it is:

[10] For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Christ is the "last man Adam" which actually means the first "finished man Adam". He is the first of the first fruits and the captain (chief leader, head of the body) of the salvation of the sons of glory to come. You see, Christ was "made" perfect through tribulation and sufferings? "What does that mean?", you say, "I thought Christ was perfect?" Yes, He was perfect, meaning perfect without spot or blemish, i.e. without sin, from the very beginning, and by His perfect sacrifice (His death) He paid the price for our sins. But what Paul is teaching us is that by enduring temptation and suffering in the flesh, as one of us, He also pioneered the way by becoming "perfect" (as in "complete") as our merciful and faithful high priest. Hang in there. Paul will explain this in more detail in verse 17. Let's continue:
[11] For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Jesus Christ came down from above ("anothen" in Greek) and became as one of us, one of the brethren, even "taking on Him the seed of Abraham" (vs. 16) and dwelling in the flesh in the midst of us. To wit, His name was "Emmanuel", which means "God with us"! In other words, Christ became as one of us in that He felt pain and suffered and was tempted in more ways than most of us will ever be during our flesh experience. Remember, we just read in verse 10 that He was the Creator of the Universe, the One for "Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things" and yet He was not "too good" (i.e. not ashamed) to be made lower than the angels and become one of us, a member of the brotherhood of man. In other words, He did not ask us to do anything that He wasn't willing to do both in becoming flesh and enduring trials, tribulations, and even death. Think about it! This is more than profound! This is the greatest act of love and unselfishness ever!

And you know what? Is was written concerning Him becoming "one of the brethren in our midst" long before He even did so. Paul brings this to our attention.

[12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Paul is quoting Psalm 22:22 in this verse which now makes that Psalm part of the Book of Hebrews, and therefore part of the New Testament. And indeed it is part of the New Testament for every word of Psalm 22 depicts the events of that momentous day including the very pain and suffering and death of Messiah on the cross, establishing beyond a shadow of doubt by the evidence of its complete fulfillment that Jesus Christ was the Messiah.

And the reason Paul quotes this particular verse from Psalm 22 is that it directly relates to (utters to) what he just said in verse 11, i.e. that Christ became one of the brethren and dwelt in the midst of us, as one of us!

Note: Psalm 22, written 1,000 years before the crucifixion, gives the details of the events that happened on that day of His crucifixion, even foretelling of the gambling for Christ's clothing that would take place by the Roman soldiers. Furthermore, there can be little doubt that Jesus Christ quoted and taught this entire Psalm while He hung on the cross. To that end, consider for a moment the thoughts of the thief alongside Him who witnessed those events, like the gambling, etc., as they unfolded and the words of the Psalm being uttered by Messiah came to pass right before his very eyes. Yes, he became a believer! You see, it is written in Mat. 27:46 & Mark 15:34 that Christ cried with a loud voice saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Did you know these are the first words of Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?.. (Ps. 22:1)". Jesus was simply quoting this Psalm! It is also written in John 19:30 that the last words Christ spoke before He died were "... It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." "It is finished" are also the last words of Psalm 22 in Hebrew. (See note on Psalm 22:31 in the Companion Bible.)

Yes, I believe Jesus quoted the whole 22 chapter of Psalms. Matthew and Mark just didn't tell us so. No wonder the thief was converted! It all took place just as written and quoted! right before his eyes.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


The "American Wisdom Series"

is

Published by:

Rhine Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net

If you would like to have your essay published
as part of the American Wisdom Series
submit your manuscript to Rhine Publishing Co
at the address above for consideration, or e-mail us
at the address shown on our home page.

Click Here to Return to "The American Wisdom Series" home page.