Matthew 26:43

43 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open.

Matthew 26:43 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 26:43

And he came and found them asleep again
For they were aroused and awaked, in some measure, by what he had said to them; but no sooner was he gone but they fell asleep again, and thus he found them a second time; or, "he came again and found them asleep"; so read the Vulgate Latin, the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and Munster's Hebrew Gospel:

for their eyes were heavy;
with sleep through fatigue, sorrow Mark adds, "neither wist they what to answer him", ( Mark 14:40 ) ; they were so very sleepy, they knew not how to speak; or they were so confounded, that he should take them asleep a second time, after they had had such a reproof, and exhortation from him, that they knew not what answer to make him; who probably rebuked them again, or gave them a fresh exhortation.

Matthew 26:43 In-Context

41 Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."

42 He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, "My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way."

43 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open.

44 This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.

45 When he came back the next time, he said, "Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners.