36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane , and said to His disciples , "Sit here while I go over there and pray ." 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee , and began to be grieved and distressed . 38 Then He said to them, " My soul is deeply grieved , to the point of death ; remain here and keep watch with Me." 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed , saying , "My Father , if it is possible , let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will , but as You will." 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping , and said to Peter , "So , you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour ? 41 " Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation ; the spirit is willing , but the flesh is weak ." 42 He went away again a second time and prayed , saying , "My Father , if this cannot e pass away unless e I drink it, Your will be done ." 43 Again He came and found them sleeping , for their eyes were heavy . 44 And He left them again , and went away and prayed a third time , saying the same thing once more . 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting ? Behold , the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners . 46 "Get up, let us be going ; behold , the one who betrays Me is at hand !"
47 While He was still speaking , behold , Judas , one of the twelve , came up accompanied e by a large crowd with swords and clubs , who came from the chief priests and elders of the people . 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign , saying , "Whomever e I kiss , He is the one; seize Him." 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said , "Hail , Rabbi !" and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, " Friend , do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. 51 And behold , one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword , and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear . 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place ; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword . 53 "Or do you think that I cannot e appeal to My Father , and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels ? 54 "How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled , which say that it must happen this way ?" 55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds , "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber ? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. 56 "But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets ." Then all the disciples left Him and fled .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 26:36-56
Commentary on Matthew 26:36-46
(Read Matthew 26:36-46)
He who made atonement for the sins of mankind, submitted himself in a garden of suffering, to the will of God, from which man had revolted in a garden of pleasure. Christ took with him into that part of the garden where he suffered his agony, only those who had witnessed his glory in his transfiguration. Those are best prepared to suffer with Christ, who have by faith beheld his glory. The words used denote the most entire dejection, amazement, anguish, and horror of mind; the state of one surrounded with sorrows, overwhelmed with miseries, and almost swallowed up with terror and dismay. He now began to be sorrowful, and never ceased to be so till he said, It is finished. He prayed that, if possible, the cup might pass from him. But he also showed his perfect readiness to bear the load of his sufferings; he was willing to submit to all for our redemption and salvation. According to this example of Christ, we must drink of the bitterest cup which God puts into our hands; though nature struggle, it must submit. It should be more our care to get troubles sanctified, and our hearts satisfied under them, than to get them taken away. It is well for us that our salvation is in the hand of One who neither slumbers nor sleeps. All are tempted, but we should be much afraid of entering into temptation. To be secured from this, we should watch and pray, and continually look unto the Lord to hold us up that we may be safe. Doubtless our Lord had a clear and full view of the sufferings he was to endure, yet he spoke with the greatest calmness till this time. Christ was a Surety, who undertook to be answerable for our sins. Accordingly he was made sin for us, and suffered for our sins, the Just for the unjust; and Scripture ascribes his heaviest sufferings to the hand of God. He had full knowledge of the infinite evil of sin, and of the immense extent of that guilt for which he was to atone; with awful views of the Divine justice and holiness, and the punishment deserved by the sins of men, such as no tongue can express, or mind conceive. At the same time, Christ suffered being tempted; probably horrible thoughts were suggested by Satan that tended to gloom and every dreadful conclusion: these would be the more hard to bear from his perfect holiness. And did the load of imputed guilt so weigh down the soul of Him of whom it is said, He upholdeth all things by the word of his power? into what misery then must those sink whose sins are left upon their own heads! How will those escape who neglect so great salvation?
Commentary on Matthew 26:47-56
(Read Matthew 26:47-56)
No enemies are so much to be abhorred as those professed disciples that betray Christ with a kiss. God has no need of our services, much less of our sins, to bring about his purposes. Though Christ was crucified through weakness, it was voluntary weakness; he submitted to death. If he had not been willing to suffer, they could not conquer him. It was a great sin for those who had left all to follow Jesus; now to leave him for they knew not what. What folly, for fear of death to flee from Him, whom they knew and acknowledged to be the Fountain of life!