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Lenten Season · Good Friday · Year A

Psalm 31:2+6, 12-13, 15-16, 17+25

Into Your Hands

April 3, 2026

The Entombment of Christ, Titian
The Entombment of Christ, Titian, 1559Museo del Prado, Madrid
The body being lowered onto the stone, held by three men and watched by two women, with the light falling only on him.Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God.TitianTitian, late, painting the burial as a thing done by hand in failing light.Museo del Prado, MadridThe Museo del Prado, Madrid.Museo del Prado, Madrid
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 18:1–19:42Jn 18:1–19:42
Second ReadingHeb. 4:14-16; 5:7-9Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9
First ReadingIsa. 52:13-53:12Is 52:13-53:12
Responsorial PsalmPs. 31:2+6, 12-13, 15-16, 17+25Ps 31:2+6, 12-13, 15-16, 17+25

Overview & Insights

"Into your hands I commend my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God." (Psalm 31:6)

The psalmist prays for refuge while under attack from enemies and forgotten by friends, moving from complaint into trust that the Lord's face still shines on him. Luke has Jesus pray this psalm's own words from the cross, which is why the Church reads it on Good Friday.

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Take it further: Psalm 31:2+6, 12-13, 15-16, 17+25

Commentary

Commentary on Psalm 31:9-16Commentary on Ps 31:9-16 Working Preacher

Working Preacher's commentary treats verses 9-16 of this same lament psalm, one of the three long laments that figure prominently in the Passion, though its verse range differs from the Good Friday selection.

Psalm 31 CommentaryPs 31 Commentary Enduring Word

David Guzik's notes work through the psalm's movement from being an object of dread to neighbors into trusting that his times are in God's hands.

Psalm 31:5 CommentariesPs 31:5 Commentaries BibleHub

BibleHub stacks classic commentaries on verse 5's commending of the spirit into God's hands, the line Jesus prays from the cross.

Psalm 31 - Haydock's Catholic Bible CommentaryPs 31 - Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary New Advent / Haydock

Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary reads the psalm as a prophecy of Christ's own passion and trust in the Father.

Background & Word Study

Psalms 31 (Hebrew/English)Ps 31 (Hebrew/English) Sefaria

Sefaria gives the Hebrew text alongside English for the psalm's language of refuge and redemption.

The Church Fathers

Psalm 31 - Catena Aurea / Church FathersPs 31 - Catena Aurea / Church Fathers Catena

Catena gathers patristic comment on the psalm, including readings that link it to Christ's own words from the cross.

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