Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 26:39 - 26:41
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_26:39-41
39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." 40And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Mat_26:39 "And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed" The beautiful contemporary pictures of Jesus kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane by a rock are moving, but inaccurate. The Greek text here asserts that He was completely prostrate in agony and distress, even to the point of physical death, during these moments. It has often been asked what terrified Jesus so much. Some have speculated that it was the fear of physical death, or His fear that the disciples could not lead the Church. Jesus, who had known intimacy with the Father moment by moment, was on the verge of having to experience the last great aspect of human lostness-a breach of fellowship with God. It was this breach of fellowship and having to carry the burden of sin for all people of all time that terrified the Son. If we can see this kind of intense anguish on the part of Jesus of Nazareth, the unique Son of God, how awesome and destructive must separation from fellowship with God really be!
▣ "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me" There are several extremely important aspects to this phrase. From Mark's parallel we understand that He used the Aramaic term "Abba," which referred to an intimate, family relationship. It is often translated "Daddy." In a few brief hours this will change to "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (cf. Mat_27:46). The phrase "if it is possible" (first class conditional sentence) is found in the Markan parallel (cf. Mar_14:36) in the phrase "all things are possible." The slight variation between Mat_26:35; Mat_26:42 and the variation between the Gospels do not minimize the fact that, from Mat_26:44, we realize that Jesus prayed the same prayer three times.
The concept of "the cup" in biblical usage reflected an Old Testament symbol for the destiny of a person, usually in the sense of the judgment of God (cf. Psa_75:8; Isa_51:17; Isa_51:22; Jer_25:15-16; Jer_25:27-28). The cup of judgment that God had prepared for rebellious mankind was consumed to the dredges by the innocent Son of God (cf. 2Co_5:21; Gal_3:13).
▣ "yet not as I will, but as You will" The pronouns "I" and "You" are in the emphatic position in the Greek. This, combined with the use of first class and Third class conditional sentences in Mat_26:42, shows us the intent of the Son in His prayer. Though His human nature cries out for deliverance, His heart is set on fulfilling the will of the Father in substitutionary atonement (cf. Mar_10:45).
Mat_26:40 "And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping" Before we are too quick to condemn the disciples, let's note that in Luk_22:45 the phrase, "they were asleep from sorrow," describes that they were unable to bear the pain of Jesus' prophecy about His own death and their subsequent scattering. Though Jesus longed to have human fellowship and intercession at this time of ultimate crisis in His life, He had to face this moment alone, and He faced it for all believers!
Mat_26:41 "keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation" These are both present imperatives. There must be constant vigil! Temptation is an ongoing reality (cf. Mat_4:11; Luk_4:13; Romans 7).
There have been several theories as to what "temptation" referred in this context
1. to the disciples sleeping instead of praying
2. to the disciples desertion of Jesus in Mat_26:56
3. to Peter's denial in Mat_26:69-75
4. to governmental or religious trials (cf. Mat_5:10-12; Joh_9:22; Joh_16:2)
The term "temptation" (peirasmos) had the connotation of "to tempt or try with the goal of destruction" (see Special Topic at Mat_4:1, cf. Mat_6:13; Luk_11:4; Jas_1:13). It is often contrasted with another Greek term for test (dokimazo) which had the connotation of "to try or tempt with a view toward strengthening." However, these connotations are not always present in every context. Theologically it can be said that God does not test or tempt His children to destroy them but He does provide opportunities for spiritual growth through trials (cf. Gen_22:1; Exo_16:4; Exo_20:20; Duet. Mat_8:2; Mat_8:16; Matthew 4; Luke 4; Heb_5:8). However, He always provides a way through (cf. 1Co_10:13).
▣ "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" This was the self-confession of Jesus who knows fully our humanity and its weaknesses (cf. Heb_4:15). And, knowing us, He loved us and died for us (cf. Rom_5:8) and now intercedes for us (cf. Rom_8:34; Heb_7:25; Heb_9:24; 1Jn_2:1). Hallelujah!