The Meaning of Luke 22:42 Explained

Luke 22:42

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

YLT: saying, 'Father, if Thou be counselling to make this cup pass from me -- ;but, not my will, but Thine be done.' --

Darby: saying, Father, if thou wilt remove this cup from me: but then, not my will, but thine be done.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Saying,  Father,  if  thou be willing,  remove  {5625;3911:5628} this  cup  from  me:  nevertheless  not  my  will,  but  thine,  be done. 

What does Luke 22:42 Mean?

Study Notes

cup
.
The "cup" must be interpreted by our Lord's own use of that symbol in speaking of His approaching sacrificial death Matthew 20:22 ; John 18:11 . In view of John 10:17 ; John 10:18 He could have been in no fear of an unwilling death. The value of the account of the agony in the Garden is in the evidence it affords that He knew fully what the agony of the cross would mean when His soul was made an offering for sin, Isaiah 53:10 , in the hiding of the Father's face. Knowing the cost to the utmost, he voluntarily paid it.

Context Summary

Luke 22:35-46 - Drinking The Cup For Others
Our Lord knew to what He was going. All lay naked and open before His eyes. He laid down His life of Himself; but in this supreme act of love He suffered beyond words. It was not that He feared physical pain, but it was the horror of standing before the universe identified with the sin and sorrow of the world, as though these were His own.
In these instructions to His Apostles, as to wallet, purse and sword, we must understand that He meant them to realize that the storm was about to burst upon them with furious intensity.
Some think that our Lord prayed most of all that His body should not give way under His awful anguish. He feared lest He should die before He could reach the Cross! See Hebrews 5:7. "Oh, my Lord, thy chosen disciples failed thee in that hour; but so have we! What can we say! Help us to share thy vigil and thy prayer!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 22

1  The leaders conspire against Jesus
3  Satan prepares Judas to betray him
7  The apostles prepare the Passover
19  Jesus institutes his holy supper;
21  covertly foretells of the traitor;
24  rebukes the rest of his apostles from ambition;
31  assures Peter his faith should not fail;
34  and yet he should deny him thrice
39  He prays in the mount, and sweats blood;
47  is betrayed with a kiss;
50  he heals Malchus' ear;
54  he is thrice denied by Peter;
63  shamefully abused;
66  and confesses himself to be the Son of God

Greek Commentary for Luke 22:42

If thou be willing [ει βουλει]
This condition is in the first petition at the start. [source]
Be done [γινεστω]
Present middle imperative, keep on being done, the Father‘s will. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 22:42

