Matthew 26:43

43 He came and again found them asleep, for they were very tired.

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 Keep awake, and pray that you may not enter into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail."

42 Again a second time He went away and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is impossible for this cup to pass without my drinking it, Thy will be done."

43 He came and again found them asleep, for they were very tired.

44 So He left them, and went away once more and prayed a third time, again using the same words.

45 Then He came to the disciples and said, "Sleep on and rest. See, the moment is close at hand when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men.