Matthew 26:53

53 Whether guessest thou, that I may not pray my Father, and he shall give to me now more than twelve legions of angels?

Matthew 26:53 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 26:53

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father
Meaning, if he thought proper, or that there was any necessity for it, or that he was desirous of being rescued out of such hands he was falling into. This must be understood of him as man: for, as God, the angels were his creatures and ministering servants, whom he had the command of himself, and so had no need, as such, to pray to his Father to detach a number of them to his assistance, and which, as man, he could only want.

And he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels.
A Roman legion consisted of about six thousand soldiers, or upwards; some add six hundred sixty six; and others make the number far greater. Twelve are mentioned, either with respect to the twelve apostles; or in allusion, as others think, to the Roman militia; a proper and full army with them consisting of such a number of legions: and that there is an innumerable company of angels, thousand thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand, is certain; and the Persic version here reads; "twelve myriads" of legions; and that these are at the command of God, and he can dispatch them at once, on any emergent occasion, is very evident; and what is it that such a company of angels is not capable of, when a single angel slew in one night an hundred, fourscore, and five thousand men, ( 2 Kings 19:35 ) , wherefore had Christ had any inclination to have been rescued from the present danger, he stood in no need of Peter's sword.

Matthew 26:53 In-Context

51 And lo! one of them that were with Jesus, stretched out his hand, and drew out his sword; and he smote the servant of the prince of priests, and cut off his ear [+and he, smiting a servant of the prince of priests, cut off his ear].
52 Then Jesus said to him, Turn thy sword into his place; for all that take sword, shall perish by sword.
53 Whether guessest thou, that I may not pray my Father, and he shall give to me now more than twelve legions of angels?
54 How then shall the scriptures be fulfilled? for so it behooveth to be done.
55 In that hour Jesus said to the people, As to a thief ye have gone out, with swords and bats, [for] to take me; day by day I sat among you, and taught in the temple, and ye held me not. [+In that hour Jesus said to the companies, As to a thief ye have gone out, with swords and staves, for to take me; each day I sat at you, teaching in the temple, and ye held not me.]
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.