The scene of the cross in the Four Gospels is a scene that fulfills Old Testament expectations. Among the various passages invoked during the suffering and death of Jesus is Psalm 22. There are quotations of and allusions to this psalm, though some connections are more certain than others.
I want to look at seven connections in the Four Gospels to Psalm 22.
First, Matthew 27:46. At the ninth of the day, as Jesus hung upon the cross, he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” That verse is a quotation of Psalm 22:1, where the psalmist says, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” Mark 15:34 also reports this quotation.
Second, Matthew 27:39. Those who passed by Jesus while he was on the cross were “wagging their heads” and ridiculing him. This alludes to Psalm 22:7, when the psalmist said, “All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads.” Mark 15:29 also reports this allusion.
Third, Matthew 27:43. The bystanders mocked Jesus by saying, “He trusts in God; let God deliver him.” This is quotation of Psalm 22:8, when the mockers said, “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him.”
Fourth, Matthew 27:35. When Jesus was crucified, “they divided his garments among them by casting lots.” This action alludes to Psalm 22:18, which says, “They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, and John 19:23–24 also report this connection. In fact, John 19:24 says, “This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, ‘They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.’”
Fifth, John 19:28. Jesus, “knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’” This may allude to Psalm 22:15, where the psalmist spoke of his dry mouth: “my tongue sticks to my jaws.”
Sixth, Matthew 27:35–36. In these verses the Romans “crucified him” and “sat down and kept watch over him there.” This description may allude to Psalm 22:16: “a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.”
Seventh, John 19:30. Nearing death, Jesus said, “It is finished.” This may allude to Psalm 22:31: “they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.”
In view of these seven connections, some are clearer than others. Even if an interpreter isn’t persuaded of all seven, surely the bulk of them demonstrates the importance of Psalm 22 for the Gospel writers as they narrated the suffering and death of Jesus.
In Charles Spurgeon’s famous commentary on the Psalms, he said this about Psalm 22: “This is beyond all others The Psalm of the Cross.”