The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 561

g:randeur of which is only exceeded by that of Calvary. The olive in the oil-press, hke t~e grape in the wine-press, was trodden (see Micah vi. 16). 'l'he sufferings of the Lord m the garden were purely mental; those on the cross were physical also. Meditate upon the trouble of his soul- I. IN ITS TERRIBLE SEVERITY. 1. Thi, is ezpressed in his referencu to it. (1) A few days earlier he said, "Now is Illy soul troubled" (John xii. 27); but here the i;torm of temptation sets in in earnest. (2) The expression," to be sorrowful" (ver. 87), conveys the idea of horror. The "horror of great darkness" (see Gen. xv. 12). This was the setting in of that last and darkest cloud of temptation which finally descended l!O low es to darken the earth at the Crucifixion (see eh. xxvii. 45). (3) The word rendered " to be very heavy" (New Version, "sore troubled n) implies the loss of pleasure derived from other things. This is characteristic of very deep human grief. Our Lord was truly human. (4) The suffering increases. "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." The nature of this sorrow also was human, but its severity was beyond all human comprehension. For the love from which he contended was Divine love for the whole human race. What must have beon the agony of that sense of death I 2. It is 6'Cprtased in the agooy of his prayer. (1) "He fell on his face." Great anguish is expressed as rolling in the dust (see Micah i. 10). Job, in his great grief, fell on the ground. (2) His prayer was importunate. "If it be possible." Mark gives it thus: "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee" (Mark xiv. 86). To God all things are not morally, though physically all things are, possible. "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Here is the human will of Christ, in the extremest circumstances, deferring to his Divine wilL (8) His supplication was with "strong crying and tears" to be saved from this fearful death-sorrow (see Heb. v. 7). These cries reached the hearing of the disciples, and they observed his tears when he came to them in the moonlight. (4) The petition was thrice repeated. Paul expresses his own importunity in the words, "I besought the Lord thrice" (see 2 Cor. xii. 8). Perhaps the iteration of the prayer of Jesus implied as many distinct temptations. They were, however, related to the same "cup." II. IN ITS v Amous sounCEs. 1. It partly arose from the contradiction of sinners. (See Heb. xii 3.) (1) The treachery of Judas was working to its issue. He sorely felt the ingratitude of that "familiar friend in whom " once he worthily "trusted," but who was now desperately fallen (cf. Ps. x.li. 9; John xiii. 18; Acts i. 25). (2) The treachery of the Jews was working with Judas, their type, This also afflicted his patriotic heart. See that wonderful description in the hundred and ninth psalm of the sorrows of Messiah in connection with the treachery of Judas and of the Jews. (3) The wickedness of the world at large was also before him in all its enormity. A specimen of that enormity was soon to be displayed in the conduct of the Roman governor and his men of war, For this he felt acutely, as having taken upon him that humanity which is common to all. 2. It partly arose from the weakness of his disciples. (1) They were slow of heart to believe fully in him. Thie, notwithstanding all the vains he had taken to instruct them, notwithstanding all the miracles to confirm his teaching which they had seen. (2) But they were full of self-assertion. This he had that day witnessed in their professions of readiness to die with him, And though he, in the spirit of prophecy, rebuked it, still they remained self-confident; for they slept when they should have watched. (3) When David wept at this Mount of Olives, all his followers wept with him (see 2 Sam. xv. 30); but when the Bon of David was there in tears, his followers were asleep. Yet was not their sleep without sorrow (see Luke xxii. 45). Still it was open to rebuke. " He saith unto Peter," who had been foremost in promising to die with him, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" :4) This 6Vidence of their weakness Jesus uses to press upon them the urgent need of their watching and praying, that they might not yield to the approaching temptation. If prayer against the hour of temptation was needful for the Master, how much more .,;o for the servants! "Prayer without watching is hypocrisy; and watching without prayer is presumption" (Jay). (6) "Sleep on now." This is the same as "Why sleep ye?" as it is given in Luke xxii. 46; a rebuke, e.g. "I no longer enjoin upon you to watch; the season is now past for that duty, the time of trial for which watching and praying would have prepared you has arrived." He watched and prayed, and received. strength to drink the bitter cup (cf. Luke xxii. 48; Heb. v. 7); they slept on. xxv1. 1-75,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 567