MATTHEW 26:41-FF THE SPIRIT IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK In Matthew 26:41-ff, Jesus made an observation about the disciples' inability to stay awake and watch with Him -- "...the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." I have heard this expression used when someone does something wrong to excuse themselves. Did the disciples sin by falling asleep? To put the answer to that posed question in perspective, we need to remember the events which have brought Jesus and his disciples to this late hour of the night in the garden of Gethsemane and also the events which were shortly to follow his betrayal. The evening had begun with the celebration of the Passover (Matthew 26:17-20). During the supper Jesus had confronted Judas and directed him to go about is betrayal business (Matthew 26:21-25; John 13:21-30). The disciples had fussed about greatness and Jesus had taught them about humility and servitude by washing their feet (John 13:1-17). He told them that he was going to be betrayed and be killed. Upon the basis of that sacrifice, he instituted the "Lord's Supper." Somewhere between the upper room and the crossing of the brook Kedron, he gave them a lengthy discourse designed to comfort them and prayed for them (John 14-17). When they finally got to the garden, the hour must have been very late -- perhaps between two and four a.m. These disciples were extremely tired and sorrowful. They understood now that Jesus was leaving them. They must have questioned their own courage, because Jesus had told them that when he was smitten, they would scatter as sheep. Peter was told plainly that he would deny that he ever knew Jesus. The physical weariness, the late hour and mental sorrow would make it extremely difficult for them to stay awake. If we can understand how they were affected emotionally and physically by these traumatic events, we would not be too critical of them -- especially some, who cannot stay awake during a short 45-minute sermon, should find it easy to sympathize with them. I believe I heard someone whisper, "You're no Jesus." With that background of events in mind let us proceed to answer the question in context. As they came to the garden, Jesus took Peter, James and John and moved some distance away from the other apostles. Then as he directed these apostles to watch, he departed even further away and prayed in agony. It was when he came back the first time, finding them asleep, he said to Peter, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" (Matthew 26:40b). Remember that the fist admonition in v. 38, had been "watch with me." But in v. 41, he said, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." The first admonition seems to have been expressed with a need in mind for comfort -- they were to watch WITH him. The second admonition is directed toward watching and praying "THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION." That kind of watching is for their benefit. Now, we might draw either one of two conclusion from his statement that the "spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." We might conclude that Jesus is expressing an understanding that, though their inner being was willing, the natural weakness of the flesh prohibited them from being able to stay awake when he needed them. Or, in view of their impending trials after he was betrayed and taken away from them, he may be admonishing them to be watchful, because he is aware of the willingness and determination of the spirit but the weakness of the flesh. The second possibility could be illustrated thusly: Peter had adamantly affirmed his loyalty but the intimidation of the hostile crowd tore from his lips -- "I never knew the man." The spirit was willing; the flesh was weak. In the same way, the apostles on other occasions were willing to die for Jesus, but they all fled when Jesus was taken -- the spirit was willing; the flesh was weak. Either conclusion fits the context but the statement is not designed to excuse oneself from sin or from doing the best he can. Did the apostles sin by falling asleep? If they were indifferent to Jesus' command in v. 38, "Yes." However, if they were physically unable to watch with him, "No." By way of comparison, though commanded to assemble (Hebrews 10:25), a disciple does not sin by not assembling when he is in the hospital -- he is physically unable to perform what is commanded, therefore, not accountable to perform it. But there needs to be another question injected here, the answer to which is axiomatic -- did Peter sin when he denied Jesus? God never expects us to do what we cannot do but He certainly does not excuse us from doing what we can. No comfort can be found in Jesus' statement to those who have an unwilling spirit to go along with the weak flesh and who use the "weakness of the flesh" as justification for the unwilling spirit.

	Created on 14-Mar-00	Page last updated