Matt. 27:34,48, 57-60; Psa. 69:21; Isa. 53:9, In Death

There are two situations before us today, neither of which is claimed by Matthew to be a prophecy fulfillment.  And yet, each is considered by many to be fulfilled in Jesus death and burial.  Is there good reason to do so?

·        Matthew 27:34,48 and Psalm 69:21.

The question here is: did the giving of sour wine to Jesus fulfill David’s words? or do we have two passages speaking of two similar events with no connection?  Our belief that there is a fulfillment of prophecy is based on the Messianic character of all of Psalm 69.  There are several fulfillments (69:4 to John 15:25; 69:9 in John 2:17; 69:22 in Rom. 11:9; 69:25 in Acts 1:16 in addition to the one we are considering). 

Psalm 69, in the title, is said to be a Psalm of David.  We have noted on occasion that any Psalm of David will have a connection to the Messiah, even if it is only because Messiah is the “Son of David.”  But if you were to study Psalm 69 you would see that it goes beyond the experiences of David’s life.  For example, 69:22-28 speaks of Israel’s desolation and captivity; that did not happen in David’s lifetime. 

As is often the case, many Jewish writers see the Psalm as applying to Israel; Israel is the suffering Servant.  But this does not fit the fact that the Psalm speaks of an individual.  In 69:19-21 the adversaries of the suffering One are those who give Him gall for food and vinegar to drink.  Then, what immediately follows is the judgment called down on those adversaries (v22-28), the unrighteous nation.  The single Sufferer cannot be the same as the corporate adversary.

What we have in this amazing Psalm is the cry to God by the Servant.  In 69:1-21 we have an expanded version of Psalm 22:1: My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me. 

One more issue comes from 69:5.  How can “foolishness” and “sin” be associated with the Holy One, the perfect Lamb of God?  That must be David speaking of himself?  But we would believe otherwise.  It speaks of what Jesus became for sinners.  He was numbered with the transgressors (Isa. 53:12).  He bore our sins in His body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24).  He became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).  His association with sin was so real the Father turned His back on His Son and the world was plunged into darkness for three hours of the greatest agony. 

·        Matthew 27:57-60 and Isaiah 53:9.

The burial of Jesus in the tomb of the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea was a fulfillment of one of those little “details” in Scripture.  Isaiah 53 is all about the Messiah, of course, as we have noted in these studies.  But it is about the vicarious suffering, the bearing of sin.  It would be easy to miss this matter of being buried with the rich.  But it is a very necessary detail.  Why?  Because of what Isaiah says: He had done no violence nor was any deceit in His mouth. 

Psalm 22 described death by crucifixion, an amazingly accurate description hundreds of years before it happened.  In the Roman system those who were crucified did not get burial in a rich man’s tomb; that would be an honor, when the whole point of crucifixion is to shame the criminal.  And yet, Jesus fit every detail, in death, in burial, and in resurrection!

Aren’t these prophecies wonderful reminders of the grace and love of our Savior?  He bore our sins, becoming sin for us.  And He suffered without any comfort.  Matthew’s account says Jesus first refused the sour wine which would have deadened the pain somewhat, until moments before He died, when He accepted it when offered again.  What is important is that none of the sins He bore were His.  His burial demonstrates that according to Scripture.  He was the perfect sacrificial Lamb, being without defect.  Thus the payment was received in full!  Hallelujah!!

Bibliography

References were made in several of the devotions to various authors.  In lieu of footnotes here is a listing of the sources used.

Buksbazen, Victor. The Prophet Isaiah: A Commentary. Bellmawr, NJ: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc. 1971 (second printing 2010). (VB)

Edersheim, Alfred. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.  Oxford, Sept. 1883.  Online edition, Christian Classics Ethereal Edition. (AE)

Etheridge, J. W. The Targums of Onkalos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel on the Pentateuch. New York: Ktav Publishing House, Inc., 1968. (JWE)

Gill, John. Exposition of the Bible. Online version at Christianity.com.  https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=gill.  Originally published 1746-1763. (JG)

Jamieson, Robert, Fausset, A. R., Brown, David. Biblical Commentary: Critical and Explanatory.  Originally published 1871. Online version at Christianity.com. https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=jfb. (JFB)

Jewish Awareness Ministries, Psalm 118. http://www.jewishawareness.org/psalm-118/. Online article. (JAM)

Jews for Jesus, Messianic Prophecy. Online article at https://jewsforjesus.org/jewish-resources/messianic-prophecy.  (JFJ)

Mounce, Robert H. New International Biblical Commentary: Matthew.  Hendrickson Publishing, Inc.: 1985. (RM)