Jesus entrusts his spirit to the Father
Luke presents Jesus' final prayer using the psalmist's words of trust in God's hands.
Historical context
The psalmist seeks refuge, rescue, and guidance amid danger. Entrusting his spirit to God expresses confidence in God's faithfulness within a prayer that moves through distress toward thanksgiving.
Tradition note
Begin with each Old Testament passage in context, then examine the New Testament's wording and argument. Explicit fulfillment citations, apostolic applications, and typological comparisons carry different kinds of evidence; Protestant approaches to particular passages vary.
Avoid overclaiming
The psalm is first a prayer by someone seeking rescue, not an original dated report of the crucifixion. Jesus prays its words in Luke's account. The selected use does not make every circumstance in the whole psalm an independent prediction about his life. WEB verse 5 is verse 6 in editions counting the superscription.
Key points
- New Testament application
- Luke 23:44–46 (New Testament application) — At his death, Jesus addresses the Father and entrusts his spirit into God's hands using the psalm's language. This is a narrated scriptural prayer on the cross, distinct from later apostolic explanations of the event.
Doctrinal connections
- At his death, Jesus addresses the Father and entrusts his spirit into God's hands using the psalm's language. This is a narrated scriptural prayer on the cross, distinct from later apostolic explanations of the event.
Scripture
- Psalm 31:1–5 — The psalmist seeks refuge, rescue, and guidance amid danger. Entrusting his spirit to God expresses confidence in God's faithfulness within a prayer that moves through distress toward thanksgiving.
- Luke 23:44–46 — At his death, Jesus addresses the Father and entrusts his spirit into God's hands using the psalm's language. This is a narrated scriptural prayer on the cross, distinct from later apostolic explanations of the event.