Then he saith to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with me.

“Or otherwise; My soul is sorrowful even unto death; as much as to say, Sorrow is begun in me, but not to endure for ever, but only till the hour of death; that when I shall die for sin, I shall die also to all sorrow, whose beginnings only are in me. Tarry ye here, and watch with me; as much as to say, The rest I bade sit yonder as weak, removing them from this struggle; but you I have brought hither as being stronger, that ye may toil with me in watching and prayer. But abide you here, that every man may stay in his own rank and station; since all grace, however great, has its superior.”

“(Fid. Orth. iii. 20.) Wherefore the passions of our nature were in Christ both by nature and beyond nature. By nature, because He left His flesh to suffer the things incidental to it; beyond nature, because these natural emotions did not in Him precede the will. For in Christ nothing befel of compulsion, but all was voluntary; with His will He hungered, with His will He feared, or was sorrowful. Here His sorrow is declared, Then saith he unto them, My soul is sorrowful even unto death.”

“Having set down the institution of the new sacrament, here the future scandal of the disciples is foretold. And first the place is set forth; second the prediction, where it says and he said to them. And this fits both with what precedes and with what follows. Hence it can be connected with either. He says therefore and when a hymn had been sung. By this he gives us an example in two ways: because first there was a meal and a material supper, after which we ought to give thanks and praise God; Psalm 21:27: "the poor shall eat and shall be filled, and they shall praise the Lord that seek him." Likewise after that there was the sacramental supper, after which we likewise ought to give thanks. Hence after that, he sang a hymn. Hence what is said after communion in the Mass represents this hymn; therefore the faithful ought to wait until the end of Mass in order to hear this hymn. And this is what is said in John 17:1: "Father, glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you." And when this was said, they went out to the Mount of Olives. For the Mount of Olives signifies richness, because olives are rich; hence it signifies spiritual richness. In Genesis 49:20: "his bread is fat." Hence it signifies the richness of grace and of the heavenly glory to which he is being led forward; Psalm 67:16: "a mountain of God, a fat mountain." Oil soothes weary limbs, mitigates pain, provides fuel for fire and brightness. So it will be in that glory, because all labor will be removed, all pain; all brightness will be present. Likewise, what he says, to the Mount of Olives, fits the future prediction. By oil mercy is signified: for just as it floats above other liquids, so does mercy; Psalm 144:9: "his tender mercies are over all his works." Likewise on the mountain he shows the scandal, so that mercy might be signified as preceding it. "When the just man shall fall, he shall not be bruised, for the Lord putteth his hand under him," Psalm 36:24. Then he says, (…) "all of you shall be scandalized because of me this night." Here the scandal is set forth. And first in general; second in particular, where it says but Peter answering. Concerning the first he does two things. First he foretells it; second, lest it seem to happen by chance, he brings forward an authority, where it says for it is written: "I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered." And in this word the sin of the disciples is aggravated in many respects. First from its universality, all of you; Isaiah 1:6: "from the sole of the foot unto the top of the head, there is no soundness therein," and so on. Likewise the matter is touched upon, you shall be scandalized because of me; 1 Corinthians 1:23: "we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumbling block." The Jews, because they sought nothing but the weakness of the flesh, suffered scandal. Likewise the sin is aggravated by the nearness of the time, because after so many warnings, after the reception of the sacrament. Hence they had already forgotten what he had done for them; hence they are well compared to a man beholding the countenance of his birth in a mirror: "for he beheld himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was," James 1:24. Likewise because it happens at night, for "they that are drunk, are drunk in the night," and "they that sleep, sleep in the night," 1 Thessalonians 5:7: so also those who are scandalized. Then he adds the authority: for it is written: "I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered." And it is written in Zechariah 13:7, and there it says: "strike the shepherd," namely Christ, "and the sheep shall be scattered"; but here it says "I will strike," and quite fittingly, because the prophet desired that this should happen, and therefore said, "strike the shepherd"; but Christ speaks in his own person; and on this day he foretells first the passion of Christ; second the scandal, when he says "I will strike the shepherd." This shepherd is Christ; John 10:11: "I am the good shepherd." And 1 Peter 2:25: "you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls." And he was struck, because God delivered him up, "for he spared not even his own Son," Romans 8:32: and this on account of our sins; Isaiah 53:8: "for the wickedness of my people have I struck him." Likewise he foretells the scandal, "and the sheep shall be scattered." The sheep are the faithful; John 10:27: "my sheep hear my voice." And thus God allowed them to be scattered, that afterward he might gather them together; Psalm 146:2: "he will gather together the dispersed of Israel." John 10:16: "other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and them also I must bring." Then he foretells the joys of the resurrection: "but