Christ in the Psalms

Both the Jewish and Christian faiths have long believed that many psalms referred as much to the promised Messiah as they did to events at the time. Because the Messiah was to be a descendant of David, it was expected that many of the royal psalms would apply to him. Christians noted how many of the passages seemed to describe in detail events from Christ's life and death. Jesus himself frequently quoted from Psalms. Almost everything that happened at the Crucifixion and most of Jesus' words during his final hours were prophesied in Psalms.

The following is a list of the main references in Psalms pertaining to Christ.

Reference in Psalms

Reference to Christ

Fulfillment in the New Testament

2:7

The Messiah Will be God's Son

Hebrews 1:5, 6

16:8-10

He will rise from the dead

Luke 24:5-7

22:1-21

He will experience agony on the cross

Matthew 26, 27

22:18

Evil men cast lots for his clothing

Matthew 27:35; John 19:23, 24

22:15

He thirsts while on the cross

John 19:28

22:22

He will declare God's name

Hebrews 2:12

34:20

His bones would not be broken

John 19:36, 37

40:6-8

He came to do God's will

Hebrews 10:5-7

41:9

His close friend would betray him

Luke 22:48

45:6, 7

His throne will last forever

Hebrews 1:8, 9

68:18

He ascended into heaven

Ephesians 4:8-10

69:9

He is zealous for God

John 2:17

69:21

He was offered vinegar for his thirst on the cross

Matthew 27:48

89:3, 4, 35, 36

He will be a descendant of David

Luke 1:31-33

96:13

He will return to judge the world

1 Thessalonians 1:10

110:1

He is David's son and David's Lord

Matthew 22:44

110:4

He is the eternal priest-king

Hebrews 6:20

118:22

He is rejected by many but accepted by God

1 Peter 2:7, 8