Matthew 26:36-46 - The Prayer In Gethsemane

³⁶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to the disciples, "Sit down here while I go over yonder and pray." ³⁷ And He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons along with Him and He began to give way to His grief and distress of heart. ³⁸ Then He said to them, "My heart is breaking, it almost kills me! You must stay here and keep watching with me." ³⁹ Then He walked on a few steps and threw Himself upon His face, and in this attitude continued to pray, and say, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass by me; and yet, I pray, not what I want but what you want."

⁴⁰ Then He came back to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Could you not then watch with me a single hour? ⁴¹ You must all keep watching and praying that you may not be exposed to temptation. Man's spirit is willing but human nature is weak."

⁴² A second time He went away and prayed, "My Father, if it cannot pass by without my drinking it, your will be done." ⁴³ He came back again and found them still sleeping, for their eyes were so heavy they could hardly hold them open.

⁴⁴ Then He left them again and prayed the third time, using the same words. ⁴⁵ After that He came back to the disciples and said to them: "Still sleeping! Still resting! See! The time has come for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men! ⁴⁶ Get up and let us be going. Look! Here comes my betrayer!"

³² Then they came to the place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, "Sit down here while I pray." ³³ And he took Peter, James, and John along with Him, and He began to feel completely dazed and to realize His anguish of heart, ³⁴ and so He said to them, "My heart is breaking, it almost kills me! You must stay here and keep watching." ³⁵ Then He walked on a few steps and threw Himself upon the ground and kept praying that if it were possible He might escape the hour of agony, ³⁶ and He was saying, "Abba [which means 'Father'], anything is possible for you! Take this cup away from me! Yet, I pray, not what I want but what you want!"

³⁷ And He went back and found them asleep, and He said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch a single hour? ³⁸ You must all keep watching and praying that you may not be exposed to temptation. Man's spirit is willing but human nature is weak."

³⁹ He went away again and prayed in the same words. ⁴⁰ When He went back again, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were so heavy they could hardly hold them open; and they did not know what answer to make Him. ⁴¹ He came back the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? No more of that! The hour has come. See! The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinful men. ⁴² Get up, let us be going. Look! here comes my betrayer!"

³⁹ Then He went out of the city and up the Mount of Olives, as He was in the habit of doing; and His disciples, too, followed Him there. ⁴⁰ Now when He reached the spot, He said to them, "Continue to pray that you may not be subjected to temptation." ⁴¹ And He Himself withdrew about a stone's throw from them, and after kneeling down He continued to pray, ⁴² "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet, not my will but always yours be done!"

⁴³ Omitted Text. ⁴⁴ Omitted Text. ⁴⁵ When He rose from His prayer, He went to the disciples and found them asleep from sorrow. ⁴⁶ Then He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and keep praying that you may not be subjected to temptation."