Luke 22:42

KJV

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

KJV (with Strong's)

Saying {G3004}, Father {G3962}, if {G1487} thou be willing {G1014}, remove {G3911}{G3911} this {G5124} cup {G4221} from {G575} me {G1700}: nevertheless {G4133} not {G3361} my {G3450} will {G2307}, but {G235} thine {G4674}, be done {G1096}.

Complete Jewish Bible

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, let not my will but yours be done.”

Berean Standard Bible

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

American Standard Version

saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 22:42 presents Jesus' agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, a profound moment revealing His full humanity and His ultimate, perfect submission to the Father's divine will. Faced with the imminent suffering and death of the cross, symbolized by "this cup," Jesus expresses a natural human desire to avoid the impending agony, yet immediately follows it with a declaration of absolute surrender to God's sovereign plan, exemplifying unparalleled obedience and trust.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the Passion Narrative in Luke's Gospel, immediately following Jesus' institution of the Lord's Supper and His prophetic warnings about Peter's denial and the disciples' coming trials. Having just shared the Passover meal, Jesus leads His disciples to the Mount of Olives, specifically the Garden of Gethsemane. He instructs them to pray so that they "may not enter into temptation" [Luke 22:40](/luke/22-40 "Luke 22:40 - Pray to Avoid Temptation"), a command He then models perfectly in His own intense prayer. The verse directly precedes His arrest, the disciples' flight, and the subsequent trials, highlighting the profound spiritual battle Jesus fought and won before facing the physical and legal battles. It sets the stage for His unwavering resolve through the crucifixion.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Garden of Gethsemane, located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, was a familiar place for Jesus and His disciples, often used for prayer and quiet reflection. The "cup" metaphor was well-understood in Jewish thought, frequently symbolizing one's destiny or lot, particularly divine judgment or suffering, as seen in prophetic literature. The setting is late at night, after the Passover meal, a time of intense spiritual and emotional vulnerability. Roman occupation meant the threat of execution was constant for those challenging the established order, and Jesus' actions were perceived as such by the authorities. The cultural expectation for a Messiah was one of power and triumph, making Jesus' path of suffering and submission profoundly counter-cultural and scandalous to many.

* **Key Themes:** Luke 22:42 is a nexus for several critical themes. It powerfully underscores the **humanity of Christ**, demonstrating His genuine fear and anguish in the face of suffering, dispelling any notion of a stoic or unfeeling deity. Simultaneously, it showcases His **perfect obedience and submission to God's will**, even when that will involved immense personal cost. This unwavering commitment to the Father's plan, despite His human desire to avoid it, is a central theme of Christ's mission, echoing the divine purpose articulated by Jesus throughout His ministry, such as His declaration in [John 6:38](/john/6-38 "John 6:38 - Jesus Does the Father's Will") that He came "not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me." The verse also introduces the potent **metaphor of the "cup,"** which in biblical literature often represents divine wrath or a decreed destiny of suffering, as seen in passages like [Isaiah 51:17](/isaiah/51-17 "Isaiah 51:17 - The Cup of God's Fury") and [Jeremiah 25:15](/jeremiah/25-15 "Jeremiah 25:15 - The Cup of God's Wrath"). Jesus' willingness to drink this cup signifies His acceptance of the full burden of humanity's sin and God's righteous judgment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **willing (Greek, _boúlomai'_ G1014):** This verb signifies a deliberate, internal disposition or intention. When Jesus says, "if _thou be willing_," He is appealing to the Father's specific, purposeful desire concerning the path ahead. It's not a casual wish but an inquiry into the Father's determined will, acknowledging God's sovereignty over all circumstances, even the most painful.
* **cup (Greek, _potḗrion'_ G4221):** While literally a drinking vessel, "cup" is used here as a potent metaphor for destiny, lot, or, most significantly, a measure of suffering or divine judgment. In the Old Testament, the "cup" often represented God's wrath poured out on the wicked (e.g., [Psalm 75:8](/psalm/75-8 "Psalm 75:8 - The Cup of God's Wrath")). For Jesus, this cup represents the full weight of humanity's sin, the spiritual and physical agony of the cross, and the temporary, yet profound, separation from the Father as He bore the world's iniquity.
* **will (Greek, _thélēma'_ G2307):** This noun refers to a determination, purpose, or decree, emphasizing the active choice and volition. In this verse, it highlights the profound contrast between Jesus' natural human inclination ("my will") and the Father's divine, overarching purpose ("thine"). Jesus' ultimate declaration, "not my will, but thine, be done," signifies a complete alignment of His human will with the Father's redemptive plan.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Saying, Father,"**: This opening immediately establishes the intimate, familial relationship between Jesus and God. Despite His immense distress, Jesus addresses God as "Father" (Abba in Aramaic, as implied elsewhere), indicating a deep trust and personal bond even in the face of overwhelming agony. It underscores the privilege of direct, vulnerable prayer.
* **"if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:"**: Here, Jesus expresses His raw, human desire to avoid the impending suffering. This is not a lack of faith or commitment, but a genuine cry from His human nature, which recoils from the pain, humiliation, and spiritual burden of the cross. The phrase "remove this cup" is a plea for an alternative path, if one exists within the Father's sovereign plan.
* **"nevertheless not my will,"**: This clause marks the pivot point of the prayer. The word "nevertheless" (Greek, _plḗn_) introduces a strong contrast or exception. Despite His human desire, Jesus immediately subordinates His own will. This is a profound act of self-denial and humility, acknowledging that His personal preference must yield to a higher, divine purpose.
* **"but thine, be done."**: This is the ultimate declaration of perfect submission. Jesus surrenders His personal will entirely to the Father's. The phrase "be done" (Greek, _gínomai_) is a passive imperative, indicating that the Father's will should come into being or be accomplished. This is the core of Jesus' obedience, demonstrating His trust that the Father's plan, though painful, is ultimately good and necessary for salvation.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 22:42 is rich in literary devices that amplify its theological weight. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, specifically the "cup," which powerfully symbolizes the suffering, judgment, and divine wrath Jesus was about to endure on behalf of humanity. This concrete image makes the abstract concept of atonement more visceral. There is also a stark **Antithesis** or **Contrast** in the phrase "not my will, but thine, be done," highlighting the tension between Jesus' human desire and His divine mission, ultimately resolved in perfect obedience. The entire verse is an example of **Direct Speech**, allowing the reader to hear Jesus' raw, intimate prayer, which lends authenticity and emotional depth to the narrative. Furthermore, the scene itself, with Jesus' withdrawal to pray in agony, can be seen as a form of **Dramatic Irony**, as the disciples sleep while their Lord battles the spiritual forces of darkness, preparing to secure their salvation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 22:42 stands as a theological cornerstone, revealing the intricate balance of Christ's divine and human natures and the profound depth of His obedience. It underscores that true spiritual maturity involves aligning one's will with God's, even when the path is arduous. Jesus' prayer is not a sign of weakness, but of immense strength – the strength to choose God's purpose over personal comfort or survival. This act of submission in Gethsemane is the spiritual victory that precedes and enables the physical victory on the cross, demonstrating that the Father's will for redemption would be perfectly accomplished through the Son's sacrificial obedience.

