Matthew 26:37-38
And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus chooses his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, to witness his profound sorrow and distress. Notice that the text says he "began" to be sorrowful, indicating the initial wave of overwhelming anguish as he faced the immense burden of humanity's sin. This wasn't a sudden onset, but the palpable start of an agonizing struggle he knew was coming.
Jesus has just shared the Last Supper with his disciples and predicted that they would all fall away. He then withdraws to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, taking his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, with him. It's here, as he faces the imminent betrayal and agonizing suffering to come, that Jesus begins to experience profound sorrow and distress.
Even the Son of God experienced profound sorrow and distress before His crucifixion. What does this reveal about His humanity?
In Matthew 26:37, we see Jesus beginning to experience intense sorrow and anguish. The original language used here paints a vivid picture:
Jesus, fully human, felt the crushing weight of the suffering and the sins of the world He was about to bear. This wasn't just fear of physical pain, but a deep spiritual anguish as He contemplated the separation from the Father that sin brings.
Jesus didn't face this agony alone, but with a select few. Why these three disciples, and what does their presence signify?
Jesus specifically chose Peter, James, and John to accompany Him further into the garden. These were the same three disciples who had witnessed His transfiguration (Matthew 17:1) and the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37).
Understand the original words
lypeō · Greek Verb/Adjective (Participle)
Deep emotional or physical pain, grief, or distress, often associated with the anticipation of suffering or loss.
adēmoneō · Greek Verb
A state of being overwhelmed with agitation, distress, or anxiety, often used to describe a mind disturbed by heavy circumstances.
psychē · Greek Noun
The immaterial part of a human being; the seat of personality, emotions, and life, which survives physical death and is the object of God's redemptive work.
grēgoreō · Greek Verb
To remain alert, vigilant, and spiritually attentive; often used in the context of resisting temptation or awaiting the Lord's return.
Jesus intentionally brought his most intimate friends, Peter, James, and John, to witness his profound sorrow. This wasn't a public spectacle, but a private moment where he, as fully human, grappled with the immense weight of sin and the Father's judgment, allowing those closest to him to see his vulnerability before his ultimate sacrifice.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Ministry Culminates
Jesus' public ministry, marked by teaching, miracles, and gathering disciples, reaches its final weeks in Jerusalem.
c. Thursday Evening, April 6, 30 AD
The Last Supper
Jesus shares a final meal with his disciples, instituting the practice of communion and offering profound teachings about his impending departure.
c. Thursday Night, April 6, 30 AD
Betrayal Foretold
Jesus predicts that one of his closest disciples will betray him, causing distress and denial among the twelve.
c. Thursday Night, April 6, 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane
Jesus withdraws to the Garden of Gethsemane with Peter, James, and John to pray, experiencing intense sorrow and anguish as he contemplates his impending crucifixion.
This verse describes the Suffering Servant as 'despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,' which powerfully echoes the profound sorrow and trouble Jesus experienced in Gethsemane.
Psalm 22:1The lament, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' spoken by Jesus from the cross, reflects the deep anguish and sense of abandonment that began in the garden, as He faced the weight of sin alone.
Philippians 2:26Paul describes Epaphroditus as 'downcast' (using the same Greek word for 'very heavy' as in Matthew 26:37), illustrating how extreme distress can overwhelm the soul, a state Jesus Himself entered into.
John 12:27Jesus declares, 'Now my soul is troubled,' just prior to His passion, directly mirroring the sorrow and trouble He would soon express to His disciples in Gethsemane.
Hebrews 5:7This passage speaks of Jesus offering 'prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death,' which is a powerful testament to the intense agony He endured in Gethsemane, leading to His sorrowful state.
meyerMatthew 26:37: "And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy."
Matthew 26:37 f. Anticipating the inward struggle that awaited Him, He retired farther into the garden, taking with Him none ( Matthew 17:1 ) but the three most intimate disciples. ἤρξατο ] indicating the first symptoms of the condition in question. λυπεῖσθαι κ . ἀδημονεῖν ] Climax. Suidas explains ἀδημον . as meaning: λίαν λυπεῖσθαι . See Buttmann, Lexilog . II. p. 135 f.; Ael. V.…
barnesMatthew 26:37: "And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy."
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee - That is, James and John, Matthew 10:2 . On two other occasions he had favored these disciples in a particular manner, suffering them to go with him to witness his power and glory, namely, at the healing of the ruler's daughter Luke 8:51 , and at his transfiguration on the mount, Matthew 17:1 . Sorrowful - Affected with grief.…
Jesus chooses his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, to witness his profound sorrow and distress. Notice that the text says he "began" to be sorrowful, indicating the initial wave of overwhelming anguish as he faced the immense burden of humanity's sin. This wasn't a sudden onset, but the palpable start of an agonizing struggle he knew was coming.
Jesus has just shared the Last Supper with his disciples and predicted that they would all fall away. He then withdraws to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, taking his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, with him. It's here, as he faces the imminent betrayal and agonizing suffering to come, that Jesus begins to experience profound sorrow and distress.
Jesus has just shared the Last Supper with his disciples and predicted that they would all fall away. He then withdraws to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, taking his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, with him. It's here, as he faces the imminent betrayal and agonizing suffering to come, that Jesus begins to experience profound sorrow and distress.
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c. Friday Morning, April 7, 30 AD
Jesus Arrested
Judas Iscariot leads temple guards and Roman soldiers to Gethsemane, where Jesus is betrayed with a kiss and arrested.
c. Friday Morning, April 7, 30 AD
Jesus' Trials
Jesus undergoes a series of rapid trials before the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.
c. Friday, April 7, 30 AD
Crucifixion and Death
Jesus is crucified at Golgotha, enduring immense suffering before giving up his life. His garments are gambled for by soldiers.
"And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”" — Jesus chooses his three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, to witness his profound sorrow and distress. Notice that the text says he "began" to be sorrowful, indicating the initial wave of ov…
