Matthew 26:42 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 26:42 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”

Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed: my Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. The second prayer: if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. The progression from if it be possible let this pass to if this cannot pass shows the deepening acceptance of the Father's will. The first prayer sought the possibility of alternative; the second prayer accepts the necessity.

Church Fathers on Matthew 26:42

He took with Him the self-confident Peter, and the others, that they might see Him falling on His face and praying, and might learn not to think great things, but little things of themselves, and not to be hasty in promising, but careful in prayer. And therefore, 'He went forward a little,' not to go far from them, but that He might be near them in His prayer.
Origen · 3rd century

Whence He says emphatically, 'This cup,' that is, of this people of the Jews, who, if they shall put Me to death, can have no excuse for their ignorance, seeing they have the Law and the Prophets, who speak of Me.
Jerome · 4th century

And that none might think that He limited His Father’s power, He said not, 'If thou canst do it,' but 'If it may be,' or, 'If it be possible;' as much as to say, If thou wilt. For whatever God wills can be done, as Luke expresses more plainly; for he says not, 'If it be possible,' but 'If thou wilt.'
Augustine · 4th century · de Cons. Ev., iii, 4

Read all 27 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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