after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee"; for although the Father raised him up, as is said elsewhere, Acts 2:24: "whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell," nevertheless he rose by his own power, because the power of the Father is the power of the Son; 2 Corinthians ult., 4: "for although he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God." Likewise, against what he had said, that the sheep would be scattered, he says "I will go before you into Galilee." For sheep follow the shepherd: hence the shepherd gathers them by calling them by name; therefore he says "I will go before." Or it can be referred to what he says "after I shall be risen again." Because some might believe that a long time would pass until his resurrection, therefore he said that it would not be long, because "I will go before you into Galilee." His custom was to remain but little in Judea, but to pass quickly into Galilee. He wishes therefore to say: I will rise again before you can come into Galilee, so as to show that he is the one who will appear to them. Therefore they were able to be sufficiently assured. Likewise, what he says, that he will go before, gives security. Because they were suffering persecution in Judea, therefore he says that he will go before into Galilee, so as to remove them from fear. And Chrysostom says that it must not be understood that he first appeared in Galilee: rather he appeared here, but not first, indeed rather in Jerusalem. Why then does he rather say "into Galilee"? Galilee is interpreted "passing over": hence it is signified that through the resurrection we shall pass from mortal life to immortal life; and in this he went before us, because Christ is the firstfruits of them that sleep. Likewise the passing over of the disciples to the Gentiles is signified: and in this Christ went before, by moving hearts. "But Peter answering." Here the prediction concerning the scandal of Peter is set forth. And first the occasion is set forth; second the prediction; third the excuse. The second is where it says "Jesus said to him," and so on; the third where it says "Peter said to him," and so on. Here there is a question of the letter; because it seems that Peter said this after they had departed from the supper room; but Luke 22:34-39 seems to say that it was before they departed, and John 13:36-38 agrees with this. Augustine resolves this by saying that Peter said this three times, and thus all accounts agree, because if we consider the narrative, he says this for several reasons. This movement arose from the fact that he had foretold the scandal. Luke 22:32 the Lord had said: "I have prayed for thee, Peter, that thy faith fail not," and then Peter said: "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death." But in John it is said for another reason; because John 13:33 the Lord said: "whither I go, you cannot come at this time." Then Peter said: "I will lay down my life for thee." Therefore he said it three times; hence it can be that he said it twice in the supper room, but once outside, as is said here. And it can be that he spoke from fervor, and did not consider his own powers. Yet he sinned in three respects. First because he trusted himself more than the Lord, though it is written in Romans 3:4: "God is true; but every man a liar." Likewise because he preferred himself to the others; hence he said, "and even if all shall be scandalized in thee, I will never be scandalized." Hence he considered himself firmer than the others; and he fell into what is said in Luke 18:11: "I am not as the rest of men," and so on. Likewise because he attributed to himself what he ought not, though it is written John 15:5: "without me you can do nothing." Because therefore he spoke arrogantly, therefore the more did he permit him to fall. And God does this, because God greatly hates pride; Job 40:6: "and looking on every one that is proud, he humbleth him." "Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, that in this night before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice." Because you might think that I speak by way of threat, therefore I say to thee, "amen," that is, I say to thee from the heart, that "before the cock crow in this night, thou wilt deny me thrice." And his fault is aggravated by the nearness of the time, because "in this night." Likewise by the multiplicity, because "thrice": just as he had presumed three times, so he denied three times after the presumption; Job 31:27: "if my heart hath rejoiced in secret." But there is a question about this "before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice"; because in Mark 14:30 it is stated that "before the cock crow twice." According to Augustine it can be resolved that according to the history what Mark says is true. And what Matthew says can be resolved thus, that a man is said to do a thing when he does it in intention, as above at 5:28: "whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart." Thus Peter in his intention denied three times, or even more times; from which he conceived a fear that was sufficient for denying three times or more; therefore he says that he denied three times because he had already conceived that he would deny three times or more. Hence Matthew said what he intended inwardly; but Mark, what he did outwardly. Or it can be said otherwise, that when I say: I will do this within such a time, then it is not necessary that it be done within that time, but it suffices that it be begun. Hence what he said, that he would deny three times, it was not necessary that it be completed before the cock's crow, but only begun. There follows the excuse of Peter, "Peter said to him," and so on. Peter excuses himself, "even if I should die with thee, I will not deny thee." And yet he feared, because at the voice of a maidservant he denied. Jerome says that he did not know what he was saying, because Christ alone was to die, that he alone might be the