Christians: Do you feel that the last words of Christ were significant?

Question

If so, why do the four gospels attribute three different sentences to Christ as his last?

Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34: "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?";

Luke 23:46: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit";

John 19:30: "It is finished".

Which ones are the TRUE last words, or did he say them all??

(What a mouthful for a dying man, huh?)

Answer 1

i thought his las t words were
"oh ****"

Answer 2

The different accounts of what happened or what was said, in any scenario contained in the Gospels, is because they were written by 4 different people. That is why they are called Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. They were written by these 4 men, disciples of Christ. Just like any story told by different people, the story will vary, in accordance as to how they, individually, saw or interpreted what was happening.
Now if you pay close attention to the verses immediately following the ones you have refferenced in Matthew and Mark you'll see that as the story goes on to say that Christ "cried out with a loud voice and then gave up the Ghost". Maybe they just weren't close enough to hear that he said words that were intelligable. Because in Luke around the same time in the story of the veil of the temple being torn in two, was when he cried out. Cried out what? Possibly "Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit... ...It is finished". Simply two different vantage points.
The different accounts are also contributed to the fact that each disciple was writing to different audiences. Matthew was written to the Hebrews, it portrayed Christ as the Messiah. Mark and Luke were written to the Gentiles, to portray Christ as the Son of Man. John was written for all men and all ages, addressing sin and portraying Christ as the savior of all.
Me, personally I like to think that "It is finished ", are the last words of Christ. For this reason... ...Many times people are remembered most for their last words. "It is finished" is saying that I have paid the price and that is all that's needed, he knew people would try and make salvation about themselves and what they can do. "Eph. 2: 8&9 For by grace you have been saved trough faith:and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, that no man should boast"
So, in conclusion he did say them all, and all the words of Christ are totally significant to any Christian, after all the word Christian means "Christ-like". We cannot be absolutely certain of which ones were the absolute last words. But, we can be certain of why he came and whether or not he lives in us, and, where we'll spend eternity.
Thanks for the thought provoking question, I hope this helps.

Answer 3

They were all spoken at different times over the 3-6 hours that he hung on the cross. You can say quite a bit in that length of time.

All three come from parts of Psalms 22 in the Greek version that was used at the time of Jesus' death. "My God, My God" are the open words, and are recorded by more then one gospel as among the earliest words Jesus spoke. In doing so, he was pointing those at the crucifixion to that Psalm, and the over 2 dozen prophecies within that single Psalm he would fulfill that day. The "It is finished" (or KJ says "it is done") is the closing line of the Psalm, and so would have been the last of the three statements Jesus would have made.

Answer 4

Is it not possible that He said, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. It is finished!"

Matthew & Mark only told the first sentence, Luke the second, and John the third?

It doesn't make any one of them wrong, now does it?

Answer 5

In both Matthew and Mark, Jesus is offered a sponge filled with hysop before he CRIED OUT AGAIN and then died. In John, Jesus says (cries out?) "It is finished." after receiving... a sponge filled with hysop. While Luke doesn't mention any sponges filled with hysop, it does however mention Jesus crying out with a loud voice. Hence, either "It is finished. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." or "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. It is finished." would be possible. Just because John and Luke supply only a part of the entire statement doesn't make them contradictory.

Answer 6

The true last words were, it is finished!

Prophecy had been fulfilled.

And yes God could not look upon the son while the sins of the world were upon him as God cannot look upon sin.

So, when he said My God My God why has thou forsaken me.... 1st of all was a reminder to us that in God's timing (not ours) prayer will be answered. Jesus knew that we would feel this way... I believe Jesus finally took the last of the sins in him and wanted to be called up right that second. It happend a second after that but this also was to teach us a lesson to wait on God's timing.

Answer 7

Luke wasn't physically present @ the crucifixion. so his account can be considered hearsay. Since John was entrusted by Jesus as the caretaker of Mary, I feel safe in believing that he (John) would have stayed around for the entire event, since I doubt Mary would have left prior to Jesus' death. Some scholars believe Jesus quoted psalm 22--the psalm of the cross. It begins with "My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken me" and ends, in the original language, with "It is finished".

Answer 8

He said them all depending who was listening. Each one servered a purpose:
1. Matt & Mark shows the human side of Jesus,
2. Luke show the spiritual side, and
3. John shows his obedient side.

Philippians 2: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross

Answer 9

Dear marconi,

When one reads the word of God, one must take in everything the Bible states. All of it is the word of God.

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Answer 10

The Matthew/Mark quote seems puzzling to me because it's my understanding that according to Christian theology it was all meant to happen (including Judas' so-called "betrayal"). Boy I'm glad I'm not religious, I would be too confused otherwise!

Answer 11

I always thought they were "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" but I do recall him also saying "Father, why hast thou forsaken me" but not as his last words