Sermon Leftovers: Jesus quoting of the Psalms

Bonus! You can watch today's discussion on Youtube, simply click here to get the video!

Yesterday we began our summer study on the Psalms. You can click here to view yesterday's worship service and introductory message on the Psalms. Later on this week I'll be sharing here on Tomanstome a few suggested Psalms to read this summer as we study the Psalms together. We won't have the ability to preach or teach through every Psalm, but we all have time each day to open our Bibles and seek out the treasure trove of God's Word in the Psalms. The suggested Psalms will be organized into "short" "medium" and "long" readings. If you've never read through the Psalms before, or it's been a while, this should help you gauge your reading and time commitment in reading through a Psalm. 

Today I'd like to focus on a single statement that was made during the sermon yesterday. The statement was that the Old Testament book Jesus quoted from the most was the Psalms. Today I'll give a few examples. 

1. Jesus quoted the Psalms as a reference point for the history of God's faithfulness to his people.

In John 6 we're told of the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus' was teaching a crowd the following day and as he asserted that he was the bread of life, he referenced how God had provided manna for the ancient people of God in the wilderness by citing Psalm 78:24. 

2. Jesus quoted the Psalms the illustrate his own relationship with God the Father.

In John 10 after Jesus taught that he was the Good Shepherd sent from the Father, a gathering of opposition to Jesus were ready to stone him for blasphemy. Jesus reiterated the sacred truth of scripture that cannot be ignored and then compared himself with the same principle! He could not be ignored as God's Son doing the works of his Father. To make this comparison Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6. 

3. Jesus referenced the Psalms during the last Supper with his disciples.

In Matthew 26 as Jesus shared a meal with his disciples prior to his trial and crucifixion, he was joined at the table by his betrayer. Judas was present for this meal and ate with Jesus. Not only for this meal, but for at least two years prior Judas and Jesus had been companions, sharing life and food. Jesus made reference to Psalm 41:9 that one of his trusted companions at the meal would betray him. 

4. Jesus quoted the Psalms in his arguments with Jewish religious leaders. 

On one occasion while Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he quoted Psalm 110, a Psalm which spoke of the mighty ruler appointed by God to rule in victory eternally. We are told of Jesus teaching a crowd to their delight in Mark 12:36-37, and we are told of the dumbfounded, speechless religious leaders in Matthew 22:41-46. 

5. Jesus quoted the Psalms in during his intense struggle prior to his arrest. 

After sharing a meal together, Jesus and some of the disciples went up to the Mount of Olives. While in a garden called Gethsemane, Jesus referenced Psalm 42:5-9 and Psalm 88:3 saying “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.". We are told of this in John 12:27, Mark 14:34, and Matthew 26:38. 

6. Jesus quoted the Psalms while dying on the cross. 

In the midst of his anguish, Christ on the cross cried out to his Father quoting Psalm 22:1 and Psalm 42:9. We're told of Christ's cry in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?". 

7. Jesus quoted the Psalms when speaking of Jerusalem regarding his own return. 

While Jesus was teaching in the temple in Jerusalem he gave a great many warnings and proclamations. One of his warnings was in relationship to judgement coming upon Jerusalem. Jesus quoted Psalm 118:26 when speaking of his eventual return in Matthew 23:39.

8. Jesus referenced the Psalms along with the Law and Prophets as being prophetic of him.

I end our list with this vast summary statement by Jesus in Luke 24:44: 

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

At the time of Jesus' speaking and the gospel's being written, the scriptures were not organized into "Old" and "New" Testaments. For 1st century Jews the scriptures had various names for groupings of books. The first five books, that we today call "The Pentateuch" were referenced here by Jesus as "Law of Moses", the minor and major prophets that make up the final half of our Old Testament in our Bibles today were simply called "The Prophets" and also would have included the historical books of 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles along with Ezra, Nehemiah, etc. The Psalms were often called "the songs" or the "Psalms". Here we see in Luke 24:44 the resurrected Jesus, sharing a meal with his disciples and teaching that the whole of scripture, including the Psalms, had future promises waiting to be fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Jesus himself not only took an earnest approach to the Psalms, he saw his own earthly life and ministry as the prophetic promises of Psalms lived out. 

This list we've just looked at is far from exhaustive. There are even more quotes and references Jesus made to the Psalms throughout the gospels. I hope, even though this list is not exhaustive it encourages you in our study of the Psalms. Jesus grew up with the Psalms, he quoted and referenced the Psalms, and he saw his life as a fulfillment of the prophetic word of the Psalms. 

Want to read more about Jesus and the Psalms? There were two great resources that helped in the writing of this piece. The first is a resource that breaks down the various quotes of Jesus from Old Testament books. You can find the first piece by clicking here. The second piece looks through some of the most memorable moments of Jesus' earthly ministry and examines Jesus' practice of quoting the Psalms. You can find the second piece by clicking here.

I look forward to our upcoming study in the Psalms and later on in the week with the suggested reading plan!