Matthew 26:40-41 40And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, are you not able to watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray so that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
This passage has a two-part focus. On the one hand, the exhaustion of the disciples indicates their weakness and dependency upon Jesus, the rock of salvation. After his first round of prayer, Jesus went to Peter, James, and John, the three disciples who went further into the garden with him, and found them sleeping. Likely, the other disciples were also sleeping since it was the middle of the night. Jesus focuses his question and concern upon Peter, the so-called “Rock” and one who claimed just a short time earlier that he would never desert Jesus, as the representative leader of the group.
Jesus’ question and comment are not accusatory but an opportunity for Peter to express his love and faith. Jesus was at his lowest point physically and mentally, but so were the disciples. This could have been a time of preparation for Peter as he would soon face his own trial. But unlike Jesus, Peter could not stay awake and pray even for one hour. Jesus may have been a short ways away praying for one hour. Usually, verse 40 are interpreted to mean that Jesus needed Peter to watch and pray in support of Jesus, but verse 41 indicates that Jesus wakes up Peter for Peter’s sake so that he would be strong to face temptation.
The most difficult time to deal with temptation is when we are tired. Jesus summarizes the human condition most of us face. On the one hand, our spirit is willing. We decide in our minds about a matter. We make plans and may even prepare. We make oaths and promises. But on the other hand, even though we may have the best intentions, our bodies are weak. Our spirits are connected to our bodies. The spirit (pneuma) is often contrasted with the flesh (sarx) in the New Testament; however, here, they are linked together. The spirit could be interpreted as one’s mind, thinking, intention, or will. We may imagine doing something or have the right motive, but if we are physically tired, our minds will also be tired. Our defenses are down when we are tired or stressed.
Jesus was able to overcome any pull of the flesh while the disciples were giving in to it. The best way to overcome temptation is to stay alert through prayer. If Peter would have stayed awake with Jesus, the story may have been different, but as the Incarnate One, Jesus knew the weakness of human flesh, and so he sought the help of the Father when he was at his weakest point. He won the battle with the flesh through prayer, as the following verses indicate.
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