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Explanation for:
Matthew
26
:
38
Then he saith to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with me.
13
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Tertullian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c897f85f2df2b809392261_Tertullian.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":3,"exegesis-text":"He recognized that His spirit was deeply troubled and that His body was frail, demonstrating to you that both the grieving spirit and the frail body were part of the human experience, so you would not seek a different spirit or body in Christ, as many do today. It is essential to understand that by revealing both the spirit and the body, He indicated that in isolation, without the spirit, they hold no value. Therefore, He first affirms the strength of the spirit, so you can realize that the Spirit’s power is within you, rather than merely the frailty of the body. From this understanding, you can discern how to act and what to accept—that is, the weaker should yield to the stronger; and you should refrain from your current tendency to neglect the Spirit’s power while justifying yourself through the body’s weakness."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The soul is deeply troubled, not due to the approach of death, but until death itself, until He saves the apostles through His suffering. His instruction, 'Stay here and watch with Me,' does not prohibit rest, which would be inappropriate given the imminent threat; rather, it aims to guard against the slumber of disbelief and mental dullness. Therefore, those who argue that Jesus experienced an irrational sorrow should explain how such an emotion could exist alongside an awareness of the end of grief. While irrational creatures may experience distress, they lack an understanding of the reason for their sorrow and the duration for which they should feel it."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He expressed this without shame, as he was genuinely human and did not conceal anything alien to humanity beneath the veil of his flesh; he did this to emphasize that he had taken on fragile human form and was associated with a soul capable of suffering. Thus, he declared what is true to prevent any distortion, and according to another interpretation, he \\"hid not,\\" which might be the more accurate reading, though determining this is challenging since the overall meaning remains unclear, risking the message being taken away by those who would misappropriate it. He instructed the faithful to avoid arrogance in their conduct, as such behavior would be a denial of the truth. He also stated, \\"Whosoever hath denied Me, him will I also deny\\" (Matthew 10:33), instilling fear and trembling among the unbelievers. Consequently, by the strength of one commandment, we profess our faith to avoid being severed from his love, and by the strength of the other, we refrain from denial to prevent pride from depriving us of the blessings of his goodness. He proclaimed, \\"I have called you to watch with Me, lest I be betrayed; since now I am betrayed, sleep the rest afterwards and rest\\" (cf. Matt. 26:45)."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When we note the Lord's longing, it is essential to explore the reasons behind it. He had earlier cautioned that all would face temptation concerning Him. In his overconfidence, Peter asserted that even if all the others faltered, he would remain steadfast (Matthew 26:33). Yet, it was Peter whom the Lord foretold would deny Him on three occasions (Matthew 26:34). Nevertheless, Peter and the other disciples affirmed their unwavering loyalty, claiming they would not forsake Him, even unto death (Matthew 26:35). Subsequently, the Lord withdrew to another location and instructed His disciples to remain seated while He prayed (Matthew 26:36). He took Peter, James, and John along with Him and was filled with grief. However, He experienced no sorrow until they were present with Him; His sadness stemmed from their companionship. It is vital to recognize that the Son of Man did not bring along strangers, but rather the same disciples to whom He had revealed His Kingdom during the glorious moment when Moses and Elijah appeared before Him on the mountain, enveloped in His divine brilliance. The purpose of including them then as well as now was consistent.\\n\\nThen He proclaimed, My soul is sorrowful unto death. He did not express, 'My soul grieves for death', as that would suggest that death itself was the source of His fear. The true cause of His trepidation lay elsewhere. Though not explicitly stated, human understanding may evolve from beginning to end. Prior, He had indicated, All of you will be tempted because of Me this night (Matthew 26:31). He foresaw their intimidation, their flight, and their denials. Given that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit remains unforgiven either in this life or the next, He feared they might reject His divinity when they witnessed His suffering—being beaten, spat upon, and crucified. This is exemplified by Peter’s denial when he claimed ignorance of the man (Matthew 26:72), as the offenses against the Son of Man are pardoned. It is not death itself that instills fear, but rather the timing of it; for beyond death, faith can be fortified by the might of the Resurrection."