Jesus' Seven Last Words

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What were the seven last words of Jesus just before he died?

The seven last words of Jesus came when he finished the work God gave him to do. He became the perfect Lamb of God that made possible the New Covenant or agreement between Godhead and man. By willingly offering himself as the atoning sacrifice to take away the sins of the world, Jesus made possible an eternal life of joy and happiness to ALL those who repent and obey the Almighty.

If we consider what John recorded in chapter 19 and verses 26 to 27 as a single statement, we have seven unique last phrases (or "words") spoken by Jesus. The first two of his statements made from the cross come from the 23rd chapter of the book of Luke.

The First Two Phrases

The first phrase Jesus spoke while he was being crucified was the following.

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34, HBFV throughout).


Jesus' agony in the garden
Jesus' agony in the garden
Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308 - 11

The second phrase Jesus spoke, this time to one of the other men also being crucified, is the following.

Truly, I tell you today, you shall be with Me in paradise (Luke 23:43).

The Third Word

The third (or fourth, depending how you count) of his seven last statements comes when Jesus notices the apostle John standing with his mother Mary. He says the following to her.

Woman, behold your son (John 19:26).

Jesus then looks at John and immediately states the following.

Behold your mother (John 19:27).

At this point, it should be noted that, in regard to Bible prophecy, both Luke 23:48 - 49 and Matthew 27:55 - 56 confirm that King David's statement that the family and friends of Jesus would see his suffering from a distance (Psalm 38:10 - 11) was fulfilled.

A Cry to God

Jesus' fourth of seven last words is his cry, found in Mark 15, to God the Father asking why he was forsaken.

ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI? (Mark 15:34).

Interestingly, Matthew records a slightly different version of Jesus' cry to God when he records, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" (Matthew 27:46).

Fifth and Sixth Phrases

The next two statements or last words spoken by our Savior (his fifth and sixth of seven), as he was dying on the cross for the sins of humanity, are found in the book of John. They fulfill the prophecy that Christ would be given vinegar (sour wine) to drink (Psalm 69:21).

Jesus, who knew he had successfully completed the most important part of God's great plan for man, said, "I thirst" (John 19:28).

After receiving something to wet his lips (possibly a vinegar based concoction) Jesus cried out, "It is finished!" (John 19:30).

The Final Word

The last of seven words uttered by Jesus while he was human also fulfilled prophecy. Raising his voice to the level where everyone could hear, he said the following for all to hear.

Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit" (Luke 23:46).

King David, many centuries prior, had predicted what his final earthly statement would be (Psalm 31:5).

Jesus, the Savior of mankind, God in the flesh, after he gave these last seven prophetic words, died.

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