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Luke 22

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

What does Luke 22:45 mean?

Explanation

Luke 22:45 describes a moment when Jesus returns to His disciples after spending time in fervent prayer.

Earlier in the chapter, Jesus establishes the Lord's Supper and predicts His betrayal.

Knowing the suffering that awaits Him, He goes to the Mount of Olives to pray, asking His disciples to pray as well to avoid temptation.

In His deep agony, He asks the Father if it is possible to avoid what is to come, reaffirming His commitment to God's will.

Upon returning, He finds the disciples asleep.

The phrase "sleeping for sorrow" indicates that they were overcome by a heavy sense of grief and distress, which led them to sleep despite Jesus’ instruction to pray.

This moment shows the humanness of the disciples, their inability to grasp the full significance of the events unfolding, and their weakness in giving in to physical fatigue in a moment of spiritual importance.

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Historical Context

Luke 22:45 is set during the night Jesus was betrayed, in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, just outside Jerusalem.

This event took place during the Passover, a significant Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery.

The historical context is crucial as it provides insight into the immense pressure Jesus faced, knowing that He was going to be betrayed by one of His own disciples and then suffer crucifixion, a common Roman method of execution reserved for criminals.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse highlights the human vulnerability of the disciples and contrasts it with Jesus’ divine commitment to God's will.

Christian theologians often discuss the dual nature of Christ, His divinity and humanity.

In this setting, despite Jesus’ own distress, He remains committed to His divine purpose, while His disciples succumb to human weakness.

This event foreshadows their later abandonment of Jesus during His arrest and indicates the need for divine assistance to remain vigilant and faithful in times of trial.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, this verse serves as a reminder of the importance of prayer and vigilance in moments of sorrow and distress.

The disciples' failure to stay awake and pray can inspire individuals to seek strength and perseverance in their spiritual life, especially when faced with challenging circumstances.

It also encourages believers to be understanding of human weaknesses, both in themselves and in others, and to seek God's help in overcoming them.

Cross-References

Matthew 26:40-41: "And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Mark 14:37-38: "And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the term for "sleeping" (καθεύδοντες, katheudontes) conveys the sense of the disciples being in a state of slumber.

The phrase "for sorrow" (ἀπὸ τῆς λύπης, apo tēs lypēs) indicates they were overwhelmed or weighed down by grief.

This choice of words is significant as it reveals a physical reaction (sleep) to an emotional condition (sorrow), suggesting a greater depth to their sleep, it was not merely out of tiredness but also emotional exhaustion.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultural and religious practices, there are many stories of gods or heroes seeking solitude to prepare for an event of great import, much like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

However, the image of a divine figure requesting support from his followers and then finding them lacking is quite unique to the Christian narrative.

In contrast to heroes of other myths who may display unwavering fortitude, this account emphasizes the interplay between human frailty and divine purpose.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the disciples' reaction, a deep sleep spurred by sorrow, is psychologically plausible.

Extreme emotional distress can lead to physical and mental exhaustion, potentially resulting in drowsiness or sleep.

Modern psychology also recognises that stress can affect sleep patterns in various ways, which could provide an explanation for the disciples' inability to stay awake despite the significance of the moment.

Commentaries

Several biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this verse.

Adam Clarke notes the profound grief that enveloped the disciples, suggesting that it disabled them from being as watchful as they should have been.

Matthew Henry comments on the gentleness of Christ in not harshly rebuking His disciples but understanding their weakness.

Contemporary scholars also reflect on the human tendency to seek comfort in sleep during times of great distress, pointing out the symbolic significance of sleep in the narrative as a metaphor for spiritual lethargy or lack of awareness.

It is recognized among various commentators that while the disciples' failure is evident, this scene further accentuates Jesus' role as the one who remains faithful and alert to the will of his Father, even in the face of suffering.

Luke 22

Luke 22

What does Luke 22:45 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 22:45 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?