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Luke 22:45

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And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

And {G2532} when he rose up {G450} from {G575} prayer {G4335}, and was come {G2064} to {G4314} his {G846} disciples {G3101}, he found {G2147} them {G846} sleeping {G2837} for {G575} sorrow {G3077},

On rising from prayer and coming to the talmidim, he found them sleeping because of their grief.

When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow,

Commentary

Luke 22:45 describes a poignant moment in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately following Jesus’ agonizing prayer before His crucifixion. Having wrestled with the Father’s will, Jesus returns to His closest disciples—Peter, James, and John—only to find them succumbed to sleep.

Context of Luke 22:45

This verse is set during the Passover week, specifically on the night of Jesus’ betrayal. After the Last Supper, Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives, where He entered the Garden of Gethsemane. He had asked His disciples to "watch and pray" so they would not fall into temptation. While Jesus experienced intense spiritual and emotional agony, even sweating blood (Luke 22:44), the disciples were unable to stay awake, highlighting the stark contrast between His burden and their human frailty.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Human Weakness: The disciples, despite their love and commitment to Jesus, were overcome by their physical and emotional limitations. Their bodies simply could not endure the strain of the moment.
  • Overwhelming Sorrow: The text explicitly states they were "sleeping for sorrow." The impending events—Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion—weighed heavily on them, leading to a profound emotional and physical exhaustion that manifested as sleep. This deep grief rendered them unable to fulfill Jesus' request to watch.
  • Jesus' Solitary Burden: This scene underscores the unique and solitary nature of Jesus' suffering. Even His closest companions could not fully share in His Gethsemane ordeal, emphasizing that He bore the weight of sin alone.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "sleeping for sorrow" is significant. The Greek word for "sorrow" is lupe (λύπη), which denotes deep grief, pain, or distress. It suggests a profound emotional burden that led to physical prostration. It wasn't merely tiredness but an overwhelming exhaustion brought on by intense emotional pain and dread concerning their beloved Master's fate.

Practical Application

Luke 22:45 offers several insights for believers today:

  • Empathy for the Grieving: It teaches us to have compassion for those who are overwhelmed by grief or stress, recognizing that profound sorrow can lead to physical and mental exhaustion.
  • The Importance of Vigilance: While the disciples succumbed, Jesus' example reminds us of the critical need for spiritual vigilance and prayer, especially in times of spiritual warfare or personal crisis.
  • Understanding Human Limitations: We see that even the most devoted followers can fall short due to human weakness. This should foster humility and reliance on God's strength rather than our own.
  • Christ's Unique Sacrifice: The scene reinforces the immense and unparalleled burden Jesus carried, bearing the weight of humanity's sin and suffering alone, a sacrifice that no one else could make or fully comprehend.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 14:40 (6 votes)

    And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.

  • Mark 14:41 (6 votes)

    And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take [your] rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

  • Matthew 26:43 (4 votes)

    And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

  • Matthew 26:40 (4 votes)

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

  • Mark 14:37 (3 votes)

    And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?