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Matthew 26

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

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.

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

What does Matthew 26:43 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 26:43 describes a moment during the night before Jesus Christ's crucifixion when he checks on his disciples and finds them sleeping.

Earlier in the chapter, Jesus had asked them to keep watch with him in the Garden of Gethsemane while he prayed in deep anguish over his impending suffering and death.

This verse highlights the contrast between Jesus' vigilant prayerfulness and the disciples' physical exhaustion leading to their inability to stay awake.

The repeated act of sleeping despite Jesus’ request for vigilance suggests a deeper spiritual lethargy or weakness in facing trials, emphasizing the human frailty of the disciples in comparison to the steadfast commitment of Jesus.

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Historical Context

Matthew 26:43 occurs during the Passion Week, specifically on the night Jesus was betrayed.

The Garden of Gethsemane, where this event takes place, is located at the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem.

During this time, the disciples would have been observing the feast of Passover, a highly significant Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage.

These events unfold in a politically and religiously charged atmosphere, as Jesus was about to be handed over to the Roman authorities by one of his own disciples, Judas Iscariot.

The disciples' inability to stay awake coincides with a period of intense prayer for Jesus, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the weakness of even those closest to him.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse carries several implications.

From a Christian perspective, the inability of the disciples to stay awake despite Jesus' request can symbolize human weakness and the need for divine assistance in overcoming spiritual obstacles.

It has also been interpreted as foreshadowing the disciples' later abandonment of Jesus during his arrest and crucifixion.

The verse captures a moment that contrasts divine dedication (Jesus in prayer) with human frailty (the disciples sleeping).

Some theologians see in this event a call to vigilance in the life of faith, alert to spiritual dangers and steadfast in prayer.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Matthew 26:43 can be applied in daily life as a reminder of the need for spiritual vigilance.

Christians may see themselves in the disciples' shoes, often struggling to remain focused and alert to their spiritual commitments, especially during times of distress or challenge.

This verse serves as an encouragement to persevere in prayer and faithfulness, even when it is difficult to do so.

In a broader sense, it can also be taken as a call to empathy and understanding for human weakness, while still striving for personal growth and discipline.

Cross-References

Mark 14:40: "And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him."
Luke 22:45: "And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,"
Ephesians 6:18: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
1 Peter 5:8: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

heuriskō (εὑρίσκω): Translated as "he came" or "found," a common Greek verb that means to find or discover.
katheudontas (καθεύδοντας): Translated as "asleep," a present participle form of the verb "katheudō," which means "to sleep."
bareiai (βαρέαι): Translated as "were heavy," from the root "barus," indicating heaviness or weight.

It metaphorically can refer to being burdened or overcome with sleep.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In cultural and religious comparisons, the theme of failing to stay awake or vigilant can be found in other traditions.

For instance, in Hinduism, there are stories of devotees who must maintain vigilance to gain favor from the gods or accomplish a spiritual task.

In Buddhism, mindfulness and alertness are key aspects of meditation practice.

The idea of spiritual slumber versus alertness is not unique to Christianity and serves as a common teaching point about the human condition in various religious traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the experience of the disciples has parallels in studies on the impact of stress, emotional distress, and exhaustion on alertness and cognitive function.

Modern research in sleep science and psychology could provide insights into why the disciples may have struggled to stay awake, considering the high levels of stress they were likely under, knowing that Jesus had predicted his imminent betrayal and death.

commentaries

Commentaries on Matthew 26:43 offer various interpretations of this event.

Some biblical scholars suggest that the verse illustrates the theme of "watchfulness" found throughout the New Testament, specifically the vigilance Jesus calls for in his parables and teachings.

Others might focus on the human aspect of the narrative, sympathizing with the disciples’ physical limitations.

Commentators like Matthew Henry emphasize the spiritual significance of the event, noting the need for continual prayer and the failure of the disciples as a lesson for all believers to heed the spirit willing over the flesh weak.

Matthew 26

Matthew 26

What does Matthew 26:43 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 26:43 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?