Matthew 26:39 (WEB)
He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
Catechism · 3
The Seven Petitions
“It is by his prayer that Jesus vanquishes the tempter, both at the outset of his public mission and in the ultimate struggle of his agony.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 4:1-11; 26:36-44.
The Mysteries of Christ's Life
“Already he is coming to "fulfil all righteousness", that is, he is submitting himself entirely to his Father's will: out of love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins.” — Catechism footnote: Mt 3:15; cf. 26:39.
Jesus Died Crucified
“Jesus prays: "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. . ."” — Catechism footnote: Phil 2:8; Mt 26:39; cf. Heb 5:7-8.
Fathers and councils · 66
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus II.24Book II
“…he mourn, and lament, and pray to escape the fear of death, expressing himself in terms like these: ‘O Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me?’”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
Read the whole comment - Origen, Against Celsus VII.55Book VII
“…it was in cowardly weakness that He uttered the words: “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
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Irenaeus of Lyons
“Her anguish, again, was indicated when He said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death;” her fear by the words, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me;” and her perplexity, too, when He said, “And what I shall say, I know not.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
- Athanasius of Alexandria, Against the Arians III.6Discourse III
“Chapter XXIX.—Texts Explained; Twelfthly, Matthew xxvi. 39; John xii. 27, &c. Arian inferences are against the Regula Fidei, as before.” — the author cites it
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Jerome
“Matt. xxvi. 39.” — the author cites it
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John Damascene
“So, indeed, He said before His saving passion, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me,” manifestly as though He were to drink the cup as man and not as God.” — editor's note: St. Matt. xxvi. 39; St. Luke xxii. 22.
Read the whole comment“Again, when he said, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: yet, not as I will but as Thou wilt, is it not clear to all that He said this as a lesson to us to ask help in our trials only from God, and to prefer God’s will to our own, and as a proof that…” — editor's note: St. Matt. xxvi. 39.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X IX.17Conference IX
“For He made use of the class of supplication when He said: “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;” or this which is chanted in His Person in the Psalm: “My God, My God, look upon Me, why hast Thou forsaken me,” and others like it.” — editor's note: S. Matt. xxvi. 39; Ps. xxi. (xxii.) 2.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences I–X IX.34Conference IX
“…prayer as other things also by His example; saying thus: “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will but as Thou wilt,” though certainly His will was not discordant with His Father’s will, “For He had come to save what was lost and to give His life a ransom for many;” as He…” — editor's note: S. Matt. xxvi. 39.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XI–XVII XVI.6Conference XVI
“…or disapproving his discoveries, and fulfilling in the humility of a pious heart these words from the Gospel: “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xxvi. 39.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.23Conference XXIV
“…the example of our Saviour, seeks to do not his own will, but the Father’s, as He says Himself to His Father: “Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt”?” — editor's note: S. Matt. xxvi. 39.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.26Conference XXIV
“And therefore our Lord and Saviour, to give us an example of giving up our own wills, says: “I came not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me;” and again: “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”” — editor's note: S. John vi. 38; S. Matt. xxvi. 39.
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Tertullian
“He also asked of His Father, that if it might be, the cup of suffering should pass from Him.” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
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Justin Martyr
“For on the day on which He was to be crucified, having taken three of His disciples to the hill called Olivet, situated opposite to the temple in Jerusalem, He prayed in these words: ‘Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.’” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“…Father, by the help of all their familiar arguments and citations from the divine Scripture of the text “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” and that other, “Now is my soul troubled” and other like passages, how would you dispose of his objections?” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39
Read the whole comment“Of the same from his discourse on “If it be possible let this cup pass from me”:—” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39
Read the whole comment“…the natures, and to God the Word are applied the words “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me;” and “Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me,” the hunger, the thirst, and the strengthening by an angel; His saying “Now is my soul troubled,” and “my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death,” and all…” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39
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Ambrose of Milan
““It is written,” say they: “‘My Father, if it be possible, take away this cup from Me.’” — editor's note: S. Matt. xxvi. 39 ff.; xiv. 35 ff.; S. Luke xxii. 41 ff..
