The Disciples Asleep Again - Matthew 26:43

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus came, “unto a place called Gethsemane, and said unto the disciples, Sit you 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 said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry you 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 you will. And he came unto the disciples, and finds them asleep, and said unto Peter, What, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that you 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, our will be done”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse forty-three of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus, “came and found them asleep again” where we read:

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

The verse reads, “And he came and found them asleep again:” Matthew began words, “and he came” which means “and Jesus approached and came forth” “and found them” or “and discovered, recognized and detected Peter, James and John were” “asleep again” which means “sleeping anew, further and moreover another time”. Matthew shared how Jesus departed from His place of prayer to God and discovered “Peter, James and John” “sleeping” again.

The verse continues, “for their eyes were heavy.” Matthew added the words, “for their eyes” which means “because, since and on account that Peter, James and John's eyes for seeing” “were heavy” or “were burdened, weighed down and depressed”. Matthew shared how “Peter, James and John” were sleeping because their “eyes” were “tired, burdened and weighed down”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we understand the idea of “eyes being heavy” because when we are tired, our eyes seem to droop and desire to close. Though Peter, James and John were retold to “pray” and “be cautious and attentive” to their surroundings, they slept instead. This demonstrates the “weakness of the flesh nature” to be obedient to Jesus' “spiritual” commands. God desires to have a “spiritual” relationship with every person because He knows the “flesh nature” is not sufficient to relate to Him. Rather than abiding in Him, the human nature is to “sleep” while He prays. All who are wise will yield their “spiritual lives” to Him and allow Him to strengthen their resolve to “trust and obey” Him in everything they do.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “Sleep on now, and take your rest”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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