Psalm 22 (21):8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The frailty of the human condition. As we assert that He assumed humanity, we also acknowledge that the frailty of our nature was embraced by Him, in accordance with His genuine connection to us and the way He united Himself with us. For He was identical to His siblings in every way, save for the stain of sin. Therefore, it should not astonish us to state that along with His human form, He also took on its weaknesses, as a result of the external mockery cast upon Him by the ignorance of the Jewish people, as well as the scornful gestures directed at Him. This is echoed in the words of the Psalmist: “They have divided my garments unto themselves, and have cast lots about my garments” (Psalms 21:19). Furthermore, all who beheld me derided me, shaking their heads.

All those who lay eyes on me deride me. Everyone who sees me laughs at me. They speak with their mouths, shaking their heads in contempt. Their words come not from their hearts, but merely from their lips.

I am a worm, not a man. He instructs us to embrace humility, particularly those who seek communion with God. This reflects the scorn and degradation inflicted by humanity. The Evangelist explicitly notes that this prophecy came to fruition during His crucifixion, as onlookers mocked Him, shaking their heads and uttering, ‘But if you are the Son of God, .... save thyself’ (Matt. 27:40; Mark 15:30).

This is recorded in the sacred Gospel. For it is said: 'Those who passed by mocked Him, saying, "He saved others; can He not save Himself?"' (Matthew 27:39, 42)

In the Gospel of Matthew, it is written that those who walked by reviled Him, shaking their heads ... (Matthew 27:39)

A model of humility Observe, my dear friends, the example that has been set before us: if the Lord embraced such humility, what should we, who have come to know His grace, do in response?

They said with their mouths and gestured with their heads, urging him to save himself. This was the behavior of the Jewish people towards Christ, as you can attest. When he was crucified, they mocked him, moving their lips and nodding, saying, "If he could raise the dead, let him deliver himself."

In this passage, he clarifies the preceding statements. He recounts the scorn he faced from individuals in the most despised positions, illustrating how their mockery escalated from mere insulting words to more overt signs of disdain, such as the gestures of opening their mouths widely or shaking their heads, which are characteristics of revilers. An even more grievous situation arises when these same dishonorable individuals challenge him, implying that the God he has always recognized as his Father has forsaken him. We see that David, though unjustly condemned by society, consistently turned to God, trusting solely in Him for his defense with a clear conscience.

The misguided Jewish leaders, witnessing Christ the Lord crucified on the cross, mocked and shamed the Redeemer, shouting: ‘Yea, thou destroyer of the church! You saved others, save yourself!’ (Mark 15:29-31). They perceived only temptation and folly, yet He is both fully Man and fully God. All the prophets foretold of Him, and His ministry was marked by miraculous works, but they refused to believe in the Son of God.