Redeemer; Isaiah 63:3: "I have trodden the winepress alone." Then he sets down the affirmation, namely of the others likewise, "and all the disciples said the same." Hence they said as Peter had said; yet the others had a better reason than Peter for excusing themselves, because the others spoke without such an assertion. "Then Jesus came with them into a country place, which is called Gethsemani." In this part the preparation is set forth, which is by prayer; and he does three things. First the purpose of praying is proposed; second the necessity of praying; third the manner. The second is where it says "and taking with him Peter," and so on; the third where it says "and going a little further, he fell upon his face." Concerning the first he does two things. First the place is set forth; second he foretells the purpose, "and he said to his disciples." He says therefore "then Jesus came with them into a country place, which is called Gethsemani." The contrary seems to be said in John 18:1, that Jesus went forth and came over the brook Cedron. Hence it should be noted that that country place was at the foot of the Mount of Olives, hence it was the same place; and he came there after supper, as if to walk about. Then he foretells the purpose of praying, "and he said to his disciples: sit you here, till I go yonder, and pray." A similar thing is found in Genesis 22:5: "Abraham said to his young men: stay you here with the ass, I and the boy will go with speed as far as yonder, and after we have worshipped, will return to you." But here Damascene raises a question. Prayer is an ascent into God, but the intellect of Christ was joined to God; how then did he who was doing this need God? Hence it should be said that he prayed not for his own sake, but for our benefit. And this is twofold, because he prayed in order to give us an example, that in tribulation we might have recourse to the Lord; Psalm 119:1: "in my trouble I cried to the Lord." Likewise, that he might show that he was from another, and that he had it from another; hence he says: "the Son cannot do anything of himself." And in the same place, 8:28: "I do nothing of myself." Likewise, to exclude an error, because some said that the power of the Father and of the Son was not the same; John 8:49: "I honor my Father." He gives, therefore, an example of prayer, and how one ought to pray. For the first condition of prayer is that it ought to be humble prayer: which is signified because he went into a valley; Judith 9:16: "the prayer of the humble and the meek hath always pleased thee." Likewise it ought to be devout; hence in Gethsemani, that is, in a country place of richness; Psalm 62:6: "let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness." Likewise it ought to be solitary, as above at 6:6: "enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father." "And taking with him Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee," and so on. Here he foretells the necessity of prayer: and this was sorrow. And first he sets forth witnesses of the sorrow; second he shows the sorrow; third he dispels it. The second is where it says "he began to grow sorrowful and to be sad"; the third where it says "stay you here, and watch with me." He says therefore, "and taking with him Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee," and so on. He took three with him. And why these rather than the others? One reason is that these were firmer, and because weakness scandalizes all, therefore he wished to show his weakness rather to these than to the others. Likewise he had shown them glory; therefore he wished that just as they had seen his glory, so they might see his weakness, that they might know that neither weakness swallowed up glory, nor glory swallowed up weakness. There follows the showing of the weakness. And first in deed; second in word. And according to this he does three things: because first he says according to what Christ was made sorrowful; second why he was made sorrowful; third how he was made sorrowful. As to the first, "he began to grow sorrowful and to be sad." Here two errors must be avoided; for some said that he was made sorrowful according to his divinity: and this cannot be, because he was made sorrowful because he was passible, but the divinity was not passible. Likewise the opinion of the Arians, otherwise of Eunomius, was that in Christ there was no soul, but the Word in place of a soul. And why did he say this? So that all things that pertain to defect might be referred to the Word, so that he might be shown to be less than the Father. And this is false. Therefore he suffered according to what he was able to suffer, that is, according to his soul. Then he says to them: "my soul is sorrowful even unto death," and so on. He does not say: I am sorrowful, because "I" is indicative of the person, but he was not made sorrowful inasmuch as he is the Word, but according to the soul; therefore the error both of Arius and of Apollinaris is excluded; likewise that of the Manicheans, who hold that he did not truly suffer. Hence it is clear according to what he was made sorrowful. But why was he made sorrowful? The words of the saints differ. For Hilary and many others said that he was not made sorrowful for his own sake, nor on account of his own death, but on account of the scandal of the disciples: and he wishes to prove this by the fact that he took them with him. Damascene says that he was sorrowful for his own sake. And why? Because sorrow arises from the fact that we lack that which we naturally love. The soul naturally wills to be united to the body, and this was in the soul of Christ, because he ate, and drank, and hungered. Therefore separation was against natural desire: therefore to be separated was sorrowful for him. Yet we can understand that something belongs to the soul in itself, and something belongs to the soul by comparison to another: just as a bitter drink, considered