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Luke 22:31-48
June 21st 2020
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So after . . . Judas has left, and Jesus tells the remaining disciples that he had indeed a Kingdom prepared for them (verse 30)
“That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
The Lord turns his attention to Peter and says beginning at Luke 22 verse 31:
Luke 22:31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
At this point they were about to all enter into great trials with Jesus of course, leading the way. And he takes a moment to specifically call out Peter and warn him about Satan’s desire to shake his faith into oblivion, or as Jesus puts it, to sift him as wheat – shake him around so much that his faith would be removed from his heart.
Jesus adds:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
The word “faith” here seems to apply to his love, faith and attachment to Christ. Peter was told by Christ that he was to open the doors of the Gospel to the world – which we know he did.
Perhaps he was a special target of Satan’s in order to prevent him from accomplishing this.
Jesus reassures Peter that he has prayed for him that his “faith remains intact.” But we know that it will be tried and shake-up a bit, don’t we?
And then Jesus adds something interesting to his words to:
And when you are converted strengthen your brethren.
Of course, this directly means that at this point in time, prior to Jesus death and resurrection, Peter was not converted.
It’s a fascinating fact of the Christian record that Peter was still not considered converted after witnessing all that Jesus had done, all the miracles, the Mount of Transfiguration, and the fact that Peter even walked on water with Jesus himself!
And yet not converted. I suggest that this means Peter did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit move into him and change his heart once and for all.
From his brash words here and what he is about to say (and what he says in other places) is it appears that Peter believed that he was converted, didn’t he?
He speaks “allegiance” like no other – and appears to believe he is a true disciple, and yet he will deny knowing or being associated with Jesus in the very near future, won’t he?
In the early years of Christianity on out to today, many people have surpassed Peter in devotion to Christ, giving their lives up to the mouths of beasts, Nero’s evil ways, and even from the torments of other believers (like the Anabaptists in the hands of Calvin).
Peter will even go on and courageously face crucifixion (according to tradition) and martyrdom – so what was the difference between Peter’s state here and what is to come?
Peter was converted. And the conversion appears to have taken place on the day of Pentecost when the holy spirit fell upon him and others and would go on to fortify Peter in his call as apostle.
Prior to this his strength only lied in his flesh – in religion – which was not strong at all. In fact, once Jesus died, Peter told the others, “I go a fishing,” which I take to mean, “I’m really not sure what to believe anymore.”
Then prior to Pentecost, it was Peter who decided to cast lots as a means to choose another to replace Judas, not yet being converted, and therefore not yet being led by the spirit or the inner man – and this led to them to picking Mathias, an apostles we never hear from again.
Quite frankly, even after Peter was converted, he continued to fear his Jewish brethren and this caused Paul to confront him face to face before others!
So, we know, from Peter’s life and example, that being converted is key and that the flesh will always seek to undermine such conversion in our lives.
But Jesus also gives Peter confidence in the fact that conversion is on the way, and when it arrives for him for Peter to use it “to strengthen his brethren.”
Peter, ever the brash fleshly man, and the one who represents all of us, (verse 33)
33 . . . said unto him, “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.”
34 And he (Jesus) said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
We will soon see that Jesus words to him will come true, and Peter’s proclamations of allegiance false. (verse 35)
35 And he (Jesus) said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
This was a way for Jesus to remind them that when they were all together in ministry, God fully provided for them.
It seems he did this to prove to them (or remind them) that He was true, his words and promises were true, and that they ought to rely on these truths as times were about to get tough.
Nevetheless, he gives them a change in verse 36 and says:
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
In other words, the protection you had when I was with you are about to change.
This shift is fascinating to me: That when Jesus was with them everything was taken care of, but now he is telling them to step back from that mode of living and take measures to provide and protect themselves.
I don’t know why they would not be cared for and provided for in the same way now that Jesus was going to leave them, but I can make some guestimations – as fragile as they may be.
First of all, His mission and work on earth was paramount so perhaps since they had “God with them” he would ensure that all their monetary and physical care and protections would be in place.
But now with him gone, perhaps the ability for others to freely harm them would be at least abbreviated. Maybe God’s hands, in the face of a free will economy in man is limited and requires our participation to care and provide for ourselves?