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Augustine of Hippo
“For unknown to himself every one is before the questioning of temptation: just as of himself Peter in his confidence was ignorant, and by denying learned what kind of powers he had, in his very stumbling he perceived that it was falsely he had been…” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 35–69.
Read the whole comment“Was He not figuring thyself in Himself, when He was saying, “Father, if it be possible, let there pass from Me this cup”?” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
Read the whole comment“Matthew then proceeds with his narrative in the same connection as follows: “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 36–46.
Read the whole comment“According to the form of God, “As the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself;” according to the form of a servant, His “soul is sorrowful even unto death;” and, “O my Father,” He says, “if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 38, 39
Read the whole comment“…we thus understand that cup of which He says, “Can ye drink of the cup that I shall drink of?” and, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,” by which He obviously means His passion.” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
Read the whole comment“…assumed the infirmity of man, to teach him, when thereby saddened and troubled, to say what follows: “Nevertheless, Father, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 38, 39.
Read the whole comment“For the words that we read of Him as uttering on the eve of His passion, “Yet not, Father, as I will, but as Thou wilt,” as if the Father has or had one will, and the Son another, are the echo of our infirmity, however faith-pervaded, which our Head transfigured in His own person, when He likewise bare our iniquities.” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
Read the whole comment“…our consolation the Saviour Himself transfigured also the same feeling in His own person when He said, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;” and He certainly had come to die without having any necessity, but only the willingness to die, with power to lay down His life, and with power to take it…” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
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John Chrysostom
“And was it for this cause that He was “exceeding sorrowful, and said, If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me”? ( Matt. xxvi. 38, 39.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“And when He said, “If it be possible, let the cup pass from me,”and suffered pain, and was in agony, nevertheless He shunned not the end, but underwent it, and that with its whole course of exceeding woe.” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
Read the whole comment“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39–41. [The first part of verse 39 is abridged, and in 40“them” is substituted for “the disciples.” The remainder of the passage is in verbal…
Read the whole comment“And a little while before He had said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death,” and, “Father, let the cup pass from me;”and He had appeared in an agony and sweating, and strengthened by an angel.” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 38, 39.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“And further, the Lord, setting forth the infirmity of the humanity which He bore, says, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;” and affording an example to His disciples that they should do not their own will, but God’s, He went on to say, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
Read the whole comment“Of this same matter, according to Matthew: “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what Thou wilt.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
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Hilary of Poitiers
“…crushing fear of an impending woe, Who under the pressure of suffering even humbled Himself to pray, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from Me, and assuredly bore the appearance of fearing to endure the trials from which He prayed for release; Whose whole nature was so overwhelmed by agony that in…” — editor's note: Ib. 39.
Read the whole comment“These impious assertions are based on the words, My soul is sorrowful even unto death, and “Father if it be possible let this cup pass away from Me”, and also, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? to which they also add, Father into Thy hands I commend My Spirit.” — editor's note: Ib. 39.
Read the whole comment“I am not come to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me: and again, Therefore hath the Father loved Me because I do all things that are pleasing unto Him: and, Father, Thy will be done.” — editor's note: Cf. St. Matt. xxvi. 39, 42; St. Mark xiv. 36; St. Luke xxii. 42.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“For we understand in the same way the words, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; Nevertheless let not what I will but Thy Will prevail.” — editor's note: Matt. xxvi. 39.
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Leo the Great
“…of the dumb shall be plain;” Jesus knowing that the time was now come for the fulfilment of His glorious Passion, said, “My soul is sorrowful even unto death;” and again, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xxvi. 38, 39.
Read the whole comment“…become one and remain undivided to the Redeemer’s glory, and adding lastly that prayer in which He says, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xxvi. 39.