in itself, is painful, but referred to the end of our salvation, is a cause of joy. Just as something belongs to reason as nature is, and something belongs to reason inasmuch as it is reason: so this death of Christ was matter for sorrow according as it was considered in itself; but according as it was referred to reason, referring it to the end, thus he rejoiced. Therefore the words of Hilary and Jerome are understood as referring to the end. Likewise it is asked how sorrow falls in Christ. Hence it must be noted that sometimes sorrow happens according to passion, sometimes according to propassion. According to passion, when something suffers and is changed: but when it suffers, and is not changed, then it has propassion. But sometimes such things are in us in such a way that reason is changed, and then the passions are complete; but when reason is not changed, then it is propassion. But in Christ reason was never changed; therefore it was propassion, and not passion. Hence the Evangelist says pointedly "he began to be sorrowful." Likewise Augustine says that we have sorrow as something contracted, but Christ as something assumed: for that is contracted which is had by origin through birth, but Christ assumed our nature as he willed; therefore there was no necessity that he should receive passibility, such as sorrow, but it was from his will. Likewise it should be noted, as Damascene says, that in us the movement of the passions forestalls reason, because sometimes there is passion in us, and sometimes propassion; but in Christ there was nothing but propassion, and it never happened in Christ that a movement arose in the lower powers of the soul, rather the lower powers were totally subject to reason, and when he willed, he permitted the lower powers to act according to what was natural to them. Therefore another Evangelist said that he troubled himself, because these movements could not have happened except according as he willed. Then he says to them: "my soul is sorrowful even unto death." Note what he says, "even unto death," by which I shall make satisfaction for this scandal and for the others. Or according to another explanation: do not believe that it must last forever, because as long as the body will be passible, and this is until death, "my soul is sorrowful," and then it will be glorified. Then he excludes the others, "stay you here, and watch with me. And going a little further, he fell upon his face, praying and saying." Above he touched the cause of the sorrow, here however he treats of the order of Christ's prayer. And because he prayed three times, therefore this part is divided into three parts according to the three prayers. And concerning the first he does two things. First he sets forth the prayer of the one praying; second he rebukes the failure of the disciples, where it says "and he cometh to his disciples," and so on. And in the first he first sets forth the condition of the one praying; second the tenor of the prayer. A threefold condition, moreover, is commended, because first it notes solicitude, second humility, third devotion. Solicitude, because "going a little further," because he separated himself even from those whom he had chosen; above at 6:6: "when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret." But note that it was not far, but "a little," so as to note that he is not far from those who call upon him; Psalm 144:18: "the Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him." Likewise, so that they might see him praying, and receive a form. Therefore there follows humility, "and he fell upon his face," hence he shows an example of humility. And first on account of common humility, because humility is necessary for prayer; Ecclesiasticus 35:21: "the prayer of him that humbleth himself shall pierce the clouds." Likewise on account of a special humility, namely that of Peter, because he had said: "even if I should die with thee, I will not deny thee." Therefore the Lord fell down, that he might signify that he ought not to trust in his own power; above at 11:29: "learn of me, because I am meek and humble of heart." Likewise the condition of piety, or of devotion, is signified, when he says "my Father"; for it is necessary for one praying to pray out of devotion, hence it says "my Father," because he alone is uniquely the Son, but we are so by adoption; John ult., 17: "I ascend to my Father and your Father"; as if to say, mine in one way, and yours in another. Consequently he adds the tenor of the prayer: "if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me." This prayer can be expounded in three ways, and in whatever way it is expounded, two things must be considered. First you ought to consider in common as regards all, because, according to Damascene, prayer is an ascent of the mind into God: hence prayer belongs to the mind, or to the higher reason; yet it is constituted below God, but above human nature, or under the divine will. What then must be understood? According as it is when the higher reason descends to these things, insofar as it is fitting, yet in such a way that it is always subject to the divine reason; and this is noted when it says "nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt"; because the higher reason follows the will of nature, yet not simply, that is, if referred to the higher, it is not repugnant. Hence he wishes to say: I will that what I will be fulfilled, if it is not repugnant to thy justice, but I will that thy justice be fulfilled. And in this he teaches an example of how we ought to order our affections, because we ought to order them in such a way that they do not dissent from the divine rule. Hence it is not a grave matter if someone shrinks from what is grave to nature, provided he order it to the divine will. Likewise it can be expounded, according to Chrysostom and Origen, in such a way that by the chalice the passion of Christ is signified, of which it is said in Psalm 115:13: "I will take the chalice of salvation," and so on. It is established that Christ had a natural human will; and this is what shrinks from death: therefore, in order to show himself man, he asks that the chalice pass from him; and this is so natural, that the petition was not removed from him. Likewise he said "if it be possible, let the chalice pass," that is, the passion: but I do not say it absolutely, but "if it be possible." And because someone might believe that he doubted whether it was possible for God, therefore he shows that it is possible, because "all things are possible to thee," Mark 14:36. "Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt," that is, if it is fitting to thy justice, I will it; therefore he says "not as I will." Hence he touches two wills: one which he had from the Father inasmuch as he is God; one which he had with the Father. And in this the error of many is confounded. Likewise another will inasmuch as he is man: and this will he submitted in all things to the Father, giving us in this an example, that we should submit our will to the will of God; John 6:38: "I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me." According to Jerome, he was not asking simply, but that this chalice might pass in this way. He saw that he was to suffer at the hands of the Jews; he willed therefore that it should pass, that is, that he might so redeem the world, that it might not be the crime of the Jews; Romans 11:11: "by their offence, salvation is come to the Gentiles." Hilary indeed says thus: the Lord does not ask that he not die, but he asks that the chalice pass over to others; as if he were to say: I will take the chalice with confidence. I ask that my disciples receive it without diffidence. But why does he say "if it be possible"? Because it seems against nature that they should receive death without sorrow. Hence he wishes to say: I would that the others not suffer, if it were possible; but let it be done as thou willest, that is, according to thy ordinance. "And he cometh to his disciples." Here he rebukes the failure of the disciples. And first the failure is set forth; second the rebuke; third the admonition; fourth the reason for the admonition. When he had prayed, "he cometh to his disciples, and findeth them asleep." And this has an explanation according to the letter, because already part of the night had passed, therefore they were weighed down with sleep. Likewise the cause was that they were sorrowful, and sleep easily steals upon such; Proverbs 17:22: "a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones." Likewise it is signified that while Christ was going up for us to the passion, many slept, just as "they all slumbered and slept," above at 25:5. And he says to Peter: "so, could you not watch one hour with me?" But why did he say this rather to Peter? The reason is that Peter had boasted more that he would stand by him in his necessities: therefore now it was a foreshadowing of his fall. "Could you not watch one hour with me?" And what is the reason that he afterward said it to all? Because all had promised along with Peter; hence it was said above: "and all the disciples said the same." "Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation." In this part the admonition is added. You trust in yourselves; but you ought to have recourse to the aid of prayer, hence "pray that ye enter not into temptation." Hence above at 6:13, in the common prayer, he teaches us to ask this: "and lead us not into temptation." And he places watchfulness before this as a preparation; Ecclesiasticus 18:23: "before prayer prepare thy soul," that is, prudence is necessary; above at 10:16: "be ye wise as serpents." "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak"; as if to say: what you promise, is from the readiness of the spirit; but nevertheless prayer is not necessary on account of the spirit, but on account of the flesh, which is weak; therefore watchfulness is necessary. Similar is what the Apostle says, Romans 8:10: "the body indeed is dead, because of sin, but the spirit liveth, because of justification." But it should be noted that the flesh of all is weak, but not the spirit of all is willing. In the wicked, indeed, just as the flesh is weak, so also is the spirit: on the contrary in the good, because they have the spirit willing, and therefore at the resurrection the spirit will restore the body ready. Or there can be a twofold weakness. One evil, which inclines to sin, according to what the Apostle says, Romans 7:18: "there dwelleth not in my flesh that which is good." Another weakness good, according as the flesh fails in readiness, according to what is said in the Song of Songs 5:8: "tell my beloved that I languish with love." And for this reason a man ought to watch, as Origen says, just as one who has a great treasure watches diligently that he may guard it. Again, "a second time he went and prayed." Here he prays a second time. According to Chrysostom, he prays a second time for this reason, that he might show more firmly the truth of human nature: hence in Genesis 41:32: "that which thou hast seen the second time, is a token of firmness." But what he says, "if this chalice may not pass, but I must drink it, thy will be done," can be expounded in three ways. First thus. Above he had asked under a condition, here however, because he was assured that it could not be but that he should drink it, therefore he asks that his will be done; as if he were to say: if it cannot be but that I shall pass over to the glory of immortality, since mortality was not contracted, but assumed: therefore whether he suffered or not, he was to pass over to the glory of immortality. But it could not pass from him and from his members; hence if he did not drink it, it would not pass from the members. He wishes therefore to say: if it cannot pass from me, and from my members, thy will be done; Psalm 39:9: "that I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it." Second, Jerome expounds it thus: if it cannot be that the truth pass over to the Gentiles, unless the Jews exceed the measure, thy will be done: for by their offense salvation was made for the Gentiles. Hilary expounds it thus: if it cannot be that the other saints drink the chalice of the passion except by my example, thy will be done; because the other saints took the example from the passion of Christ. He wishes therefore to say: if it cannot pass from me into the disciples, unless I drink it, so that they may be made stronger to drink it, thy will be done. Consequently the second falling asleep of the disciples is set forth: "and he cometh again, and findeth them sleeping: for their eyes were heavy," with sleep, that is, on account of sleep, and on account of sorrow; Psalm 30:10: "my eye is troubled with wrath." "And leaving them, he went again, and he prayed the third time." Here he treats of the third prayer: and he does two things. First he sets forth the order; second the concession of sleep, where it says "then cometh he to his disciples," and so on. He says, "and leaving them, he went again, and prayed the third time, saying the selfsame word." But what does it signify that he prayed three times? He prayed three times so that he might free us from evils present, past, and future. Likewise so that he might teach our prayer to be directed to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; hence in the prayers of the Church it is always said: "glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit." Likewise so that by the threefold prayer he might free the threefold denial of Peter; Luke 22:32: "I have prayed for thee, Peter, that thy faith fail not." Likewise he prayed three times against three fears. For there is a fear opposed to concupiscence; for there is a threefold concupiscence, of curiosity, of pride, and of the flesh, and this threefold concupiscence is touched upon in 1 John 2:16: "all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life." To this threefold concupiscence a threefold fear corresponds, namely: to the concupiscence of the flesh, the fear of pain; to the concupiscence of the eyes, the fear of poverty; to the concupiscence of pride, the fear of reproach and disgrace. And Christ suffered these, not because he needed them, but for us. Then "he cometh to his disciples, and saith to them." And first he indulges their sleep; second he rouses them, where it says "rise, let us go." First he gives leave; second he assigns the reason, where it says "behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed." The first time Christ found them sleeping and rebuked them; the second time he found them sleeping, and was silent; the third time he found them sleeping, and permitted the sleep. What is the reason? The literal reason is that a form of correction is given to prelates; because when he comes to someone, and finds him sleeping, he does not know whether it happens to him from negligence, or from weakness. And he can indulge it. Likewise, because after the resurrection he found them sleeping, and reproached them; Luke 24:25: "O foolish, and slow of heart to believe." Likewise he visited them after they had received the Holy Spirit, and then said nothing, because they were still weak; because they were still observing the legal precepts, as is said of Peter in Galatians 2:11. But at last, at his coming, he will visit them, and will let them rest in holy and peaceful quiet; Psalm 4:9: "in peace in the selfsame I will sleep, and I will rest." According to Augustine, he grants it to them here, and above he denied it: but this sleep here is other than the one above. Because there is a sleep of oppression, and of this he speaks above, hence it is said at verse 43: "their eyes were heavy," with sleep, and this is to be rebuked. But this sleep here is a sleep of quiet; and this is permitted. Likewise there is a sleep on account of disturbance; and this is forbidden. Of this it is said in Ephesians 5:14: "rise thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead." For sometimes there is sleep on account of the quiet of the body, but yet the soul watches: "I sleep, and my heart watcheth," Song of Songs 5:2. Likewise, because they were going to labor, therefore it was fitting that they should rest. Then he assigns the reason, "behold the hour is at hand." He did not have to do this from any necessity, but from the divine ordinance; John 7:30: "they sought therefore to lay hands on him, but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come." But this hour had come; John 13:1: "Jesus knowing that his hour was come, that he should pass out of this world to the Father." But someone might say: if the hour is from the divine ordinance, then those who kill him do not sin. Therefore along with this he sets forth the sin, "and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners," that is, they do not do this thus from the divine ordinance, but from the fulfillment of their own will. Jeremiah 12:7: "I have given my dear soul into the hand of her enemies." Then he sets forth the rousing. And first he sets it forth; second the necessity, where it says "behold." Now in what he says, "rise," he shows his own readiness; hence John 18:3 it is said that he went to meet them. And why? "Behold he is at hand that will betray me." He was near, not that he saw with the bodily eye, but by the spirit itself, namely by the eye of the divinity. But how did he say to them "rise," when he had given them leave to sleep? Augustine resolves this, because he had said it by way of reproach; as if he were to say: sleep as much as you will, behold the hour is at hand, and so on. And Augustine says that this would suffice, unless something better should occur; therefore he says otherwise, that they slept a little while, and when they had slept, he said "rise, let us go."”

“Then saith He unto them , My soul is exceeding sorrcnvful ’ even unto death : tarry ye here , and watch with Me . I am as sorrowful from the lively apprehension of My sufferings and death, as if I were now dying; I seem to be lifeless with sorrow and dread. My pain well-nigh takes away My life and breath. It is not My flesh, but My soul, which is so very sad, for sorrow penetrates the inmost parts of My soul, and cuts it in sunder as a sword. “ The waters have come in even to My soul,” Ps. lxix. 1. I am but the smallest point removed from death, so that the slightest addition to My sorrow would crush Me, and take away My life. Consider with what feeling of sorrow and love Christ spake these words, — His pathos, His look, His voice, His countenance, — Tarry ye here. Wait and behold Me here, deeply sorrowing and praying in the agony of death, both as witnesses of My sorrow, and to learn from Me in every tribulation to betake yourselves to prayer; so that thus watching ye may be some solace to Me in My affliction. But it is not so ; for sorrow hath overwhelmed you, and forces you to sleep. Whence Christ complains (Ps. lxix. 21), “I waited for some to have pity on Me, but there was no man, neither found I any to comfort Me.” Christ from the vehemence of His love wished to pass through His unmitigated and wondrous Passion without any consolation or consoler. He wished to drain the chalice of gall and bitterness unmixed with the sweetness of honey, both in order that His redemption should be plenteous, and for an example of heroic virtue. For Christ manifested in His Passion the most perfect 206 acts of heroic virtue. And He Himself was therein ~a prodigy of humanity ; for though “ He was in the form of God . . . He became obedient as far as unto death, even the death of the Cross,” Phil, a 8. He was also therein a prodigy of patience^ fortitude, and of charity; for “ greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John xv. 13). But Christ laid down His for His enemies (Rom. v. 8)”

“And he went a little further,.... Luke says, Luk 22:41, "about a stone's cast", about fifty or sixty feet from the place where they were, and fell on his face, and prayed; partly to show his great reverence of God, the sword of whose justice was awaked against him, the terrors of whose law were set in array before him, and whose wrath was pouring down upon him; and partly to signify how much his soul was depressed, how low he was brought, and in what distress and anguish of spirit he was, that he was not able to lift up his head, and look up. This was a prayer gesture used when a person was in the utmost perplexity. The account the Jews give of it, is this (g), , "when they fall upon their faces", they do not stretch out their hands and their feet, but incline on their sides. This was not to be done by any person, or at any time; the rules are these (h): "no man is accounted fit , "to fall upon his face", but he that knows in himself that he is righteous, as Joshua; but he inclines his face a little, and does not bow it down to the floor; and it is lawful for a man to pray in one place, and to "fall upon his face" in another: it is a custom that reaches throughout all Israel, that there is no falling upon the face on a sabbath day, nor on feast days, nor on the beginning of the year, nor on the beginning of the month, nor on the feast of dedication, nor on the days of "purim", nor at the time of the meat offering of the eves of the sabbath days, and good days, nor at the evening prayer for every day; and there are private persons that fall upon their faces at the evening prayer, and on the day of atonement only: they fall upon their faces because it is a time of supplication, request, and fasting. Saying, O my father; or, as in Mark, "Abba, Father", Mar 14:36; "Abba" being the Syriac word he used, and signifies, "my father"; and the other word is added for explanation's sake, and to denote the vehemency of his mind, and fervour of spirit in prayer. Christ prayed in the same manner he taught his disciples to pray, saying, "our Father"; and as all his children pray under the influence of the spirit of adoption, whereby they cry "Abba, Father". God is the Father of Christ, not as man, for as such he was without father, being the seed of the woman, and made of a woman, without man; nor by creation, as he is the Father of spirits, of angels, and the souls of men, of Adam, and all mankind; nor by adoption, as he is the Father of all the chosen, redeemed, and regenerated ones; but by nature, he being the only begotten of the Father, in a manner inconceivable and inexpressible by us. Christ now addresses him in prayer in his human nature, as standing in this relation to him as the Son of God, both to express his reverence of him, and what freedom and boldness he might use with him; what confidence he might put in him; and what expectation he might have of being heard and regarded by him; and what submission and resignation of will was due from himself unto him, If it be possible, let this cup pass from me; meaning not only the hour, as it is called in Mark, the present season and time of distress, and horror; but all his future sufferings and death, which were at hand; together with the bearing the sins of his people, the enduring the curse of the law, and the wrath of God, all which were ingredients in, and made up this dreadful bitter cup, this cup of fury, cursing, and trembling; called a cup, either in allusion to the nauseous potions given by physicians to their patients; or rather to the cup of poison given to malefactors the sooner to dispatch them; or to that of wine mingled with myrrh and frankincense to intoxicate them, that they might not feel their pain; see Gill on Mar 15:23, or to the cup appointed by the master of the family to everyone in the house; these sorrows, sufferings, and death of Christ being what were allotted and appointed by his heavenly Father: and when he prays that this cup might pass from him, his meaning is, that he might be freed from the present horrors of his mind, be excused the sufferings of death, and be delivered from the curse of the law, and wrath of God; which request was made without sin, though it betrayed the weakness of the human nature under its insupportable load, and its reluctance to sufferings and death, which is natural; and yet does not represent him herein as inferior to martyrs, who have desired death, and triumphed in the midst of exquisite torments: for their case and his were widely different; they had the presence of God with them, Christ was under the hidings of his Father's face; they had the love of God shed abroad in them, he had the wrath of God poured out upon him; and his prayer bespeaks him to be in a condition which neither they, nor any mortal creature were ever in. Moreover, the human nature of Christ was now, as it were, swallowed up in sorrow, and intent upon nothing but sufferings and death; had nothing in view but the wrath of God, and the curse of the law; so that everything else was, for the present, out of sight; as the purposes of God, his counsel and covenant, his own engagements and office, and the salvation of his people; hence it is no wonder to hear such a request made; and yet it is with this condition, "if it be possible". In Mark it is said, "all things are possible unto thee", Mar 14:36; intimating, that the taking away, or causing the cup to pass from him, was: all things are possible to God, which are consistent with the perfections of his nature, and the counsel of his will: and all such things, though possible in themselves, yet are not under such and such circumstances so; the removal of the cup from Christ was possible in itself, but not as things were circumstanced, and as matters then stood; and therefore it is hypothetically put, "if it be possible", as it was not; and that by reason of the decrees and purposes of God, which had fixed it, and are immutable; and on account of the covenant of grace, of which this was a considerable branch and article, and in which Christ had agreed unto it, and is unalterable; and also on the score of the prophecies of the Old Testament, in which it had been often spoken of; and therefore without it, how should the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be? they would not have been the Scriptures of truth. Besides, Christ had foretold it himself once and again, and therefore consistent with the truth of his own predictions, it could not be dispensed with: add to all this, that the salvation of his people required his drinking it; that could not be brought about no other way in agreement with the veracity, faithfulness, justice, and holiness of God. This condition qualities and restrains the above petition; nor is it to be considered but in connection with what follows: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt; which shows that the request was far from being sinful, or contrary to piety to God, or love to men, or to true fortitude of mind; the pure natural will of Christ, or the will of Christ's human nature, being left to act in a mere natural way, shows a reluctancy to sorrows, sufferings, and death; this same will acting on rational principles, and in a rational way, puts it upon the possibility the thing, and the agreement of the divine will to it. That there are two wills in Christ, human and divine, is certain; his human will, though in some instances, as in this, may have been different from the divine will, yet not contrary to it; and his divine will is always the same with his Father's. This, as mediator, he engaged to do, and came down from heaven for that purpose, took delight in doing it, and has completely finished it, (g) Gloss. in T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 34. 2. (h) Maimon. Hilch. Tephilla, c. 5. sect. 14, 15.”

“My soul is sorrowful. The cause of our Lord’s grief was not the fear of suffering; since he took upon himself human nature, to suffer and to die for us; but the cause of his grief was the unhappy state of Judas, the scandal his disciples would take at his passion, the reprobation of the Jewish nation, and the destruction of the miserable Jerusalem. Our Lord also suffered himself to be thus dejected, to convince the world of the truth and reality of his human nature. (St. Jerome)”