Luke 22:42
"Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done."
Father
The term "Father" here is translated from the Greek word "Pater," which signifies a close, intimate relationship. In the context of Jesus' prayer, it reflects His unique relationship with God, emphasizing both His divinity and His humanity. This address underscores the trust and submission Jesus has towards God, setting an example for believers to approach God with reverence and intimacy.

if You are willing
This phrase highlights the conditional nature of Jesus' request. The Greek word "ei" (if) introduces a sense of submission to God's sovereign will. Jesus acknowledges God's ultimate authority and expresses His desire in a manner that respects God's divine plan. This reflects a deep trust in God's wisdom and timing, encouraging believers to align their desires with God's will.

take this cup from Me
The "cup" is a metaphor deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, often symbolizing God's wrath or judgment (as seen in passages like Isaiah 51:17 and Jeremiah 25:15). Here, it represents the suffering and crucifixion that Jesus is about to endure. By asking for the cup to be taken away, Jesus expresses His human desire to avoid suffering, yet He remains committed to fulfilling His mission. This duality of Jesus' nature—fully God and fully man—is a profound mystery that underscores His empathy with human struggles.

Yet not My will, but Yours be done
This phrase is the climax of Jesus' prayer, demonstrating ultimate submission to God's will. The Greek word "alla" (yet) introduces a contrast between Jesus' human desire and His commitment to God's plan. "Thelema" (will) signifies a deliberate choice or purpose. Jesus' surrender to God's will is a model of obedience and faith for believers, illustrating the importance of prioritizing God's purposes over personal desires. This submission is not passive resignation but an active choice to trust in God's perfect plan, even in the face of immense personal cost.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying to God the Father. This moment highlights His humanity and His divine mission.

2. God the Father
Jesus addresses God as "Father," indicating a close, intimate relationship. He submits to the Father's will, demonstrating obedience and trust.

3. The Garden of Gethsemane
This is the place where Jesus prays before His arrest. It is a place of deep spiritual struggle and surrender.

4. The Cup
Symbolic of the suffering and wrath that Jesus is about to endure on the cross. It represents the burden of sin He is about to take upon Himself.

5. The Disciples
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, they are nearby, struggling to stay awake and pray, highlighting human weakness in contrast to Jesus' resolve.
Teaching Points
Submission to God's Will
Jesus models perfect submission to God's will, even when facing immense suffering. As believers, we are called to trust and submit to God's plans, even when they are difficult to understand.

The Power of Prayer
In times of distress, Jesus turns to prayer. This teaches us the importance of seeking God's presence and guidance in our own times of trial.

The Cost of Obedience
Jesus' willingness to endure the cross shows that obedience to God can be costly. We are encouraged to count the cost and remain faithful in our walk with Christ.

Human Weakness and Divine Strength
The disciples' inability to stay awake contrasts with Jesus' strength in prayer. This reminds us of our need for God's strength in our weaknesses.

The Role of Suffering in God's Plan
Jesus' acceptance of the "cup" shows that suffering can be part of God's redemptive plan. We are called to trust that God can use our suffering for His purposes.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jesus' prayer in Luke 22:42 challenge your understanding of submission to God's will in your own life?

2. In what ways can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your daily routine, especially during times of trial?

3. Reflect on a time when obedience to God was costly for you. How did that experience shape your faith?

4. How can you rely on God's strength in areas where you feel weak, as seen in the contrast between Jesus and the disciples?

5. Consider a current or past suffering in your life. How might God be using that experience for His greater purpose, and how can you find peace in that?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 26:39
This parallel account in Matthew provides additional context to Jesus' prayer and His submission to the Father's will.

Hebrews 5:7-8
These verses speak to Jesus' prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears, emphasizing His reverent submission and learning obedience through suffering.

Philippians 2:8
This verse highlights Jesus' humility and obedience, even to the point of death on a cross, which is the ultimate fulfillment of His prayer in Gethsemane.
Self-SurrenderW. Clarkson Luke 22:42
GethsemaneW. Clarkson Luke 22:39-45
Angelic MinistryW. Baxendale.Luke 22:39-46
Christ's Preparation for DeathJ. Flavel.Luke 22:39-46
GethsemaneJ. T. Higgins.Luke 22:39-46
GethsemaneC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 22:39-46
Jesus in GethsemaneS. L. B. Speare.Luke 22:39-46
Jesus in the Garden of GethsemaneJ. Marchant.Luke 22:39-46
Our Lord's Bloody SweatJ. Eadie, D. D.Luke 22:39-46
Succoured by an AngelLuke 22:39-46
The Agony in GethsemaneC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 22:39-46
The Agony of ChristJ. Burns, D. D.Luke 22:39-46
The Angel Who Strengthened JesusLuke 22:39-46
The Mount of OlivesJames Hamilton.Luke 22:39-46
The Safeguard Against TemptationR. Macdonald, D. D.Luke 22:39-46
The Saviour's Bloody SweatJ. Marchant.Luke 22:39-46
The Will of God the Cure of Self-WillE. B. Pusey, D. D.Luke 22:39-46
The Witness to the Power of PrayerCanon Knox Little.Luke 22:39-46
GethsemaneR.M. Edgar Luke 22:39-53
People
Jesus, John, Judas, Peter, Simon
Places
Gethsemane, Jerusalem
Topics
Counselling, Cup, Nevertheless, Pass, Pleasure, Remove, Saying, Willing, Wilt, Yet, Yours
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 22:42

     1075   God, justice of
     1115   God, purpose of
     1175   God, will of
     1511   Trinity, relationships in
     2030   Christ, holiness
     2036   Christ, humility
     2057   Christ, obedience
     2060   Christ, patience of
     2075   Christ, sinless
     2078   Christ, sonship of
     2218   Christ, Son of God
     2327   Christ, as servant
     2354   Christ, mission
     2411   cross, predictions
     2525   Christ, cross of
     4435   drinking
     5283   cup
     5564   suffering, of Christ
     5700   headship
     5959   submission
     6604   acceptance, human
     8125   guidance, promise
     8128   guidance, receiving
     8225   devotion
     8239   earnestness
     8441   goals
     8454   obedience, to God
     8462   priority, of God
     8475   self-denial
     8481   self-sacrifice
     8603   prayer, relationship with God
     8605   prayer, and God's will
     8737   evil, responses to

Luke 22:39-42

     5921   privacy

Luke 22:39-46

     2360   Christ, prayers of

Luke 22:40-44

     2570   Christ, suffering

Luke 22:40-46

     6252   temptation, and Christ

Luke 22:41-42

     2315   Christ, as Lamb
     5379   law, Christ's attitude
     8221   courage, strength from God

Luke 22:41-44

     2054   Christ, mind of
     2575   Christ, temptation

Luke 22:42-43

     8160   seeking God

Luke 22:42-44

     8610   prayer, asking God
     8613   prayer, persistence

Library
February 2 Morning
Oh that thou wouldest keep me from evil.--I CHR. 4:10. Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.--The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. The Lord shall preserve thee from
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 28. "Not My Will, but Thine" (Luke xxii. 42).
"Not my will, but Thine" (Luke xxii. 42). He who once suffered in Gethsemane will be our strength and our victory, too. We may fear, we may also sink, but let us not be dismayed, and we shall yet praise Him, and look back from a finished course, and say, "Not one word hath failed of all that the Lord hath spoken." But in order to do this, we must, like Him, meet the conflict, not with a defiant, but with a submissive spirit. He had to say, "Not My will, but Thine be done"; but in saying it, He gained
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

A Great Fall and a Great Recovery
'But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.' --Luke xxii. 32. Our Lord has just been speaking words of large and cordial praise of the steadfastness with which His friends had continued with Him in His temptations, and it is the very contrast between that continuance and the prevision of the cowardly desertion of the Apostle which occasioned the abrupt transition to this solemn appeal to him, which indicates how the forecast pained Christ's
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Cross the victory and Defeat of Darkness
'This is your hour, and the power of darkness.' --Luke xxii. 53. The darkness was the right time for so dark a deed. The surface meaning of these pathetic and far-reaching words of our Lord's in the garden to His captors is to point the correspondence between the season and the act. As He has just said, 'He had been daily with them in the Temple,' but in the blaze of the noontide they laid no hands upon Him. They found a congenial hour in the midnight. But the words go a great deal deeper than allusive
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ's Look
'And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.' --Luke xxii. 61. All four Evangelists tell the story of Peter's threefold denial and swift repentance, but we owe the knowledge of this look of Christ's to Luke only. The other Evangelists connect the sudden change in the denier with his hearing the cock crow only, but according to Luke there were two causes co-operating to bring about that sudden repentance, for, he says, 'Immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned and looked
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Lonely Christ
'Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations'--LUKE xxii 28. We wonder at the disciples when we read of the unseemly strife for precedence which jars on the tender solemnities of the Last Supper. We think them strangely unsympathetic and selfish; and so they were. But do not let us be too hard on them, nor forget that there was a very natural reason for the close connection which is found in the gospels between our Lord's announcements of His sufferings and this eager dispute as to
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Parting Promises and Warnings
'And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25. And He said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as He
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ's Ideal of a Monarch
'And He said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.'--LUKE xxii. 25-26. [Footnote: Preached on the occasion of the death of Queen Victoria.] There have been sovereigns of England whose death was a relief. There have been others who were mourned with a certain tepid and decorous
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Gethsemane
'And He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him. 40. And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42. Saying, Father, If Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Thine, be done. 43. And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44. And, being in an agony, He
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

