


Matthew 26:43
Bible Versions
And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
Again he returned and found them sleeping, their eyes were so heavy.
And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy.
And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
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Luke 9:32
But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. -
Proverbs 23:34
Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. -
Romans 13:1
¶ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. -
Jonah 1:6
So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. -
1 Thessalonians 5:6
¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. -
1 Thessalonians 5:8
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. -
Acts 20:9
And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
Context
Matthew 26:43 is set within the solemn narrative of Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before His betrayal and crucifixion. After His final Passover with His disciples, Jesus withdraws to pray, taking Peter, James, and John deeper into the garden with Him. He expresses His profound sorrow, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death" (Matthew 26:38), and asks them to "tarry ye here, and watch with me."
This verse describes Jesus returning for the second time to find His chosen disciples asleep, despite His earnest request. This follows His first finding them asleep in Matthew 26:40 and His warning in Matthew 26:41 that "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Their inability to stay awake highlights the profound physical and mental exhaustion they were experiencing, even as Jesus faced His greatest spiritual battle.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "their eyes were heavy" translates the Greek word bebarymenoi (βεβαρημένοι), which means "weighted down," "burdened," or "overcome." It suggests a profound and inescapable weariness, not merely a casual drowsiness. This was a deep, almost oppressive fatigue that made it impossible for them to keep their eyes open, further emphasizing the physical toll of the late hour and the emotional intensity of the situation.
Practical Application
Matthew 26:43 offers several timeless lessons for believers: