The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 562

awe.y the precious moments, e.nd the hour of trial fonnd them without strength. 3. It partly arose from the malignity of Sata,n, (1) The devil we.e in !see.riot (cf. Luke xxii. 3 ; John xiii, 2, 27). (2) The devil we.a in the Jews. The prevalence c,f demoniacal possession at the time of Christ's sojourn amongst them was a sign of the condition of the ne.tion. (3) The devil was in the Gentile nations. He was, and still is, to a fee.rful extent," the god of this world." (4) 'l'hat was ernphe.tically "the hour of the power of darkness "-the crisis in which Satan was permitted to put forth all his strength in his conflict with the "Seed of the woman." For the sufferings on the cross were but the complement and sequel of those in the garden. 4. It principally arose from the anger of God. We may here make the general observation, via. that the terrible "cup" which Jesus had to drink was given to him by the hand of his Father (cf. ver. 39; John xviii. 11). The subject will be more particularly considered as we meditate further upon the trouble of the soul of our Lord. III. IN ITS AWFUL VICARIOUSNESS. 1. He shares his sorrows with those he loves best. (1) To the college of the apostles he said, "Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray." Some are able to go only so far with Christ in his sufferings. (2) "And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee" to whom he said, "A bide ye here, and watch with me." "Sit ye here" (ver. 36), and "Abide ye here" (ver. 38), mark a law of progression in following. (3) To these he said," Watch with me." Watch while I watch. Watch as I watch. The temptations directed against Christ &re those directed against his Church. (4) But who were these? They were the three formerly chosen to be the witnesses of the Transfiguration (see eh. xvii. 1). Those are best prepared to suffer with Christ who have seen his glory. So likewise those who snffer with him may expect to reign with him. The sons of Zebedee had offered tbemsel ves to drink of his cup (see eh. xx. 20-23). 2. But there is a limit to their companionship. (1) "Tarry ye here." Beyond this the best and most perfected cannot go. Christ bad lately prayed with his disciples (see John xvii. 1); now he prays alone. Note: Our prayers with our families must not be pleaded to e:xcuse the neglect of secret devotions. (2) But why did he now pray and suffer apart? Because his sufferings now were vicarious, and in these he could have no sharer, for he only was sinless, and he only was Divine. In his pleadings he makes no mention of his virtues, for he was suffering as the Sin-bearer for the world. (3) That this agony in the garden was for us is evident, else One so great and glorious as he was would never have "feared" as he did. His fear was not for the loss of natural life to himself. That, to one who on the third day after his death was to rise again, is clearly out of the question. His "godly fear" (see Heb. v. 7, New Version) was for the loss of spiritual and eternal life to the whole world. May it not also have been lest, if the death-sorrow in the garden should prove fatal, the fulfilment of the Scriptures in respect to his death by cruci.fi.rion might be imperilled? (4) The "cup" was the Passion which was now beginning, but had to be completed on the cross. The allusion may be to the poison-cup given to criminals. To this Paul possibly alludes when he says, "Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man" (Heb. ii. 9). Here the whole world is represented as standing guilty and condemned before the tribunal of God. Into every man's hand is placed the deadly cup, and he is required to drink off the poison. But Jesus enters, takes every man's cup out of his hand, drinks off the poison, and thus tastes or suffers the death which every man otherwise must have suffered (see A. Clarke, in loc.). -J.A.M. Vers. 47-56.-The submission of Je.sus. After the third time praying in Gethsemane, Jesus came to his slumbering disciples, and said, "Sleep on now, and take your rest" -the opportunity for watching is past. Note: Opportunities pass, never to return; therefore we should never fail to improve them in their passing. "Behold, the hour is 11,t hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners "-the hour of trial is come for which watchings should have prepared. "Arise, let us be going," not to run away from the crisis, but to meet it (cf. John xviii. 4). "Behold, he is at hand the.t betrayeth me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas," etc. Note here, and e.dmire- I. 'l'HE SUBMISSION OF JEsus TO JuoAB. 1. Be might have avoided him. (1) He knew of his coming (see vers. 45, 46). Every particular of the tragedy was vividly presented to his prophetic spirit. (2) The Miracle-worker hid not lost his resources. 568 TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MA.TTIIEW. [on. xxvL 1-75.