I can’t think of any other reason why the Apostles were once cared for when Jesus was present with them but now had to provide food, protection and care for themselves.
However, I do think this allows us to see the context of many that Jesus says to them as being for them exclusively and for the time that He was with them only – and not beyond.
This is not to say that God does not assist and help (and such) but these are clear directions from Jesus mouth to their ears –
But now, he that hath a purse,(money, he says) let him take it, and likewise his scrip (a knapsack): and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
So many believers take the words of Jesus to his twelve (when he was with them) as literal commands for faithful Christian living, but right in the moment when he was about to leave them, he changes the directives – and many overlook what he says, which is “wisely fend for yourself.”
I don’t think he is telling them to solely rely on riches and swords but it is advice that directly says:
Be smart – the relationship between God and human beings is a two-way street upon which all believers travel. He adds something unique here:
37 For (meaning, in relation to the advice I just gave to you to take purse, script and sword) I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
To see the connection between all of this takes a little effort. First of all, Jesus was citing Isaiah 53:12 when he said this. But how does it have application to what he just told them.
I suggest that because Jesus would be numbered with the transgressors, he would in some places, be known as a transgressor, the one who “died like a criminal on a cross with thieves” and therefore the support and care and safety of his apostles would be stopped-short as they too might be seen as culprits or criminals.
And to me this might be the context of verse 36 we understand verse 37 and vice versa. Almost humorously, to me aat least, the disciples reply, saying:
38 . . . Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Why two swords among eleven men would be enough is unknown but to me he seems to be saying, “that’s good – don’t focus your attention on swords (or money) but just know that the times are about to change for you.” (verse 39)
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
Okay, let’s go back to verse 39:
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont (or accustomed to doing), to the mount of Olives; and his disciples (This was Peter James and John) also followed him.
After the institution of the Last Supper, in the early part of the night, Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives. John says that he passed over the brook Cedron, (John 18:1) which was on the east side of Jerusalem.
What was the destination?
To a place that John calls “a garden” which was evidently on the western side of the Mount of Olives, a short distance from Jerusalem, and from it one would have a full view of the city.
We aren’t sure if this was an actual garden or something similar to one, but it does not seem to be a cucumber and lettuce garden but rather a place where they cultivated grapes – a garden with a wine press. Such places were apparently common in the vicinity of Jerusalem.
Luke says, he went as he was wont (accustomed) to going to this particular Mount of Olives, in all probability to pray and meditate on His Father, and so the disciples probably did not find the trip out of the ordinary and neither would Judas – which is probably how he knew where Jesus was when he lead the temple guards to betray him.
Of course, this place was called “Gethsemane,” which is a word composed of two Hebrew words (which combined) means either “valley of fatness,” (fertile valley) or “olive press.”
Once they arrive Matthew’s account has Jesus say, “Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.” (and we are about to learn how far he went to do just that).
We also know from that account that he took his inner circle, Peter, James and John with him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
Of course, we have the Lord coming to these men on three separate accounts in the combined accounts of Mark, Matthew and John – with them sleeping in each of them – but the reason Jesus gives for them to pray in Luke is “was so they would not enter into temptation.”
Jesus said to them in Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
And this advice seems to apply in this circumstance as well.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Matthew and Mark say that he fell on his face at this point, but this could be referring to this time or another.
A stones cast is entirely subjective and is dependent on whose throwing the stone and the size of the stone thrown. Anyway, as he took to the ground (in whatever method it was) Luke has him say:
42 Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
In Matthew and Marks account each time Jesus returns to his disciples he is in deeper and deeper in agony and anxiety.
It appears that Luke reports that he was approaching great suffering of the soul at this point and what he says here was in anticipation of the hardest part of His Gethsemane trial – knowing what was headed his way.
Here it seems – because we don’t know, but it seems that we see his human flesh and nature and strength begin to sink and he appears to ask his father that if He was in any way willing, would he remove the cup of misery and woe from before him.
But Jesus being Jesus adds:
But not my will by thine be done.
This was his prayer throughout his life – at least throughout his life in ministry: “Not me, he said, you, Father.”
