Session 6: The Prophets

Group Exercise:

• Individually read Matthew Chapter 27.

• Take note of the details of the story.

• What else do you recall (say from the other gospels) about what happened immediately before and during Jesus’ crucifixion?

• In Matthew 27:46 Jesus says “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

  • This is the opening line of Psalm 22.

• Read Psalm 22 together as a class.

  • Take note of any other similarities between Psalm 22 and the crucifixion narrative.

  • Is Jesus only quoting the first line of the Psalm? Or is he evoking the whole Psalm? (Review and discuss after reading Psalm 22.)

How to Study such a Passage

1. What is the context of the passage in the NT book?

   1. E.g. what are the headings that proceed and follow the passage?

2. Identify the OT reference.

   1. E.g. using the footnote, or perhaps a commentary.

3. What is the context of the OT reference?

   1. What is the structure of the OT book? Where does the quoted passage fit?

   2. Who was the king at the time? How does the passage fit into the Biblical narrative?

   3. What is an appropriate place to start and stop reading in the OT book to understand the quote? 

4. Read the appropriate section of the OT.

5. Reflect on what it meant in its original (OT) context.

6. Come back to the NT – what did it mean in the context of NT?

This session was rewritten for the 2023 cohort (by Dr Mike Bartholomaeus).

The 2023 session notes are available alongside.