And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "as was his custom" is crucial here. It reveals that Jesus wasn't stumbling into Gethsemane by accident; this was a familiar place of prayer, suggesting a deliberate turning toward the place of his deepest trial, not an attempt to hide from it. This detail highlights his intentionality in facing the coming ordeal.
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus and his disciples have just shared the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper and predicted his betrayal and Peter's denial. Now, on their way to the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus knows his arrest and suffering are imminent. He leads them, as he often did, to the familiar spot on the Mount of Olives, though he is heading into his most profound moment of anguish alone.
Jesus walked a path well-trodden, a place of routine. Yet, this familiar route led to an unprecedented hour of suffering.
The verse highlights Jesus' "custom" of going to the Mount of Olives. This wasn't a spontaneous decision; it was a regular part of His life. This custom, described by Luke, John, and even noted by commentators as a known spot for Jesus (John 18:2), sets a scene of ordinary habit. Yet, this ordinary habit leads to an extraordinary event: the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Think about it: the disciples were accustomed to this walk. It likely brought them a sense of comfort, a feeling of knowing what to expect. But for Jesus, this familiar place was about to become the site of His deepest anguish. This contrast between the customary and the catastrophic is powerful. It shows that even in our most predictable routines, we can encounter profound challenges.
The disciples followed Him, but did they truly grasp where this familiar path would lead?
The disciples' response, 'and the disciples followed him,' seems simple, but it carries weight. They were accustomed to following Jesus, and this walk was no different on the surface. However, this time, their following led them to a place of profound spiritual conflict and, for most of them, a failure to 'watch' and pray as Jesus asked.
This highlights a key aspect of discipleship: it's not always about understanding the destination, but about the act of following. Even when unaware of the depth of the struggle ahead, their proximity to Jesus was crucial. They were present, even if their understanding and strength failed them in the moments that followed. Their following, in this instance, was an act of obedience, even if it led them to witness and, for a time, succumb to their own weakness.
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Understand the original words
Elaiōn · Greek Noun
A ridge of hills east of Jerusalem, frequently associated with the prayer life of Jesus, his triumphal entry, and his future return.
ethos · Greek Noun
A persistent or habitual practice, often used in Scripture to describe a life characterized by consistent obedience or patterns of behavior.
Jesus' custom of visiting the Mount of Olives, as noted in this verse, highlights his familiarity with the location and his intentionality in going there for prayer, even as he knew his arrest was imminent.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' final week in Jerusalem
Jesus spends his last week in Jerusalem, teaching in the Temple and engaging with religious leaders, culminating in his arrest.
c. 30 AD
Arrest in Gethsemane
After the Last Supper and praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the temple guard.
c. 30 AD
Jewish Trial before the Sanhedrin
Jesus is interrogated by the Jewish high council, the Sanhedrin, and subsequently handed over to the Roman authorities.
c. 30 AD
Roman Trials before Pilate and Herod
Jesus undergoes trials before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, and Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee.
c. 30 AD
Crucifixion and Burial
Jesus is condemned, crucified at Golgotha, and buried in a tomb.
c. 30 AD
Resurrection and Appearances
According to Christian belief, Jesus is resurrected on the third day and appears to his followers over a period of 40 days.
This verse speaks of the deceitfulness of the human heart, a theme that resonates with Jesus' disciples who, despite following Him, would soon fail Him in His hour of greatest need.
Matthew 26:36This passage describes the same event, specifically naming the location as Gethsemane and highlighting Jesus taking only Peter, James, and John further into the garden, emphasizing the disciples' inability to stay awake even with Him.
John 18:1-2This parallel account mentions that Jesus and His disciples often gathered in the garden on the Mount of Olives, confirming the 'custom' Jesus followed and explaining why Judas knew where to find Him.
1 Peter 4:7This verse calls believers to be self-controlled and sober-minded, a direct contrast to the disciples' state in Gethsemane, underscoring the need for spiritual vigilance.
Hebrews 5:7This passage describes Jesus offering 'up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears' in His agony, directly correlating with the intense prayer and struggle Luke records Jesus undergoing on the Mount of Olives.
barnesLuke 22:39: "And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him."
See the Matthew 26:30-46 notes; Mark 14:26-42 notes.
bengelLuke 22:39: "And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him."
Luke 22:39 . Κατὰ τὸ ἔθος , according to His custom ) So the disciples were less struck by any immediate (present) sense of strangeness.— εἰς τὸ ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν , to the mount of Olives ) It was to this mountain a red cow used to be led forth to be immolated. See S. R. Zeller on Maimon. as to the red cow, pp. 360, 501.— ἠκολούθησαν , followed ) of their own accord.
The phrase "as was his custom" is crucial here. It reveals that Jesus wasn't stumbling into Gethsemane by accident; this was a familiar place of prayer, suggesting a deliberate turning toward the place of his deepest trial, not an attempt to hide from it. This detail highlights his intentionality in facing the coming ordeal.
Jesus and his disciples have just shared the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper and predicted his betrayal and Peter's denial. Now, on their way to the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus knows his arrest and suffering are imminent. He leads them, as he often did, to the familiar spot on the Mount of Olives, though he is heading into his most profound moment of anguish alone.
Jesus and his disciples have just shared the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper and predicted his betrayal and Peter's denial. Now, on their way to the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus knows his arrest and suffering are imminent. He leads them, as he often did, to the familiar spot on the Mount of Olives, though he is heading into his most profound moment of anguish alone.
"And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him." — The phrase "as was his custom" is crucial here. It reveals that Jesus wasn't stumbling into Gethsemane by accident; this was a familiar place of prayer, suggesting a deliberate turning toward the pla…
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Last reviewed October 2026