In John 6:38 Jesus said it this way:
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”
So, it is interesting that in this case Jesus asks his Father if he was willing to let the cup pass. It’s heart rendering, isn’t it? In so many ways.
First, if everything is predestined to occur (as it is predestined to occur) then why would Jesus even ask? And if Jesus knew everything in his flesh, and he knew what the answer had to be, why would he ask?
Obviously, Jesus of Nazareth had a human will covering or interfering with “God in him,” and it was reasoning and wondering was if he really had to go through what was coming down pike.
I think this is a really important side to our Lord and King, one that we, as believers, may experience when faced with trials and difficulties.
We also wonder what His father was undergoing at this point?
Was he stoic and callous and indifferent to what a mortal, albeit his son was about to endure because he knew the end story? Or was he wrought with anguish and pain knowing the same but not being able to stop it?
We think we understand things about his suffering and death and how he and God were responding to it all, but I don’t think we have any idea. Not any idea at all.
I think it is way way out from our purview. Verse 43
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
In the moment Jesus appears to question what he was about to do, His Father sent and angel to him to strengthen him.
In Mormon theology, Jesus was paying for sin in the Garden of Gethsemane and merely gave his mortal life up on the cross.
To them, this was a “one=two” combination called the atonement, a word made up around the 17th century by taking the English words “at-onen” and creating at-one or atone.
The word, while used in Bible translations is nowhere to be found in the Hebrew or Greek texts but was superimposed later by scholars.
In biblical Christianity, Jesus atoned for sin and shed his blood on the cross alone so the word is synonymous with crucifixion.
And what was happening in the Gethsemane was spiritual warfare, pressure, and a Satanic challenge to his “final resolve to sacrifice himself ultimately for the sins of the world.”
There are a couple of insights that help justify the biblical perspective over the LDS.
The angel being sent to strengthen him was one of them. The reason this is key is because in his time of excruciating pain we read of no angels assisting him in his payment – it was all on him – to subsidize his agony would be to mitigate his offering and place it in the hands of other beings too.
His lone suffering reached its pinnacle when he cries, “My God why have you abandoned me?” proving he was alone.
The angel in the Garden as pre-atonement support. A defensive lineman to assist him in his choice and determination to get through the temptation to abandon it and to turn from Calvary.
Once he overcame the temptation to run or whatever with the help of an angel, his face was set and he was ready to start and then complete his propitiation for sin.
We know that his actual atonement was not yet underway at this point because once they were outside Gethsemane, and Peter started lopping off ears, Jesus said to him
John 18:11 Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
The implication being that it still loomed out ahead of him and Peter was impeding his partaking of it, which means it was not yet consumed or drank.
Add in that the Bible repeatedly speaks of the blood and the cross as the place of atonement, and nowhere includes Gethsemane, I think we can place Gethsemane as a place of temptation and the cross as the place of atonement.
That being said, however, what Luke says next adds to the mystique of the LDS interpretation. (verse 44)
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
The word agony is taken from the anxiety, fear, effort, and strong emotion that the wrestlers in the Greek games faced when they were competing in the arena.
So, he was under great pressure, which is why some believe that the best definition of Gethsemane is “olive press.”
Under this pressure, this immense pressure of going forth to undergo what he was about to undergo, all the weight of this act was bearing down upon him, all the anxiety, all the doubt, all the reality of his offering, and what it would require, was upon him, along with all the darkness of the universe, it seems, crying out for him to do as His flesh wanted and not what his Father wanted. And Luke, the physician, writes that
being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
The literal translation of this passage reads:
(YLT) and having been in agony, he was more earnestly praying, and his sweat became, as it were, great drops of blood falling upon the ground.
However, an amazingly enough, the Revised version takes the passage out all together.
What gives? Let’s provide ourselves with a little refresher – which I have laid out on the white board:
There are three major categories of New Testament Manuscripts:
The Textus Receptus (Latin: “received text”) which is the name subsequently given to the succession of printed Greek texts of the New Testament which was first collated by Desiderius Erasmus in the 16th century. It constituted the “translational base” for the translation of the New Testament into English by William Tyndale, and the King James Version, and then most other Reformation-era New Testament translations throughout Western and Central Europe.