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Let us reflect on the significance of the phrases, “My soul is grieved” (Matt. 26:38), and in another passage, “My soul is now greatly troubled” (John 12:27). It is not the Divine that feels indignation, but rather the soul that experiences it. While the soul endures suffering, God remains untouched by it. Furthermore, we are reminded: “The spirit is watchful, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). It is not the entirety of His being that mourns, but His soul. It is not the Wisdom or the divine nature that laments, but the soul that has come to dwell within the body. He did not mislead me, nor did He appear as anything other than what He truly is. I witnessed His sorrow, and it was not an illusion. He did not weep for His own anguish, but for our destruction, as He proclaimed, “I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (Matthew 26:31). He grieved over the thought of abandoning us, as He approached death with open arms. The Scriptures depict His actions: He advanced to meet those who sought Him, offered comfort to the distressed, encouraged the fearful, and even honored the betrayer with a kiss (see John 18:4-8; Matt. 26:51-56)."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He grieves while simultaneously concealing Himself from the devil, allowing the adversary to perceive Him as simply a man whom he could slay, resulting in His own demise. Conversely, had the Lord chosen to embrace His death, it would have provided the Jews with a rationale, claiming they had not sinned in putting to death one who came among them to endure suffering. This teaches us the importance of avoiding peril and seeking divine protection from such threats. For this reason, He remains close to the three disciples; so when they hear His words, they may recall His actions, and in moments of temptation, they can pray in the same manner as He does."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He demonstrated the frailty of human nature even more distinctly. In the face of death, as if it were the moment of His passing, He urges them to stay awake with Him for support, as is customary in times of trouble. Yet, He ultimately departs from them to pray alone."},{"author-name":"Dimitri of Rostov","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b083687b06aec81fcf3_Dimitri%20of%20Rostov.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":17,"exegesis-text":"Sirach cautions us, \\"Comfort thy heart, and drive away sorrow from thee: sorrow hath killed many, there is no profit in it\\" (Sirach 30:24-25). He adds, \\"My soul mourneth mortally.\\" The source of all consolation bears profound grief but carries significance, as He endures suffering to prepare eternal joy for us. Lush gardens are symbols of solace and delight, yet this one is extraordinary. Here, instead of blossoms, there are thorns; instead of new growth, blooms; instead of wine, vinegar; and instead of trees, there stands the Cross of Christ the Redeemer. Rather than refreshing springs of water, there flow streams of blood, and instead of gentle breezes, there are deep sighs from the heart of Christ. He proclaims, \\"My soul is sorrowful,\\" anticipating pain and scorn. The bride beckons her Bridegroom, saying, \\"Let my brother come into his garden, and eat the fruit\\" (Song 5:1). But what fruit does the Beloved partake? It is that which Adam encountered in Paradise, leading to nakedness, banishment, and death. Even now, our spiritual Adam experiences shame—\\"They took off His purple robe\\" (Matthew 27:31)—exile—\\"They led Him out of the vineyard\\" (Matthew 21:39)—and death approaches. Adam sampled the forbidden fruit in Eden, and now he consumes its bitterness, declaring, \\"The Highest has filled me with sorrows\\" (Job 9:18). Our Savior is overwhelmed with lamentation in this garden, gazing upon the fruits of Sodom and the harvest of Gomorrah: \\"Their grapes are from the grapes of Sodom, and their vine from Gomorrah; their bunches are bunches of gall, bunches of sorrow\\" (Deuteronomy 32:32). In this garden, the diligent Creator toils, having gathered all the thorns of sin and the burdens of our transgressions into one place, bearing them on His shoulders. He mourns, \\"The iniquities of men have exceeded my head; as a heavy burden, they have weighed upon me\\" (Psalm 37:5)—so encumbered that I am nearly crushed beneath this weight."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The very presence of those around Him felt burdensome in that dreadful moment. \\"My soul,\\" He lamented, \\"is deeply troubled unto death.\\" Instructing them to remain vigilant, He stepped away further into the depths of the garden, just beyond where a stone might be cast, and began to pray, seeking to fortify His spirit. He was filled with dread at the immense weight of humanity's sins that He was about to take upon Himself. His human nature recoiled at the impending burden He must endure."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"He revealed His innermost feelings to His disciples, saying to them, ‘My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death; STAY AWAKE WITH ME.’ This expression was entirely novel and surprising for the disciples, ‘who were used to seeing their Teacher always calm and self-assured,’ as noted by Innocent, the Archbishop of Kherson. Yet, being unaware of the gravity of the moment, they could not grasp the urgency of prayer. They attempted this sacred task, but in a manner that made it evident to the God-Man that this small gathering could not meet the depth of His spirit. He withdrew from them, venturing into a grove, stepping away to a nearby stone that was still visible to the disciples under the moonlight. The Evangelists describe the Savior’s anguish in vivid terms: Saint Matthew writes that He began to feel profound grief and sorrow; Mark notes that He was filled with dread and longing; Luke reveals that He was in such agony that His sweat fell like great drops of blood onto the ground. The Lord Himself declared, My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. He had previously experienced the sorrows of humanity; He had wept for Lazarus, He had wept over Jerusalem; yet all those sufferings paled in comparison to the intense sorrow that now engulfed His soul."