Why Did Jesus Say 'Father into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit' Just before He Died?

Jesus’s crucifixion is central to the Gospel Message. Before he died, Jesus said, “Father into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit.” Why did he utter these words with his last breath? What do they mean? The phrase wasn’t an accident and holds significant meaning.

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What Does 'Father into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit' Mean?

Jesus came to Earth to fulfill God’s mission of the perfect sacrifice, but that doesn’t mean the task was easy. John 3:16 says ^“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” The Father sent Jesus down to earth. He not only gave this son by sending Jesus in human form, but he gave him as the ultimate sacrifice.

Jesus was more than human when he lived on earth. In Acts 10:38, Luke writes “ God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.” As part of the Trinity, Jesus is three in one: God, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus was not only committing his physical body to the Father, but also the Spirit of God which lived inside him. 

Commitment means pledging allegiance to someone or something. When you commit to attending a wedding or special event, the host expects you will be there. You promise to be there and take part in the day’s activities. Jesus had a much greater allegiance, promising to follow God’s plan for him to die on the cross.

Jesus wrestled with this commitment. The night before his arrest, Jesus pleads to be released from his burden if it’s God’s will. In Luke 22:42, Jesus prays “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”But God didn’t take the weight from him, and the next day Jesus hung next to criminals.

Jesus could have saved himself and come down from the cross. He had the power to do so. Hecklers even encouraged him to use his heavenly influence to free himself, but Jesus was committed to the plan of dying for the world’s sins. In Luke 23: 37 the soldiers say, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Jesus chose not to save himself but to free us instead.

Jesus’s story doesn’t end in death, and neither does ours. When he committed himself, Jesus knew he would be with the Father after his earthly death. This sets the precedent that Christ-followers can know that their spirits will also join God in Heaven after death. Jesus’s words give believers great assurance that even beyond the grave, they will be with him forever.

What Old Testament Prophecy Does Jesus Fulfill When He Says This?

Psalm 31: 1-5. “In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.”

The Psalmist, usually attributed to David, also needs deliverance from a difficult situation. He knows he can be delivered by God’s righteousness. When Jesus died, he made us righteous through his blood shed on the cross. He was our atoning lamb, taking our place on the sacrifice table. David also pleads for God to rescue him. This mirrors Jesus’s circumstances and plea in the garden to have the burden taken from him. Both David and Jesus knew their spirits would be safe with God.

David’s ultimate request of deliverance is fulfilled centuries later on the cross. The Spirit of God in the Old Testament is the same Spirit of God in the New Testament. Jesus's death ensures deliverance for all Christ-followers. Anyone who asks for freedom from their sins can now obtain salvation; forgiveness is theirs with a plea of a heart turned toward God.

Why Is it Important that 'Father into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit' Is the Last Thing Jesus Says?

Jesus chose his last words carefully. It was no accident that he proclaimed “Father into your hands I commit my Spirit.” While Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy, he also made a statement about the importance of God’s Word.

Matthew Henry writes, “Christ’s dying explained (Luke 23:46) by the words with which he breathed out his soul. Jesus had cried with a loud voice when he said, Why hast thou forsaken me? So we are told in Matthew and Mark, and, it should seem, it was with a loud voice that he said this too, to show his earnestness and that all the people might take notice of it: and this he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. 1. He borrowed these words from his father David (Ps. 31:5); not that he needed to have words put into his mouth, but he chose to make use of David’s words to show that it was the Spirit of Christ that testified in the Old-Testament prophets, and that he came to fulfill the scripture. Christ died with scripture in his mouth. Thus he directs us to make use of scripture language in our addresses to God.”

The Bible is the living Word of God. Jesus demonstrates the importance of using Scripture by repeating his last words from the Bible. The God-ordained words hold power and truth. Christians follow Jesus’s lead and also use Scripture when speaking to God.

What Can We Learn from 'Father into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit'?

As Christ-followers, we can follow his lead. Jesus committed his spirit to God and so should we. Jesus’s pain and sacrifice were for a better purpose, to bring others closer to the Father. We can also commit our trials and tribulations, knowing God can use them for greater purposes and bring others closer to God.

Matthew Henry recognizes that the previous books of Matthew and Mark document Jesus crying out “My God, My God. Why have you forsaken me?” He then states we can assume Jesus also said “Father into your hands I commit my spirit” in a loud voice. In his darkest moment, Jesus is declaring his allegiance to God and his plan. When we find ourselves in tribulations, we can also declare this truth with a loud voice. We are his and we are part of his plan. We pledge our spirit to our great God whose plans are much greater than ours.

Jesus also quotes Scripture with this phrase. The Bible provides us with stories from people who experienced great joys and great trials. The Psalms, in particular, share stories of grief and sorrow. When we are mournful and don’t know what to say, we can look to the people in the Bible and use their words. Every word in Scripture is God-breathed. There is power in his words and as his followers, we can use this power in our everyday lives.

Jesus declares a powerful phrase in his last breath. “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.” This shows his allegiance and willingness to follow God’s plan. The commitment by Jesus encourages followers to do the same, pledge their spirits to God. The phrase also highlights the importance of using Scripture and God’s word. The Bible’s words aren’t simply black or red ink on a page. The verses are the living, breathing word of God.

Further Reading

The Beautiful Meaning Behind "Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit"

What Is the Significance of Jesus’ Last Words on the Cross?

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Wenping-Zheng

Jenna Brooke Carlson is an elementary dual language teacher in the Chicago suburbs. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers, she enjoys spending time with other writers and perfecting her craft. Her debut novel, Falling Flat, spreads the message that healing can occur, even after tragedy. Along with writing, she’s pursuing her dreams of creating a community of brave young women, who she can encourage to live out their dreams amid challenges and imperfection. Her days are busy, but she’s determined she can conquer anything with a fuzzy blanket and a hot cup of tea. To find out more about Jenna, visit her website at jennabrookecarlson.com.

This article is part of our larger Holy Week and Easter resource library centered around the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ!

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