Why did bystanders think Jesus was calling Elijah in Matthew 27:47? Setting the scene at Golgotha “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’—which means, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ Some of those standing there heard this and said, ‘He is calling Elijah.’” (Matthew 27:46-47) The wordplay: “Eli” vs. “Eliyahu” • Jesus spoke in Aramaic: “Eli” (pronounced “AY-lee”) means “My God.” • Elijah’s Hebrew name is “Eliyahu” (pronounced “ay-lee-YAH-hoo”). • In the din of crucifixion—wind, weeping, taunts—only fragments of His cry carried. “Eli” sounded close enough to “Eliyahu” for listeners to jump to conclusions. • Scripture faithfully records both the original words and the crowd’s reaction, preserving the authenticity of the moment. Prophetic expectation of Elijah’s return • Malachi 4:5 foretold: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” • First-century Jews kept that promise alive; Elijah was viewed as a forerunner and helper in distress. • Matthew 17:10-13 shows the disciples asking, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” The idea was common knowledge. • Hearing “Eli,” the bystanders instinctively linked the cry with their hope: perhaps Elijah would arrive dramatically to rescue a righteous sufferer. Mix of misunderstanding and mockery • Some earnestly wondered if Elijah might intervene; others used the notion to ridicule: “Let us see whether Elijah comes to save Him” (Matthew 27:49). • The misinterpretation provided an excuse to prolong their spectacle—testing whether Jesus would be vindicated or shamed. • Psalm 69:20-21 prophesied such taunts: “Scorn has broken My heart… They gave Me vinegar for My thirst.” Their derision fulfilled Scripture even as they misunderstood it. Witnessing Scripture fulfilled • Jesus’ cry quotes Psalm 22:1 word-for-word, anchoring His suffering in prophetic Scripture. • The crowd’s mention of Elijah unwittingly echoes 1 Kings 19, where Elijah felt forsaken yet was preserved—Jesus is the greater fulfillment, bearing true abandonment for sinners. • Every detail, down to a misheard syllable, fits God’s sovereign plan (Acts 2:23). Takeaway for us today • God’s Word records events exactly as they happened; even human misinterpretations serve His purposes. • Familiarity with Scripture protects us from similar misunderstandings; knowing Psalm 22 clarifies Jesus’ cry. • Prophecies, expectations, and fulfillments converge at the cross, underscoring that Christ’s atoning work was no accident but divinely scripted for our salvation. |
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