Why did Jesus ask the disciples to "watch and pray" in Matthew 26:41?
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. Gethsemane 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:35 - 41
ESV - 35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same. 36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray.
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Asked July 04 2020
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Nelson Malwitz
The idea that the disciples were to watch is, at first, a bit perplexing. What were they to be watching? It seems the thought is that Jesus was expecting them to be alert, stay focused, so as not to be distracted by earth-side matters—not to fall into temptation. In other words, pay attention to how we serve God and how He serves us.
The scriptures are filled with instructions like, “It is necessary to pay more attention to what we have heard, or else we make drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:10; “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around … looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8); and “Pay careful attention to your own work …" (Galatians 6:4).
Jesus gave us a pattern when He looked up and saw the crowds were like sheep without a shepherd and lamented the laborers are few. (Matthew 9:36-38) The instruction was to watch the crowds and pray. “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers …” The “watch and pray” by Jesus in Gethsemane is an instruction to actively seek to make a difference for His name’s sake.
Jack Gutknecht
In other words, you are saying, Nelson,
"Satan’s prey oft are they who secure are sleeping
And no watch are keeping." --Johann Burchard Freystein
Nelson Malwitz
Jack, I had to read this a few times to see the quote is in old English style. But it does seem to fit.
I have seen that the barriers to come to Christ are the same as the barriers to accept the missionary call—distractions of the world, flesh and the devil. "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father..." (1 John 2:16)
Ironically John, quoted above, was probably the one in the garden that slept and was admonished by Jesus to "watch and pray."