Luke 22:46 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."

NIV: "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

NASB: and He said to them, 'Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you do not come into temptation.'

CSB: "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation."

NLT: Why are you sleeping?' he asked them. 'Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.'

KJV: And said unto them, Why sleep ye rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

NKJV: Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

Matthew 26:38–46 and Mark 14:34–42 describe how Jesus first tells Peter, James, and John to watch over Him. When they fall asleep, He wakes up at least Peter and tells him to pray so he won't fall into temptation. He comes back a second time but doesn't wake them up. At the third time, Judas and the arresting guards are approaching, so He wakes them up and tells them His betrayer is at hand.

The temptation is that they will fall away. That the Sanhedrin will "strike the shepherd" and like sheep, the disciples will scatter (Mark 14:27). Peter has promised he won't; he would rather go to prison or even die for Jesus (Luke 22:33). Jesus told him that's not going to happen: "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me" (Luke 22:34).

All the disciples scatter except Peter and John (Matthew 26:56). John knows the high priest and is confident—or faithful—enough to follow the mob that arrests Jesus and then arrange for Peter to come in (John 18:15–16). We don't know how long John stays or if he witnesses Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod Antipas, but we know he's at the foot of the cross. He's so close he can hear Jesus tell him to take care of Mary (John 19:25–27).

Peter does not pray. He falls asleep. He has enough bravado to follow John and walk through the high priest's gate, but then he loses his nerve. He realizes he is standing with friends and family members of the servant he attacked with his sword (John 18:10–11, 26). Peter comes to the limit of his natural courage and denies that he knows Jesus (Luke 22:54–62).

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.