Mark 10:38 Or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with [η το βαπτισμα ο εγω βαπτιζομαι βαπτιστηναι]
Cognate accusative with both passive verbs. Matthew 20:22 has only the cup, but Mark has both the cup and the baptism, both referring to death. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane will refer to his death again as “the cup” (Mark 14:36; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42). He had already used baptism as a figure for his death (Luke 12:50). Paul will use it several times (1 Corinthians 15:29; Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:12). [source]
Luke 4:13 For a season [αχρι καιρου]
Until a good opportunity should return, the language means. We are thus to infer that the devil returned to his attack from time to time. In the Garden of Gethsemane he tempted Jesus more severely than here. He was here trying to thwart the purpose of Jesus to go on with his Messianic plans, to trip him at the start. In Gethsemane the devil tried to make Jesus draw back from the culmination of the Cross with all its agony and horror. The devil attacked Jesus by the aid of Peter (Mark 8:33), through the Pharisees (John 8:40.), besides Gethsemane (Luke 22:42, Luke 22:53).d [source]
John 18:11 The cup []
Compare Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42. Peculiar to John. [source]
John 12:27 My soul [η πσυχη μου]
The soul Perfect passive indicative of ταρασσω — tarassō used also in John 11:33; John 13:21 of Jesus. While John proves the deity of Jesus in his Gospel, he assumes throughout his real humanity as here (cf. John 4:6). The language is an echo of that in Psalm 6:4; Psalm 42:7. John does not give the agony in Gethsemane which the Synoptics have (Mark 14:35.; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42), but it is quite beside the mark to suggest, as Bernard does, that the account here is John‘s version of the Gethsemane experience. Why do some critics feel called upon to level down to a dead plane every variety of experience in Christ‘s life? And what shall I say? Deliberative subjunctive which expresses vividly “a genuine, if momentary indecision” (Bernard). The request of the Greeks called up graphically to Jesus the nearness of the Cross. Father, save me from this hour Jesus began his prayers with “Father” (John 11:41). Dods thinks that this should be a question also. Westcott draws a distinction between απο — ek (out of) and εκ — apo (from) to show that Jesus does not pray to draw back from the hour, but only to come safely out of it all and so interprets εκ — ek in Hebrews 5:7, but that distinction will not stand, for in John 1:44 απο — ek and απο — apo are used in the same sense and in the Synoptics (Mark 14:35.; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42) we have αλλα δια τουτο ηλτον εις την ωραν ταυτην — apo If it holds here, we lose the point there. Here as in Gethsemane the soul of Jesus instinctively and naturally shrinks from the Cross, but he instantly surrenders to the will of God in both experiences. But for this cause came I unto this hour (alla dia touto ēlthon eis tēn hōran tautēn). It was only a moment of human weakness as in Gethsemane that quickly passed. Thus understood the language has its natural meaning. [source]
John 12:27 Is troubled [τεταρακται]
Perfect passive indicative of ταρασσω — tarassō used also in John 11:33; John 13:21 of Jesus. While John proves the deity of Jesus in his Gospel, he assumes throughout his real humanity as here (cf. John 4:6). The language is an echo of that in Psalm 6:4; Psalm 42:7. John does not give the agony in Gethsemane which the Synoptics have (Mark 14:35.; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42), but it is quite beside the mark to suggest, as Bernard does, that the account here is John‘s version of the Gethsemane experience. Why do some critics feel called upon to level down to a dead plane every variety of experience in Christ‘s life? And what shall I say? Deliberative subjunctive which expresses vividly “a genuine, if momentary indecision” (Bernard). The request of the Greeks called up graphically to Jesus the nearness of the Cross. Father, save me from this hour Jesus began his prayers with “Father” (John 11:41). Dods thinks that this should be a question also. Westcott draws a distinction between απο — ek (out of) and εκ — apo (from) to show that Jesus does not pray to draw back from the hour, but only to come safely out of it all and so interprets εκ — ek in Hebrews 5:7, but that distinction will not stand, for in John 1:44 απο — ek and απο — apo are used in the same sense and in the Synoptics (Mark 14:35.; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42) we have αλλα δια τουτο ηλτον εις την ωραν ταυτην — apo If it holds here, we lose the point there. Here as in Gethsemane the soul of Jesus instinctively and naturally shrinks from the Cross, but he instantly surrenders to the will of God in both experiences. But for this cause came I unto this hour (alla dia touto ēlthon eis tēn hōran tautēn). It was only a moment of human weakness as in Gethsemane that quickly passed. Thus understood the language has its natural meaning. [source]
John 12:27 And what shall I say? [και τι ειπω]
Deliberative subjunctive which expresses vividly “a genuine, if momentary indecision” (Bernard). The request of the Greeks called up graphically to Jesus the nearness of the Cross. Father, save me from this hour Jesus began his prayers with “Father” (John 11:41). Dods thinks that this should be a question also. Westcott draws a distinction between απο — ek (out of) and εκ — apo (from) to show that Jesus does not pray to draw back from the hour, but only to come safely out of it all and so interprets εκ — ek in Hebrews 5:7, but that distinction will not stand, for in John 1:44 απο — ek and απο — apo are used in the same sense and in the Synoptics (Mark 14:35.; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42) we have αλλα δια τουτο ηλτον εις την ωραν ταυτην — apo If it holds here, we lose the point there. Here as in Gethsemane the soul of Jesus instinctively and naturally shrinks from the Cross, but he instantly surrenders to the will of God in both experiences. But for this cause came I unto this hour (alla dia touto ēlthon eis tēn hōran tautēn). It was only a moment of human weakness as in Gethsemane that quickly passed. Thus understood the language has its natural meaning. [source]
John 12:27 Father, save me from this hour [πατερ σωσον με εκ της ωρας ταυτης]
Jesus began his prayers with “Father” (John 11:41). Dods thinks that this should be a question also. Westcott draws a distinction between απο — ek (out of) and εκ — apo (from) to show that Jesus does not pray to draw back from the hour, but only to come safely out of it all and so interprets εκ — ek in Hebrews 5:7, but that distinction will not stand, for in John 1:44 απο — ek and απο — apo are used in the same sense and in the Synoptics (Mark 14:35.; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42) we have αλλα δια τουτο ηλτον εις την ωραν ταυτην — apo If it holds here, we lose the point there. Here as in Gethsemane the soul of Jesus instinctively and naturally shrinks from the Cross, but he instantly surrenders to the will of God in both experiences. But for this cause came I unto this hour (alla dia touto ēlthon eis tēn hōran tautēn). It was only a moment of human weakness as in Gethsemane that quickly passed. Thus understood the language has its natural meaning. [source]
John 18:11 Into the sheath [εις την τηκην]
Old word from τιτημι — tithēmi to put for box or sheath, only here in N.T. In Matthew 26:52 Christ‘s warning is given. The cup Metaphor for Christ‘s death, used already in reply to request of James and John (Mark 10:39; Matthew 20:22) and in the agony in Gethsemane before Judas came (Mark 14:36; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42), which is not given by John. The case of το ποτηριον — to potērion is the suspended nominative for note αυτο — auto (it) referring to it. Shall I not drink? Second aorist active subjunctive of πινω — pinō with the double negative ου μη — ou mē in a question expecting the affirmative answer. Abbott takes it as an exclamation and compares John 6:37; Mark 14:25. [source]
1 John 3:22 Whatsoever we ask [ο εαν αιτωμεν]
Indefinite relative clause with modal αν — an and the present active subjunctive, like οτι εαν καταγινωσκηι — hoti ean kataginōskēi in 1 John 3:20. In form no limitations are placed here save that of complete fellowship with God, which means complete surrender of our will to that of God our Father. See the clear teaching of Jesus on this subject in Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9; John 14:12.; John 16:23 and his example (Mark 14:36; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42). The answer may not always be in the form that we expect, but it will be better. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 22:42 mean?

saying Father if You are willing take away this - cup from Me Yet not the will of Me but - of You be done
λέγων Πάτερ εἰ βούλει παρένεγκε τοῦτο τὸ ποτήριον ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ πλὴν μὴ τὸ θέλημά μου ἀλλὰ τὸ σὸν γινέσθω

λέγων  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Πάτερ  Father 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
βούλει  You  are  willing 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Singular
Root: βούλομαι  
Sense: to will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded.
παρένεγκε  take  away 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: παραφέρω  
Sense: to bear to, bring to, put before.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ποτήριον  cup 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ποτήριον  
Sense: a cup, a drinking vessel.
ἐμοῦ  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
πλὴν  Yet 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: πλήν  
Sense: moreover, besides, but, nevertheless.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
σὸν  of  You 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative Neuter 2nd Person Singular
Root: σός  
Sense: thy, thine.
γινέσθω  be  done 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.