Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 26]
long as their already protracted life is spared, the most
venerable of their race on the surface of the earth. Their
guarded trunks and scanty foliage will always be regarded as the
most affecting of the sacred memorials in or about Jerusalem"
(Stanley, _Sinai and Palestine_). {Here} (\autou\), {Yonder}
(\ekei\). Jesus clearly pointed to the place where he would pray.
Literally "there."
26:37 {He took with him} (\paralab•n\). Taking along, by his side
(\para-\), as a mark of special favour and privilege, instead of
leaving this inner circle of three (Peter, James, and John) with
the other eight. The eight would serve as a sort of outer guard
to watch by the gate of the garden for the coming of Judas while
the three would be able to share the agony of soul already upon
Jesus so as at least to give him some human sympathy which he
craved as he sought help from the Father in prayer. These three
had been with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and now they
are with him in this supreme crisis. The grief of Christ was now
severe. The word for {sore troubled} (\ad•monein\) is of doubtful
etymology. There is an adjective \ad•mos\ equal to \apod•mos\
meaning "not at home," "away from home," like the German
_unheimisch, unheimlich_. But whatever the etymology, the notion
of intense discomfort is plain. The word \ad•monein\ occurs in
P.Oxy. II, 298,456 of the first century A.D. where it means
"excessively concerned." See Php 2:26 where Paul uses it of
Epaphroditus. Moffatt renders it here "agitated." The word occurs
sometimes with \apore•\ to be at a loss as to which way to go.
The _Braid Scots_ has it "sair putten-aboot." Here Matthew has
also "to be sorrowful" (\lupeisthai\), but Mark (Mr 14:33) has
the startling phrase {greatly amazed and sore troubled}
(\ekthambeisthai kai ad•monein\), a "feeling of terrified
surprise."
26:38 {Watch with me} (\gr•goreite met' emou\). This late present
from the perfect \egr•gora\ means to keep awake and not go to
sleep. The hour was late and the strain had been severe, but
Jesus pleaded for a bit of human sympathy as he wrestled with his
Father. It did not seem too much to ask. He had put his sorrow in
strong language, "even unto death" (\he•s thanatou\) that ought
to have alarmed them.
26:39 {He went forward a little} (\proelth•n mikron\). As if he
could not fight the battle in their immediate presence. He was on
his face, not on his knees (McNeile). {This cup} (\to pot•rion
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