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Luke 22:40
ESV And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."
NIV On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
NASB Now when He arrived at the place, He said to them, 'Pray that you do not come into temptation.'
CSB When he reached the place, he told them, "Pray that you may not fall into temptation."
NLT There he told them, 'Pray that you will not give in to temptation.'
KJV And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
NKJV When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

What does Luke 22:40 mean?

The disciples are about to face the second-most horrific night of their lives. In response, Jesus tells them to pray.

Luke's account is shorter than Matthew's and Mark's. The other writers detail that Jesus tells Peter, James, and John (Mark 14:33), "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch" (Mark 14:34). Then He prays that the Father would take the cup (Mark 14:36). He rises and sees the three are sleeping and says to Peter (Mark 14:37), "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:38). He goes to pray a second time, and again finds the disciples sleeping. The third time, "he came to the disciples and send to them, 'Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners" (Matthew 26:45).

Does Jesus tell all three disciples to pray they won't fall into temptation? It's likely, although Peter is the main subject. It was Peter who had the pride to insist he would go to jail or death in loyalty to Jesus. But it is he whom Jesus says will deny Him three times (Luke 22:31–34).

What are they to pray against? Although Luke's words are more vague, Jesus has already definitively said they will all fall away (Mark 14:27). He's also already said they will sit on thrones in His kingdom and judge Israel (Luke 22:30), so we know they will not entirely abandon faith; they will be restored.

Jesus gives these instructions to three specific disciples: Peter, James, and John. That night, only John refuses to fall into temptation. Only John follows Jesus to the trials and, along with several women, is at His crucifixion (John 19:25–27). James scatters, although as John's brother he would have been as familiar with the high priest (John 18:15). Peter falls the furthest. At first, he acts on his previous insistence that Jesus would not die (Matthew 16:22–23), by chopping off the ear of one of the men who comes to arrest Jesus (John 18:10). Not long after, he denies knowing Jesus three times (Luke 22:54–62).

Although Peter does not follow through on Jesus' instructions, the Holy Spirit honors Jesus' prayer (Luke 22:32). Peter will turn back to Jesus (John 21:15–17) and lead the other disciples. Even when they are persecuted, they will not resort to swords but instead to prayer (Acts 4:24–31).
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