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Sorrowful unto death\\": the anguish experienced by man appears to be the most profound, yet it is greater than what he can fully comprehend. Thus, the Saviour’s declaration signifies that the grief and agony of my spirit are immeasurably severe, akin to the anguish associated with death. This weight is borne because He has assumed all the transgressions of humanity and is facing death on their behalf; the collective suffering due to sin is now, in a sense, concentrated solely upon Him. - \\"Abide here and watch with Me\\": it seems that the human aspect of the God-Man, in its pain, seeks solace in the compassion of His closest disciples through their presence and vigilance alongside Him."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Gumilevski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896f4b6fd32caa244b5d7_Philaret%20(Gumilevski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Saviour Himself declares to those who witness His anguish, ‘My soul is sorrowful even unto death.’ Even prior to confronting the depths of human suffering, He mourned for the hardened hearts of His adversaries, who covertly observed His actions (Mark 3:5). When He encountered the grieving sister of Lazarus and the mourners along with her, sorrowing over Lazarus’ death, He too was troubled in spirit and became indignant, leading Him to weep (John 11:35-33). However, all of these sorrows pale in comparison to the anguish He now endures. In stating, ‘My soul is sorrowful even unto death,’ He vividly depicts the turmoil within Him, yet this expression cannot fully encompass the magnitude of His inner torment; mere human words cannot capture the intensity and breadth of His anguish. The phrase ‘My soul is sorrowful even unto death,’ spoken by the Saviour, signifies a depth of sorrow akin to that experienced when the soul is separated from the body—a sorrow that is fatal and consuming. It is believed that the distress He felt in Gethsemane was a sorrowful anticipation of death, reflecting a natural human reaction to mortality. This assertion holds significance because death evokes apprehension for all life; it causes great pain to the pure and holy humanity of Jesus, as it represents the penalty of sin and is antithetical to His sinlessness. Additionally, the dying Lord was numbered among the wrongdoers and was executed as one of them. This must have compounded the heaviness in His heart before His crucifixion. Yet, even this does not fully convey the breadth of Jesus’ sorrow. Given the greatness of His spirit, as evidenced in His life, the disgrace of His death could only sadden Him; it could not evoke terror or longing, nor should it have stirred the fervent prayer He offered to His Father. If even righteous individuals could face death with tranquility, regardless of its disgraceful nature, what should we anticipate from Him, who was beyond reproach? Furthermore, He repeatedly foretold to His disciples the fate that awaited Him, detailing the death that lay before Him along with its circumstances. Although the dark imagery of His impending sufferings had been present in His mind well before the traitor arrived in the Garden of Gethsemane, it could not have been fear of His fate that prompted His profound mourning and distress. Who willingly approaches a shameful death? Is it merely the Teacher of Truth, who laid down His life for the integrity of His message? Only the innocent, persecuted individual who dies in a state of righteousness? No! It is He who, not merely by words but through actions, took upon Himself the sins of all humanity. It becomes evident that His vision encompassed not just one disgraceful death but also the overwhelming sins of all people and the dreadful judgment of God's righteousness. This realization gives rise to the horror, deathly longing, and searing anguish that Christ Jesus experienced in the isolation of Gethsemane! The prophet Isaiah prophesied regarding the Messiah: ‘He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him’ (Isaiah 53:5-10). Thus, the words of the Prophet-Evangelist are fulfilled in Jesus. The Sufferer of Gethsemane beheld all the sins, all the transgressions, all the wickedness of humanity from Adam until the end of time; He perceived the entirety of their vile nature, their repulsiveness before the holiness of God. He witnessed the depravity of the unrepentant sinner and observed how the hardened heart scorns His sacrificial love and willingly embraces destruction. He felt the weight of your sins and mine, dear listener, with all their guilt before the sovereignty of God, reflected back upon Him with unbearable torment. In contrast, He, the Reconciler of humanity, stood before the formidable righteousness of God, which judged Him for the sins of the world He had absorbed. Meanwhile, the favor of the Father in heaven was of utmost significance to Him; how agonizing it must have been for Him to bear the displeasure and wrath of the Father. For our transgressions have rendered sin alien to us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Taking Peter, James, and John with Him, Jesus distanced Himself from the remaining apostles to a place not far away. Deep anguish, fear, and yearning began to grip Him, and He revealed His distress to His closest friends. \\"Remain here and keep watch with Me,\\" He instructed; \\"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.\\" In His petition to the Father to spare Him from suffering, He moved away from them, knelt down, and prayed, expressing a desire that this hour might be removed from Him: \\"Abba! Father, all things are possible for You; take this cup away from Me\\" (Mark 14:35-36). \\"Yet not what I will, but what You will\\" (Luke 22:42). The disciples did not witness the continuation of His prayer, as exhaustion caused them to succumb to sleep.