Matthew 26:36-46 - The Hour When The Flesh Was Weak
In human life there is a close connection between our hymns and our olive-presses. We pass from the supper to the garden, from the emblems to the reality. But not all can enter into the fellowship of our Lord's unknown sufferings. Paul longed to do this that he might realize also the power of His resurrection, Philippians 3:10. Our Lord longs for the sympathy which will keep awake for love of Him, though it may not understand all that is in His heart!
Notice that though the cup seemed to be mixed and presented by human hands, our Lord refused to see in it these alone, but went behind them to the permissive will of God the Father. It is this thought that extracts bitterness from the bitterest cup. In the same sentence Jesus bade the disciples sleep on and arise. It was as though He knew and felt that though the past had gone beyond recall, yet further opportunities and testings were awaiting them and Him. These they would encounter and share in company. He is always saying to us, however unworthy-Let us be going. [source]
Chapter Summary: Matthew 26
1Jesus foretells his own death 3The rulers conspire against him 6The woman anoints his feet 14Judas bargains to betray him 17Jesus eats the Passover; 26institutes his holy supper; 30foretells the desertion of his disciples, and Peter's denial; 36prays in the garden; 47and being betrayed by a kiss, 57is carried to Caiaphas, 69and denied by Peter
Greek Commentary for Matthew 26:43
For their eyes were heavy [ησαν γαρ αυτων οι οπταλμοι βεβαρημενοι] Past perfect passive indicative periphrastic. Their eyes had been weighted down with sleep and still were as they had been on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:32). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 26:43
Luke 9:32Were heavy with sleep [ησαν βεβαρημενοι υπνωι] Periphrastic past perfect of βαρεω bareō a late form for the ancient βαρυνω barunō (not in N.T. save Textus Receptus in Luke 21:34). This form, rare and only in passive (present, aorist, perfect) in the N.T., is like βαρυνω barunō from βαρυς barus and that from βαρος baros weight, burden (Galatians 6:2). υπνωι Hupnōi is in the instrumental case. They had apparently climbed the mountain in the early part of the night and were now overcome with sleep as Jesus prolonged his prayer. Luke alone tells of their sleep. The same word is used of the eyes of these three disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:43) and of the hearts of many (Luke 21:34). [source]
What do the individual words in Matthew 26:43 mean?
Greek Commentary for Matthew 26:43
Past perfect passive indicative periphrastic. Their eyes had been weighted down with sleep and still were as they had been on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:32). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 26:43
Periphrastic past perfect of βαρεω bareō a late form for the ancient βαρυνω barunō (not in N.T. save Textus Receptus in Luke 21:34). This form, rare and only in passive (present, aorist, perfect) in the N.T., is like βαρυνω barunō from βαρυς barus and that from βαρος baros weight, burden (Galatians 6:2). υπνωι Hupnōi is in the instrumental case. They had apparently climbed the mountain in the early part of the night and were now overcome with sleep as Jesus prolonged his prayer. Luke alone tells of their sleep. The same word is used of the eyes of these three disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:43) and of the hearts of many (Luke 21:34). [source]