Who in the days of his flesh
Or "of his humanity", as the Arabic version renders it; or "when
he was clothed with flesh", as the Syriac version; in the time of
his humiliation, when he was attended with the sinless
infirmities of the flesh, or human nature; it may take in the
whole course of his life on earth, especially the latter part of
it: it is not to be concluded from hence, that he has not flesh
now, or is not in the flesh; for it is certain that he had flesh
after his resurrection; only now he is free from all the
infirmities of the flesh, the pains, and sorrows, and griefs of
it, which he endured when here on earth:
when he had offered up prayers and
supplications;
as he often did in many parts of his life, particularly in the
garden, and upon the cross, when he offered up himself: and as
the days of Christ's flesh were filled up with prayers and
supplications, so should ours be also: the word for
"supplications" signifies branches of olive trees, covered with
wool F4; which such as sued for peace
carried in their hands, and so came to signify supplications for
peace: the manner in which these were offered up by Christ was
with strong crying and tears;
with a most vehement outcry, with a loud voice, as when on the
cross; and though there is no mention of his tears at that time,
or when in the garden, no doubt but he shed them: all that Christ
did, and said, are not written; some things were received by
tradition, and by inspiration; Christ wept at other times, and
why not at these? and there are some circumstances in his prayers
which intimate as much, ( Matthew
26:38 ) ( 27:46 ) (
Luke 22:44 )
which shows the weight of sin, of sorrow, and of punishment, that
lay upon him, and the weakness of the human nature, considered in
itself: and it may be observed to our comfort, that as Christ's
crying and tears were confined to the days of his flesh, or to
the time of his life here on earth, so shall ours be also.
Mention is made of (twqzx
twlpt) , "strong prayers" F5, in Jewish writings. The
person to whom Christ offered his prayers is described in the
following words,
unto him that was able to save him from death;
from a corporeal death, as he could, but that it was otherwise
determined; or rather to raise him from the dead, to deliver him
from the state of the dead, from the power of death, and the
grave, as he did; and so the Syriac version renders it, "to
quicken him from death"; to restore him from death to life:
and was heard in that he feared;
or "by fear"; by God, who was the object of his fear, and who is
called the fear of Isaac, ( Genesis
31:42 ) he was always heard by him, and so he was in the
garden, and on the cross; and was carried through his sufferings,
and was delivered from the fear of death, and was saved from the
dominion and power of it, being raised from the dead by his
Father: or "he was heard because of his fear", or "reverence";
either because of the dignity and reverence of his person, in
which he was had by God; or because of his reverence of his
Father.