saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus’ prayer here isn't just about not wanting to suffer; it's about the deep human struggle of aligning our desires with God's, even when it's incredibly painful. He’s modeling that true obedience isn't just going along with God when it's easy, but in moments of profound agony, choosing God's purpose over our own deepest human desires.
saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, the night before his crucifixion, wrestling in prayer with the immense weight of what's to come. He's just expressed his deep sorrow to his disciples, who were unable to stay awake and comfort him. This prayer reveals his human struggle with the imminent suffering, while ultimately submitting to God's sovereign plan.
Jesus faced an unimaginable 'cup.' What did it represent, and why did He pray for it to be removed?
Jesus refers to a 'cup' that He asks His Father to remove. This 'cup' isn't just physical pain; it symbolizes the full weight of God's wrath against sin, the suffering and separation from the Father that sin incurs.
Jesus prayed for His will to be done, yet immediately submitted to God's. How is this possible?
This verse beautifully captures the profound tension between Jesus' human will and His divine will, both perfectly aligned with the Father's.
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Understand the original words
patēr · Greek Noun
Refers to the intimate relationship and divine authority of God the Father within the Trinity; used by Jesus to address God with filial trust and submission.
potērion · Greek Noun
A biblical metaphor for the ordeal of divine judgment, wrath, and suffering that one must endure. In the context of the Atonement, it represents the cup of God’s wrath that Jesus voluntarily drank on behalf of humanity.
thelēma · Greek Noun
The human capacity to choose or direct one's actions, which in Christ is perfectly aligned with the divine will of the Father. It signifies the surrender of personal desire in favor of God’s redemptive purpose.
angelos · Greek Noun
A spiritual messenger sent by God to perform tasks, provide comfort, or serve as a medium of divine revelation to humans. They act as ministers of God's providence.
enischuō · Greek Verb
To impart strength, courage, or firmness of mind; in a biblical context, it implies divine enablement provided to endure hardship or fulfill a mission.
This verse captures Jesus' human struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, wrestling with the overwhelming suffering ('this cup') ahead. His prayer highlights the profound tension between his human desire for relief and his ultimate submission to the Father's will, a core theme in his mission to reconcile humanity to God.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Last Supper
Jesus shares his final meal with his disciples, instituting the Lord's Supper and predicting his betrayal and Peter's denial.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
Jesus withdraws to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray intensely before his arrest, grappling with the immense suffering and sacrifice ahead.
c. 30 AD
Betrayal and Arrest
Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus with a kiss, leading to his arrest by the temple guard and Roman soldiers.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
Jesus is brought before the Jewish high council, where he is questioned and condemned for blasphemy.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
Jesus is interrogated by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, and King Herod Antipas, facing accusations from Jewish leaders.
c. 30 AD
Crucifixion
Jesus is crucified at Golgotha, suffering and dying as a sacrifice for humanity's sins.
c. 30 AD
Resurrection
Three days after his crucifixion, Jesus is raised from the dead, demonstrating his victory over sin and death.
This passage provides a parallel account of Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, emphasizing the same profound submission to God's will in the face of immense suffering.
Hebrews 5:7-8This passage directly references Jesus' prayers and 'strong crying and tears' during his earthly life, highlighting how He 'learned obedience' through His suffering, which Luke's account vividly illustrates.
John 6:38This verse from John's Gospel reveals Jesus' consistent declaration of His purpose to do God's will, underscoring the deep conviction behind His prayer in Luke 22:42.
Genesis 50:20This Old Testament passage, while spoken by Joseph, echoes the theme of God's sovereign plan turning evil into good, offering a broader perspective on the ultimate purpose behind Jesus' suffering.
Romans 8:32This verse speaks to God's ultimate plan and sacrifice of His Son, providing a theological framework for understanding why Jesus, despite His human plea, ultimately submitted to the Father's will for salvation.
bengelLuke 22:42: "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."
Luke 22:42 . Εἰ βούλει παρενεγκεῖν , if thou he willing, remove ) The Infinitive put for the Imperative is a frequent usage of the Greeks. See note on Revelation 10:9 .[246] And in this passage, indeed, such an Enallage (or change of mood and tense) expresses the reverential modesty of Jesus towards the Father. But in this passage, if we suppose an aposiopesis of the verb παρ…
ellicottLuke 22:42: "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."
(42) Not my will, but thine, be done. —See Notes on Matthew 26:39 . Here there is a more distinct echo of the prayer which He had taught His disciples. He, too, could say, “Lead us not into temptation,” but that prayer was subject, now explicitly, as at all times implicitly, to the antecedent condition that it was in harmony with “Thy will be done.”
Jesus’ prayer here isn't just about not wanting to suffer; it's about the deep human struggle of aligning our desires with God's, even when it's incredibly painful. He’s modeling that true obedience isn't just going along with God when it's easy, but in moments of profound agony, choosing God's purpose over our own deepest human desires.
Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, the night before his crucifixion, wrestling in prayer with the immense weight of what's to come. He's just expressed his deep sorrow to his disciples, who were unable to stay awake and comfort him. This prayer reveals his human struggle with the imminent suffering, while ultimately submitting to God's sovereign plan.
Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, the night before his crucifixion, wrestling in prayer with the immense weight of what's to come. He's just expressed his deep sorrow to his disciples, who were unable to stay awake and comfort him. This prayer reveals his human struggle with the imminent suffering, while ultimately submitting to God's sovereign plan.
"saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him." — Jesus’ prayer here isn't just about not wanting to suffer; it's about the deep human struggle of aligning our desires with God's, even when it's incredibly painful. He’s modeling that true obedience…
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Last reviewed October 2026