Luke 22:40 - Printer Friendly

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.”

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).

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 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.