The prophetic scriptures concerning the Messiah's suffering are numerous and detailed, providing a profound insight into the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Among these prophecies is the poignant detail of gall and vinegar being offered to Him during His crucifixion, a fulfillment of Old Testament predictions that underscore the depth of His suffering and the fulfillment of divine prophecy.

Old Testament Prophecy

The prophecy regarding gall and vinegar is found in Psalm 69:21, which states, "They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst." This psalm, attributed to David, is often recognized as a messianic psalm, containing elements that transcend David's own experiences and point directly to the sufferings of the Messiah. The imagery of gall and vinegar symbolizes bitterness and mockery, reflecting the scorn and rejection that the Messiah would endure.

New Testament Fulfillment

The fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in the New Testament accounts of the crucifixion. In the Gospel of Matthew, it is written: "There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it" (Matthew 27:34). This act of offering gall mixed with wine was a customary practice intended to dull the pain of those being crucified. However, Jesus' refusal to drink it highlights His willingness to fully embrace the suffering appointed to Him without mitigation.

Later, as Jesus hung on the cross, another fulfillment is recorded: "After this, Jesus, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of sour wine was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in the wine, put it on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth" (John 19:28-29). The sour wine, or vinegar, offered to Jesus in His final moments, directly corresponds to the prophecy in Psalm 69:21, further affirming the messianic nature of the psalm and the divine orchestration of these events.

Significance in the Passion Narrative

The offering of gall and vinegar to Jesus is significant within the passion narrative as it encapsulates the rejection and scorn He faced from those He came to save. It serves as a stark reminder of the fulfillment of prophecy and the extent of Christ's suffering. The bitterness of gall and the sourness of vinegar symbolize the depth of human sin and the cost of redemption borne by the Savior.

Moreover, these actions highlight the fulfillment of Scripture, a recurring theme in the Gospel accounts, which consistently emphasize that the events of Jesus' life and death were in accordance with God's redemptive plan as foretold by the prophets. The meticulous fulfillment of even the smallest details of prophecy serves to authenticate Jesus' identity as the promised Messiah and underscores the reliability of the biblical narrative.

In summary, the prophecies concerning gall and vinegar being given to Christ to drink are a testament to the precision of biblical prophecy and the profound suffering endured by Jesus. They reflect the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan and the willingness of Christ to bear the full weight of humanity's sin, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the salvation of mankind.Psalm 69:21
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of ...
... definite and distinct were the Old Testament prophecies respecting the Birth of
Christ, that the ... call attention to one of the prophecies which declared ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter five the fulfilled prophecies.htm

Whosoever Confesses that one God is the Author of Both Testaments ...
... all that the prophets have declared respecting Christ and the ... wicked spirit, pretend
to utter prophecies, while all ... that particular working of Christ which was ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxiii whosoever confesses that one.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Operation
... or to raise an argument at this point respecting the believer's ... the wicked, is the
Cross of Christ with all ... and literal fulfilment of these prophecies we have ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter six the sovereignty of.htm

How can I identify messianic prophecies in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? | GotQuestions.org

What biblical prophecies were fulfilled in AD 70? | GotQuestions.org

Prophecies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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