* [Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")
* [John 4:34](/john/4-34 "John 4:34 - Jesus' Food is Doing God's Will")
* [Hebrews 5:8](/hebrews/5-8 "Hebrews 5:8 - Christ Learned Obedience Through Suffering")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 22:42 offers profound lessons for the believer's walk with God. Jesus' raw honesty in prayer teaches us that we can bring our deepest fears, anxieties, and even our desires for an easier path directly to God, knowing He welcomes our vulnerability. His subsequent, ultimate surrender, however, provides the model for true discipleship: acknowledging our preferences but ultimately submitting to God's perfect, often mysterious, will. This verse reminds us that God's plan is always redemptive, even when it involves suffering or sacrifice. When faced with difficult choices or painful circumstances, we are called to emulate Christ, trusting that God's wisdom and love supersede our limited understanding and that His will, when done, leads to ultimate good and glory. It challenges us to ask not just "What do I want?" but "Father, what is _your_ will?"

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently struggling to align your will with God's?**
* **How does Jesus' honest prayer in Gethsemane encourage you to be more vulnerable and transparent with God in your own prayers?**
* **What "cups" might God be asking you to drink or endure, and how can Jesus' example empower you to say, "not my will, but yours, be done"?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus ask for the cup to be removed if He knew He had to die?**

Answer:Jesus' prayer in [Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Luke 22:42 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane") reveals His full humanity, not a lack of divine knowledge or commitment to His mission. As a human, He genuinely experienced dread and anguish in the face of the immense suffering and spiritual separation from God that the "cup" represented. His question, "if thou be willing, remove this cup from me," is a profound expression of His human nature recoiling from such agony. It's a real, honest plea, demonstrating that even the Son of God felt the weight of His impending sacrifice. However, His immediate follow-up, "nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done," underscores His ultimate and perfect submission to the Father's sovereign plan. He wasn't trying to avoid His destiny, but was wrestling with the human cost of that destiny, ultimately choosing obedience out of love for the Father and for humanity. This wrestling highlights the depth of His sacrifice and the reality of His incarnation, making His obedience all the more powerful and exemplary.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 22:42 is a profound moment of Christ-centered fulfillment, demonstrating Jesus' perfect obedience as the ultimate Lamb of God. In Gethsemane, Jesus fully embraces the Father's redemptive plan, willingly drinking the "cup" of divine wrath and human sin that humanity deserved. This act of profound submission foreshadows and enables the atoning work on the cross, where He became sin for us [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us"). His "not my will, but thine, be done" echoes the very purpose of His incarnation, as He came to do the Father's will (e.g., [John 6:38](/john/6-38 "John 6:38 - Jesus Does the Father's Will")). Through His perfect obedience, even unto death [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience Unto Death"), Jesus secures salvation, providing the perfect sacrifice that cleanses us from sin and reconciles us to God. His Gethsemane agony is the spiritual victory that paved the way for the physical victory on Calvary, demonstrating that the path to glorification for the Son of Man was through suffering and ultimate surrender, thereby opening the way for all who believe to enter into the Father's presence.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 12:27

¶ Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

John 12:28

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, [saying], I have both glorified [it], and will glorify [it] again.

Matthew 26:39

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 thou [wilt].

Matthew 26:42

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, thy will be done.

Mark 14:36

And he said, Abba, Father, all things [are] possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Psalms 40:8

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.

John 18:11

Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?