Matthew 26:41

 Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

a. NASB 1995: “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  [NASB95 New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation; All Rights Reserved]

b. YLT: Watch, and pray, that ye may not enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is forward, but the flesh weak.'  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified: All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Peshitta Eastern Text: Awake and pray, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is ready, but the body is weak.  [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

e. ESV: Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."]

f. Unless otherwise stated, all greek and Hebrew definitions are from Blue Letter Bible

1. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

a. Watch [Strong: 1127 grēgoreúō, gray-gor-yoo'-o; from G1453; to keep awake, i.e. watch (literally or figuratively):—be vigilant, wake, (be) watch(-ful).] [Zodhiates: to arise, arouse. To watch, to refrain from sleep. It was transferred in meaning from the physical to the moral religious sphere. It denotes attention to God’s revelation or to the knowledge of salvation; a mindfulness of threatening dangers which, with conscious earnestness and an alert mind, keeps it from all drowsiness and all slackening in the energy of faith and conduct.]

b. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

c. pray [Strong: 4336 proseúchomai, pros-yoo'-khom-ahee; from G4314 and G2172; to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship:—pray (X earnestly, for), make prayer.]

d. that [Strong: 2443 hína, hin'-ah; probably from the same as the former part of G1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare G3588); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result):—albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to.]

e. [ye] enter [Strong: 1525 eisérchomai, ice-er'-khom-ahee; from G1519 and G2064; to enter (literally or figuratively):—X arise, come (in, into), enter in(-to), go in (through).]

f. not [Strong: 3361 mḗ, may; a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:—any but (that), × forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without.]

g. into [Strong: 1519 eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:—(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.]

h. temptation [Strong: 3986 peirasmós, pi-ras-mos'; from G3985; a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity:—temptation, × try.]

1). As the definition of the Greek word for “watch” declares, we must maintain “a mindfulness of threatening dangers which, with conscious earnestness and an alert mind, keeps it from all drowsiness and all slackening in the energy of faith and conduct.” In the first epistle of Peter he addresses this spiritual need. It begins with a girding up of the loins of our minds.

a). 1 Peter 1:13-16 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

i. [the] spirit [Strong: 4151 pneûma, pnyoo'-mah; from G4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:—ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.]

j. indeed [Strong: 3303 mén, men; a primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with G1161 (this one, the former, etc.):—even, indeed, so, some, truly, verily. Often compounded with other particles in an intensive or asseverative sense.]

k. [is] willing [Strong: 2489 próthymos, proth'-oo-mos; from G4253 and G2372; forward in spirit, i.e. predisposed; neuter (as noun) alacrity:—ready, willing.]

l. but [Strong: 1161 dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

m. the [Strong: 3588. [hē] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [hē] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]

c. flesh [Strong: 4561 sárx, sarx; probably from the base of G4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such):—carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).]

d. [is] weak [Strong: 772 asthenḗs, as-then-ace'; from G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G4599; strengthless (in various applications, literal, figurative and moral):—more feeble, impotent, sick, without strength, weak(-er, -ness, thing).]

1). The weakness of “the flesh” is described in Romans 7. It is also called “the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2); “the body of this death” (Romans 7:24); and “the body of the sins of the flesh” (Colossians 2:11).

 

a). Romans 7:14-24 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

 

2). We inherited the law of sin and death from our first parents because of the fall of man in the garden

 

a). 1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

 

3). Though the law was good, it could not overcome the weakness in us that we inherited from Adam and Eve. Paul preached this.

 

a). Acts 13:38, 39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

 

b) Hebrews 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

 

c). Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

4). Kenneth Copeland: “We must understand that there are laws governing every single thing in existence. Nothing is by accident. There are laws of the world of the spirit, and there are laws of the world of the natural. The laws of the world of the natural govern our activities in this natural, physical world. We don’t float; we walk. If the law of gravity were not in action, we would float. These physical laws can be manipulated. For instance, the law of gravity is used when flying an airplane, but it is superseded by another physical law, the law of lift. When you put the law of lift into operation, you can fly, but you must know something about the law of gravity in order to use the law of lift. You don’t do away with the law of gravity; you just supersede it with a higher law. These are natural, physical laws, and they govern this natural, physical world. We need to realize that the spiritual world and its laws are more powerful than the physical world and its laws.”

 

5). DC: There are two “laws” mentioned in this verse, they are, “the law of the Spirit of life” and “the law of sin and death”. Paul writes that “the law of the Spirit of life” that is found in Christ Jesus overcomes “the law of sin and death”. One law overcomes the other. The “law of sin and death’ is described by Paul in the preceding chapter. It is also called by Paul in the last verse of this passage as “the body of this death”.

 

a). Romans 7:14-24  

6). The passage is self explanatory and all of us can relate to it, but there are a few verses that are necessary to look in another translation.

 

a). Amplified Bible: Romans 7:23 But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh].

 

b). Worrell Translation: Romans 7:23 But I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

 

7). The Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost is saying the law of sin and death, that driving irresistible desire to sin, that Paul perfectly described in Romans 7:14-23, is  a disease that  has plagued mankind since the fall, can be overcome. It can be overcome by another law, but only one, and Paul identifies it, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” It is only found in one place, one location, in Christ Jesus, therefore the only way to have access to this supernatural power or even understand it, is to get born again. We have to be born again where we become a new creation, our spirit man is recreated in Christ and the old things are passed away and all things are of God. When we get born again we are given the same amount of supernatural power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead.

 

a).  Ephesians 1:19-21  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

 

8). Because we have been born again.

 

a). John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  

 

9). When we got born again we were translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God.

 

a). Colossians 1:12-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: