The seven sayings from the cross
The seven sayings of Jesus on the cross are: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"; "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise"; "Woman, behold thy son"; "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"; "I thirst"; "It is finished"; and "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." No single Gospel has all seven: Luke records three, John three, and Matthew and Mark one.
The list of seven is gathered from all four Gospels. The order below is the traditional one used in Good Friday services. The Gospels do not number the sayings, and readers place a few of them in slightly different orders.
The wording here is the King James Version. One saying is given in the Aramaic Jesus spoke as well: Matthew has "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani" and Mark has "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani".
The seven sayings in traditional order
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do
Luke only. Spoken after they crucified him at Calvary, as the soldiers parted his raiment and cast lots.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Luke 23:34Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise
Luke only. Said to one of the two malefactors, who had asked, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:43Woman, behold thy son
John only. Jesus gives his mother into the care of the disciple whom he loved, saying to him, "Behold thy mother!" From that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
John 19:26-27My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Matthew and Mark (Mark 15:34). Cried with a loud voice about the ninth hour, after three hours of darkness. These are the opening words of Psalm 22.
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Matthew 27:46I thirst
John only. John says Jesus spoke "that the scripture might be fulfilled"; he was then given vinegar on a spunge put upon hyssop.
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
John 19:28It is finished
John only. Said after he received the vinegar; then "he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
John 19:30Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit
Luke only. Cried with a loud voice as his last words in Luke, echoing Psalm 31:5.
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Luke 23:46
Which Gospel records which saying
Luke: forgive them (23:34), paradise (23:43), into thy hands (23:46).
John: behold thy son (19:26-27), I thirst (19:28), it is finished (19:30).
Matthew and Mark: my God, my God (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). Both also say Jesus cried again with a loud voice before he died, without giving the words.
Echoes of the Psalms
Two sayings use the words of Psalms. Psalm 22:1 begins "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" and Psalm 31:5 reads "Into thine hand I commit my spirit." Psalm 69:21 says "in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink," which readers often connect with John's note that I thirst fulfilled the scripture.
Why the order varies
Because the sayings are drawn from four accounts, any single order is a harmony. The order above is the common one in devotional use. Some place I thirst and It is finished after the cry of Psalm 22, as here; nearly all end with Father, into thy hands.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
John 19:30 · KJV
How well do you know The seven sayings from the cross?
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Common questions
What were Jesus' last words on the cross?
In Luke his last words are "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." In John they are "It is finished." Matthew and Mark say he cried again with a loud voice and gave up the ghost.
What does Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani mean?
Matthew translates it for the reader: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Mark gives the same words as Eloi, Eloi.
Does any Gospel include all seven sayings?
No. Luke and John each record three different sayings, and Matthew and Mark share one. The list of seven comes from reading the four accounts together.
Who heard Jesus say Woman, behold thy son?
His mother and the disciple whom he loved were standing by the cross, with his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene (John 19:25-26).
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