ACC ~ Matthew 26 v40 - 43
HE FOUND THEM SLEEPING
ORIGEN: But notice that after the first prayer “he came to the disciples and found them sleeping.” Likewise after the second prayer “he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.” On this, I believe they were the eyes not so much of their bodies as of their souls. Besides, he had not yet removed the heaviness from their eyes, “because he was not yet glorified.” And just as “the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified,” so too the heaviness had not yet been removed from their eyes “because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Therefore he does not rebuke them, but “leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.” He also teaches us through those “same words,” that we may not grow faint in prayer but persist in the very words of our prayer until we obtain those things we have begun to pray for. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 95. [1]
[1] GCS 38.2:214-15.
PRAY THAT YOU MAY NOT ENTER INTO TEMPTATION
HILARY OF POITIERS: After that, he returns to the disciples and finds them sleeping. He asks Peter why he could not watch with him one hour—Peter, indeed, was one of the three, for he had boasted in front of the others that he would not fall away. And he indicates the cause of his greater fear, saying, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” He wanted then to prevent temptation (so he included in his prayer the words “lead us not into temptation”), [1] lest anything in us cater to the weakness of the flesh. He also makes it clear why he urged them to pray in order to avoid temptation, saying, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” These words did not apply to himself but were aimed at them. For that matter, how is it that now his spirit is willing, whereas before his soul was sad even to death? [2] At any rate, he orders them to watch and pray lest they give in to temptation and succumb to the weakness of the body. He therefore prays that, if possible, the cup may pass from himself, for when it comes to drinking from it, all flesh is weak. [3] ON MATTHEW 31.9. [4]
[1] Mt 6:13.
[2] Mt 26:38.
[3] Mt 26:39.
[4] SC 258:236.
THE FLESH IS WEAK
JEROME: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” It is impossible for the human soul to avoid temptation. Hence we say in the Lord’s Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation,” [1] which we are unable to withstand. We do not refuse to face temptation entirely but pray for the strength to bear up under it. Therefore he does not say, “Watch and pray that you may not be tempted” but “that you may not enter into temptation,” that is, that temptation may not overwhelm you and hold you in its grip. For example, a martyr who has shed blood by professing faith in the Lord was certainly tempted but was not ensnared in the net of temptation. One who denies the faith, however, has fallen into the snares of temptation.
“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This is aimed at those rash people who think that whatever they believe, they can obtain. Therefore, as much as we trust in the ardor of our spirit, so too should we fear the weakness of the flesh. And yet, according to the apostle, the works of the flesh are mortified by the Spirit. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 4.26.41. [2]
[1] Mt 6:13.
[2] CCL 77:255-56.
WATCH AND PRAY
ORIGEN: As long as Jesus was present, his disciples did not sleep. After he had walked away a short distance, they were unable to watch for even one hour in his absence. For this reason we should pray that Jesus will not leave us for even a short while but will fulfill what he promised when he said to us, “And I am with you all days, even to the end of the world.” [1] In this way will we keep watch as he banishes sleep from our souls, to make it possible for us to fulfill his command: “Do not give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids, that you may escape as a doe from the nets and a bird from the snare of the fowlers.” [2] But coming to the disciples and finding them asleep, he arouses them with a word and tells them to listen, so he may as it were say to those who are listening: “How is it that you were not able to watch with me for even one hour?”
He orders us then to be wakeful so we may keep watch and pray. Now that person watches who does good works, that person watches who diligently attends to the truth of the faith lest he be ensnared by any shady teaching. He who watches and prays in this way will have his prayer heard. This is what the Lord means when he says, “Watch and pray.” We should first watch and, while watching, we should pray. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 93. [3]
[1] Mt 28:20.
[2] Prov 6:4-5.
[3] GCS 38.2:210-11.
THEIR EYES WERE HEAVY
HILARY OF POITIERS: The fact that, after returning and finding them asleep, he first reproves them, secondly is silent and thirdly orders them to rest, can be explained in this way: First, after the resurrection, he scolded them for scattering and for being apprehensive and restless; [1] second, once the Holy Spirit had been sent, he came and found them sleeping, since their eyes were too heavy for them to discern the freedom of the gospel—having been held back by the love of the law for some time, their faith was still sleeping; and third, with the return of his radiance, he restored them to restfulness and peace of mind. ON MATTHEW 31.11. [2]
[1] Mk 16:14.
[2] SC 258:238.
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