Matthew 26:38

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Then {G5119} saith he {G3004} unto them {G846}, My {G3450} soul {G5590} is {G2076} exceeding sorrowful {G4036}, even unto {G2193} death {G2288}: tarry ye {G3306} here {G5602}, and {G2532} watch {G1127} with {G3326} me {G1700}.

and he said to them, "My heart is so filled with sadness that I could die! Remain here and stay awake with me."

Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me.

Matthew 26:38 captures a profoundly raw and human moment of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before His crucifixion. Here, He reveals the depth of His emotional and spiritual anguish to His closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, inviting them to share in His vigil.

Context

This verse is set immediately after the Last Supper and Jesus' prophecy of Peter's denial, as Jesus leads His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. He separates from the main group, taking Peter, James, and John further in. The intense sorrow expressed here precedes His fervent prayer where He asks if "this cup" might pass from Him, yet ultimately submits to the Father's will. This scene underscores the immense pressure and spiritual battle Jesus faced as He prepared to bear the sins of humanity.

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Humanity and Vulnerability: This verse powerfully demonstrates Jesus' full humanity. He was not stoic or detached but experienced genuine, overwhelming sorrow and distress, a suffering so profound it felt "unto death." This shows He truly empathizes with human pain and suffering.
  • The Weight of Atonement: The "exceeding sorrowful" state points to the immense spiritual and emotional burden of facing the cross and bearing the sins of the world. It highlights the horrific nature of sin and the cost of redemption.
  • Need for Companionship: Jesus, in His deepest hour of need, sought the comfort and presence of His closest friends. His request to "tarry ye here, and watch with me" reveals a desire for human support, even as He faced a unique spiritual battle.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "exceeding sorrowful" translates the Greek word perilypos (περίλυπος), which literally means "surrounded by sorrow" or "grieved all around." It conveys an intense, overwhelming sadness that envelops the entire being. The addition "even unto death" (heōs thanatou - ἕως θανάτου) emphasizes the severity of His anguish, suggesting a sorrow so profound it threatened His very life, possibly referring to the physical toll of extreme emotional and spiritual distress.

The command "watch with me" comes from the Greek grēgoreite (γρηγορεῖτε), meaning "be awake," "be vigilant," or "stay alert." It was not just a request for physical presence but for spiritual attentiveness and prayerful support.

Practical Application

Matthew 26:38 offers several powerful lessons for believers today:

  • Empathy and Vulnerability: It normalizes profound sorrow and distress, even for the most spiritually mature. It shows that it is acceptable to express deep pain and seek support from trusted companions.
  • The Cost of Salvation: Understanding the depth of Jesus' suffering in Gethsemane should deepen our appreciation for the salvation He secured. It was not an easy act but one wrought with immense spiritual and emotional agony.
  • Call to Vigilance: Jesus' request to "watch" is echoed throughout the New Testament as a call for believers to be spiritually vigilant and prayerful, especially in times of trial and temptation. We are called to stand with Christ, not just in comfort but also in His suffering.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

  • 1 Peter 3:18

    ¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

  • 1 Peter 2:24

    Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  • Galatians 3:13

    Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:

  • Isaiah 53:10

    ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

  • Matthew 26:40

    And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

  • Matthew 26:41

    Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.

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