The Majority Text represents what is called the Byzantine text-type which was used in Eastern Greek speaking churches and was dominant from the late middle ages onwards. It is similar to the Textus Receptus.
These two texts are best known for being the most prevalent.
Then we have what is called The modern Critical Text (commonly called the Novum Testamentum Graece or the Nestle-Aland) which is very close to the Alexandrian text-type, and accounts for some of the earliest New Testament manuscripts.
It is the text used to create most modern English translations of the New Testament including the American Standard Version, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, English Standard Version, and others.
So again, this text is known for being older than the majority text but there are not as many mss to support it.
So all of that is to say that the oldest manuscripts do NOT include this passage in Luke and that is why the Revised Standard Version of the Bible does not include it.
If the passage was not a later addition ( as the Nestle Aland maintains) and the passage is legit, then the phrase, “great drops of blood” does not mean drops gently falling on the ground, but rather thick masses of gore mixed with sweat and dropping to the ground.
It has been doubted by some whether Luke meant to say that there was actually blood in this sweat or if the sweat only appeared to be like great drops of blood.
Because bloody sweats are not unheard of in people who are undergoing extreme suffering (they are even mentioned by Aristotle) it is entirely possible this was the case with the Lord.
And because blood was being shed in this case (if the passage is legit) the LDS suggest that this was the place of real atonement.
And if it was the case, we do not know the cause (exactly). The scripture is silent on the matter and therefore the door for conjecture wide open.
I believe it is entirely possible for Jesus to have sweat blood, as my Mom literally wiped sweat blood off the forehead of her friend dying of cancer when I was a kid and came home and told us about it, but I am inclined to go with the Critical Text on this one and believe that the passage was added later even though Luke, as a physician, might have included such an insight.
Matthew’s account has the Lord exclaim to the three apostles that his soul was “very heavy,” (meaning very sorrowful) and that this sorrow was even unto death – so he asked them to tarry and watch with him.
While Gethsemane is not mentioned as a place for atonement for sin, it was certainly a place of trial and tremendous personal suffering for the Lord.
We can only guess what was actually happening there as the scripture does not directly say.
Perhaps it was part of his passion, just like his whole life was part of what He did for us. What is clear is the Garden suffering was not the place where Satan was defeated, and sin was propitiated. That was only the cross as scripture plainly states. (verse 45)
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
The gospel accounts all record various orders of events with Luke mentioning Jesus coming and finding them sleeping only once and asking why?
Because the others explain in more detail his return to them several times and asking for them to remain alert I take this as the case. At this point in Luke’s account Matthew says
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
In Luke’s account, we read that at this point Judas has finally found the opportunity to betray the Master – and so we read:
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
So, while he spoke to his disciples, a multitude shows up “and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.”
We know from other accounts that this was a mass of men with swords and staves who worked at temple guards for the Sanhedrim.
Who was leading the pack? Judas. Last verse of the day:
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
Of all the names and titles that Jesus could have used to describe himself here to Judas, he chose “the Son of man.”
In scripture it was a title that referenced man in his weakness and frailty (Job 25:6; Psalm 8:4; 144:3; 146:3; Isaiah 51:12)
It was also a title frequently given to the prophet Ezekiel probably to remind him of his human weakness.
But in the Apostolic Record it is used forty-three times as a distinctive title of Jesus – usually used by him.
In the Old Testament it is used only in Psalm 80:17 and Daniel 7:13 (in reference to Him) and it always seems to speak of the true humanity of our Lord who possessed an actual body (Hebrews 2:14; Luke 24:39) and a rational soul.
Jesus could have said to Judas, “Son of God” in this place but instead he chose to refer to his humility rather than his heavenly power.
Judas had had all sorts of evidence that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Ironically, which Jesus points out, he chose to betray the Son of Man with a hypocritical kiss, our greatest sign of affection.
It appears that Judas hoped to conceal what was actually being done there through the kiss, but Jesus being the Truth straight-up calls him out and his act of betrayal as coming forward through this hypocritical kiss -as if to say:
You are going to betray me, the Son of Man, with a sign of friendship and affection?
Jesus, the Word made flesh, presented Judas with some of the most condemning words imaginable and they certainly must have stuck in his heart from that moment on.
We’ll end here.
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