Luke 22:39 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

NIV: Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

NASB: And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him.

CSB: He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

NLT: Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.

KJV: And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

NKJV: Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.

Ever since Jesus entered the region, He has been teaching in Jerusalem during the day and sleeping on the Mount of Olives at night (Luke 21:37–38). This makes it easy for Judas to lead the temple guards to Him. Jesus knows this (John 6:70), but He goes anyway.

Luke mentions three events tied to the mountain:

A week before, Jesus rode down the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem on a donkey while crowds shouted, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:37–38). Jesus entered as king.

The second event is when Jesus tells Peter, Andrew, James, and John about the horrors of the events of AD 70, the church age, and the tribulation. The temple will be destroyed, the world will be filled with false teachers, war will plague the earth, and even the heavenly bodies will be shaken (Luke 21:5–36; Mark 13:3). Jesus will return.

The third event is recorded here: Jesus' arrest. Jesus and the disciples have spent a pleasant Passover meal together. Throughout, Jesus has told them some interesting things. The disciples are going to rule Israel on twelve thrones (Luke 22:29–30). But they are all going to fall away from Him—especially Peter (Luke 22:31–34). And they are to carry swords (Luke 22:36–38).

Jesus told the disciples that Satan was going to attack them. At the time, He mentioned that He prayed that Peter's faith would not fail, and that when he turned back he would lead the other disciples into restoration. Now, Jesus tells Peter and the others to pray for their own faith—that they would not fall into temptation (Luke 22:40). They will all run away: Jesus knows this. But how far will they run?

Luke 22:39–46 is a summarized account of Jesus' prayers at the Mount of Olives. He and the disciples have finished the Passover meal. There, Jesus warned them of coming trials. The disciples argued over who was best (Luke 22:14–30). Now, Jesus expresses sincere apprehension about the crucifixion. Yet He humbly submits to His Father's plan. He knows who He is and why He was sent: only He can save the world. Meanwhile, the disciples sleep instead of praying that their faith will keep them from temptation. Matthew 26:36–46, Mark 14:32–42, and John 18:1 also record Jesus' time in the garden.

Luke 22 is a long chapter which records events leading to Jesus' political trials and crucifixion. He has successfully taught crowds at the temple and proved His authority over the religious leaders (Luke 19:47—20). Meanwhile the leaders have spent the week planning to arrest Jesus and have Him killed (Luke 19:47–48). This chapter records the Last Supper, the arrest on the Mount of Olives, and the trials before the Jewish religious leaders. Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 18 cover much of the same information.

Luke 23 continues Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod Antipas. He is then led to the cross where He forgives His murderers and saves a thief before He dies. In Luke 24, Jesus rises from the dead, meets two disciples while they travel, and explains to them how the Old Testament prophesied the death of the Messiah. In the final scene of the gospel, Jesus is reunited with His disciples, blesses them, and ascends into heaven.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.