\\n\\nJesus had spoken to the apostles on numerous occasions about the suffering and death He would face; He regarded them as unavoidable and even wished for their swift arrival, finding glory within them. He compared His impending death to a cup filled with poison, often given to those condemned during His time, and referred to His crucifixion as a baptism. He questioned the sons of Zebedee, \\"Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?\\" (Mark 10:38). \\"I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!\\" (Luke 12:50). What does the dread that overtook Jesus at this moment signify? What do His sorrow and deep yearning indicate? Did He waver in His resolve to suffer? No, for when He entrusted His will to the Father, He immediately declared, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”\\n\\nIf He fully surrendered to His Father's will and was aware of that will, why then did He plead to be spared from the cup of anguish? Why did He recoil from the prospect of death? Wouldn’t it have been preferable for Him to face death, like His followers, devoid of fear and even joyfully? Who could claim that Jesus was seized by terror, grief, and longing due to fear of the impending sufferings? Indeed, following this prayer in Gethsemane, He silently endured all the taunts, torments, and the most excruciating execution without a sound of distress, and we understand from His final cry, \\"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?\\" (Mark 15:34), that His divinity did not diminish His suffering. Therefore, it wasn't merely the dread of the anticipated suffering that drove Jesus to this state of seeking the removal of the cup.\\n\\nWe must remember that Jesus, in His humanity, faced temptation. Before beginning His ministry, when He was to fulfill the will of His Father, the devil tempted Him, suggesting an alternative path to His mission, one devoid of suffering and hardship. Jesus rejected these temptations and moved resolutely toward His fate, which now loomed as a painful end. In His current situation, it is understandable that the devil would return to tempt Him once more. The Evangelists do not recount the temptations faced in the Garden of Gethsemane; they remain silent not because such temptations were absent but because they were unaware, as they could only testify to the temptation in the wilderness from Jesus Himself, with no witnesses to the later temptation that ensued in Gethsemane. If we speak of these matters, we do so by conjecturing that the devil, determined to tempt Christ anew in this hour of anguish, would likely have attempted to remind Jesus of his earlier propositions in the wilderness, enticing Him with worldly power while reminding Him of the world's ingratitude and the imminent prospect of His crucifixion.\\n\\nHe might have confronted Jesus with a memory of those earlier offers, trying to persuade Him to abandon the path of suffering that would lead to death and instead accept the earthly glory they were so eagerly awaiting. The Tempter could have urged Jesus to consider that the people would have embraced Him warmly had He chosen the path of power; temptation could present an alternative, an appeal to conquer the world not through humility and sacrificial love—which might be incomprehensible to humanity—but through worldly might. Jesus would have calmly rejected such temptation, just as He did in the wilderness, declaring, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10). The devil departed, but the grim reality of the path ahead loomed before Jesus, a cup filled with moral torment.\\n\\nThis was the essence of the suffering the Divine Sufferer was now confronted with, a sorrow not stemming from fear of physical pain but rather from the profound anguish His soul experienced as He reflected upon the course He had taken. The pagan world had rejected the true understanding of God, indulging in idolatry and sensualism, while the Jewish contemporaries, despite their knowledge of the one True God, had marred His law and strayed into hypocrisy. As Christ brought forth a divine truth into this morally bankrupt world, it faced Him with hostility, and rather than exerting force against this opposition, He chose to bear the transgressions of all mankind.\\n\\nHe recognized that to establish God's kingdom on earth, hearts transformed by true love were necessary, a feat that could not be accomplished through coercion. Therefore, He engaged with society—tax collectors, sinners, and those in need—offering compassion, performing miracles, and calling all to repentance, finding joy in inspiring love within others. The disheartening reality that those who had once hailed Him as King swiftly turned away, upon realizing His kingdom was not of this world, weighed heavily upon Him. The betrayal of one of His own, and the anticipated abandonment by those closest to Him, compounded His sorrow. The weight of being isolated, misunderstood, and condemned by the very world He sought to save engulfed Him, culminating in an indescribable yearning within His heart.\\n\\nThis longing was intensified by the recognition that even His apostles, who had shown courage among an unsupportive crowd, might falter at the slightest peril. His thoughts filled with despair at the prospect of being utterly forsaken, led to a cruel execution, accompanied by an all-consuming sense of grief over the sins of humanity. While He was prepared to endure the cup of suffering, He questioned whether His sacrifice was indeed necessary. \\"Abba Father, all things are possible for You; take this cup away from Me,\\" He pleaded (Mark 14:36). Yet there was no response."}]}
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