In the High Priest's Palace
'Then took they Him, and led Him, and brought Him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. 55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 56. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with Him. 57. And he denied Him, saying, Woman, I know Him not. 58. And, after a little while, another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Lord's Supper
'Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8. And He sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9. And they said unto Him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10. And He said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Duty of Constant Communion J. W.
"Do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19. It is no wonder that men who have no fear of God should never think of doing this. But it is strange that it should be neglected by any that do fear God, and desire to save their souls; And yet nothing is more common. One reason why many neglect it is, they are so much afraid of "eating and drinking unworthily," that they never think how much greater the danger is when they do not eat or drink it at all. That I may do what I can to bring these well-meaning
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Gethsemane
"And all the unknown joys he gives, Were bought with agonies unknown." Since it would not be possible for any believer, however experienced, to know for himself all that our Lord endured in the place of the olivepress, when he was crushed beneath the upper and the nether mill-stone of mental suffering and hellish malice, it is clearly far beyond the preacher's capacity to set it forth to you. Jesus himself must give you access to the wonders of Gethsemane: as for me, I can but invite you to enter
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 9: 1863

The Betrayal
Without further preface, let us advance to the subject of our Lord's betrayal. First, concentrate your thoughts upon Jesus, the betrayed one; and when ye have lingered awhile there, solemnly gaze into the villanous countenance of Judas, the betrayer--he may prove a beacon to warn us against the sin which gendereth apostacy. I. LET US TARRY AWHILE, AND SEE OUR LORD UNGRATEFULLY AND DASTARDLY BETRAYED. It is appointed that he must die, but how shall he fall into the hands of his adversaries? Shall
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 9: 1863

5Th Day. Restraining Grace.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not."--LUKE xxii. 31, 32. Restraining Grace. What a scene does this unfold! Satan tempting--Jesus praying! Satan sifting--Jesus pleading! "The strong man assailing"--"the stronger than the strong" beating him back! Believer? here is the past history and present secret of thy safety in the midst of temptation. An interceding Saviour was at thy side, saying
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Peter's Repentance
"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly" (Luke 22:61, 62). That was the turning-point in the history of Peter. Christ had said to him: "Thou canst not follow me now" (John 13:36). Peter was not in a fit state to follow Christ, because he had not been brought to an end of himself; he did not know himself, and he therefore could not follow
Andrew Murray—Absolute Surrender

Carnal or Spiritual?
"And Peter went out and wept bitterly." -- Luke 22:62. These words indicate the turning point in the life of Peter, --a crisis. There is often a question about the life of holiness. Do you grow into it? Or do you come into it by a crisis suddenly? Peter has been growing for three years under the training of Christ, but he had grown terribly downward, for the end of his growing was, he denied Jesus. And then there came a crisis. After the crisis he was a changed man, and then he began to grow aright.
Andrew Murray—The Deeper Christian Life

Penitence
"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter . . . .and Peter went out, and wept bitterly."--LUKE xxii. 61, 62. EVERY man at some time in his life has fallen. Many have fallen many times; few, few times. And the more a man knows his life and watches its critical flow from day to day, the larger seems to grow the number of these falls, and the oftener reaches out to God his penitential prayer, "Turn yet again, O Lord!" We have all shuddered before this as we read the tale of Peter's guilt. Many a time
Henry Drummond—The Ideal Life

The Last Supper
189. On Thursday Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem for the last time. Knowing the temper of the leaders, and the danger of arrest at any time, Jesus was particularly eager to eat the Passover with his disciples (Luke xxii. 15), and he sent two of them--Luke names them as Peter and John--to prepare for the supper. In a way which would give no information to such a one as Judas, he directed them carefully how to find the house where a friend would provide them the upper room that was needed
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

The Sinner Seriously Urged and Entreated to Accept of Salvation in this Way.
1. Since many who have been impressed with these things suffer the impression to wear off.--2. Strongly as the ease speaks for itself, sinners are to be entreated to accept this salvation.--3. Accordingly the reader is entreated--by the majesty and mercy of God.--4. By the dying love of our Lord Jesus Christ.--5. By the regard due to our fellow-creatures.--6. By the worth of his own immortal soul.--7. The matter is solemnly left with the reader, as before God. The sinner yielding to these entreaties,
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Twenty-Sixth Lesson. I have Prayed for Thee;'
I have prayed for thee;' Or, Christ the Intercessor. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.'--Luke xxii. 32. I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you.'--John xvi. 26. He ever liveth to make intercession.'--Heb. vii. 25. ALL growth in the spiritual life is connected with the clearer insight into what Jesus is to us. The more I realize that Christ must be all to me and in me, that all in Christ is indeed for me, the more I learn to live the real life of faith, which,
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

Otho, Bishop of Bamberg.
As a new Christian revival distinguished the close of the eleventh century, missionaries were then sent forth from the reinvigorated Church. We will sketch a portrait of one of these, to whom Pomerania owes its Christianity. It was Otho, bishop of Bamberg, who had already in his pastoral office distinguished himself by his fidelity and his self-sacrificing love. He gladly imposed abstinences on self, in order to be able to give more to the poor. All that was presented to him by princes and nobles
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

General Introduction
In this volume we have sought to present the view taken by Thomas Aquinas of the moral and spiritual world in which we live, and of the conditions of man's self-realization which are consequent upon it. The final end of man lies in God, through whom alone he is and lives, and by whose help alone he can attain his end. The teaching of Aquinas concerning the moral and spiritual order stands in sharp contrast to all views, ancient or modern, which cannot do justice to the difference between the divine
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

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