Read the whole comment“For when the Passion was beginning, to cure and correct our weak fear He had said, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will but as Thou;” and again, “Father, if this cup cannot pass except I drink it, Thy will be done.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. xxvi. 39, 42.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
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…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
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.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Then again considering the benefit that would accrue to the whole world from His Passion, He says, “But not as I will, but as thou wilt;” i.e. If it be possible for all these benefits which shall result from My…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
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…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Otherwise; He says not, Let this cup pass away from Me, for that would be the speech of one who feared it; but He prays that it may pass not so as that He should be passed over, but that when it has passed from Him,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Christ thus as man shews a certain private human will, in which He who is our head figures both His own will and ours when He says, “Let it pass from me.” For this was His human will choosing something as apart for…
Read the whole comment - Leo the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
This speech of the Head is the health of the whole body, this saying is instruction to the faithful, animates the confessor, crowns the martyr. For who could vanquish the hatred of the world, or the whirlwind of…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
And though Jesus went but a “little forward,” they could not watch one hour in His absence; let us therefore pray that Jesus may never depart even a little from us.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He “finds them sleeping,” both because it was a late hour of the night, and their eyes were heavy with sorrow.
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
When then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping, He rebukes Peter, “Could ye not watch one hour with me?” He addresses Peter rather than the rest, because be had most loudly boasted that he would not…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But as they had all said the same, He charges them all with weakness; they had chosen to die with Christ, and yet could not even watch with Him.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Finding them thus sleeping, He rouses them with a word to hearken, and commands them to watch; “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation;” that first we should watch, and so watching pray. He watches who…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is impossible that the human mind should not be tempted, therefore He says not “Watch and pray” that ye be not tempted, but “that ye enter not into temptation,” that is, that temptation vanquish you not.
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
And why He thus encouraged them to pray that they might not enter into temptation, He adds, “For the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak;” this He says not of Himself, but addresses them.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
This is against those rash persons who think that whatever they believe they can perform. The more confident we are of our zeal, the more mistrustful should we be of the frailty of the flesh.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Here it should be enquired, whether as all men’s flesh is weak, so all men’s spirit is willing, or whether only that of the saints; and whether in unbelievers the spirit is not also dull, as the flesh is weak. In…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Otherwise; In these words He shews that He took real flesh of the Virgin, and had a real soul, saying that His spirit is willing to suffer, but His flesh weak in fearing the pain of Passion.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
There were, I conclude, two ways in which this cup of Passion might pass from the Lord. If He should drink it, it would pass away from Him, and afterwards from the whole race of mankind also; if He should not drink…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
That He prays for this a second and a third time, comes of the feelings belonging to human frailty, through which also He feared death, thus giving assurance that He was truly made man. For in Scripture when any…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or otherwise; He prays a second time that if Nineveh, or the Gentile world, cannot be saved unless the gourd, i.e. the Jews, be withered, His Father’s will may be done, which is not contrary to the Son’s will, who…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Otherwise, He bare in His own body all the infirmities of us His disciples who should suffer, and nailed to His cross all wherein we are distressed; and therefore that cup cannot pass from Him, unless He drink it,…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Christ singly prays for all, as He singly suffers for all. “Their eyes were heavy,” i.e. an oppression and stupefaction came on as their denial drew near.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
And I suppose that the eyes of their body were not so much affected as the eyes of their mind, because the Spirit was not yet given them. Wherefore He does not rebuke them, but goes again and prays, teaching us that…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
He prayed the third time, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be established.
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, The Lord prayed thrice, to teach us to pray for pardon of sins past, defence against present evil, and provision against future perils, and that we should address every prayer to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Nor is that an absurd interpretation which makes Our Lord pray thrice because of the threefold temptation of His Passion. To the temptation of curiosity is opposed the fear of death; for as the one is a yearning for…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, He prays thrice for the Apostles, and for Peter in particular, who was to deny Him thrice.
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Cross-references · 49
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 54.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith III.24.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith III.18.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 54.
Cited together in Catechism §612.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith III.18.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 54.
Cited together in Catechism §612.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith III.18 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Catechism §612.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.20 and 2 other places.
Cited together in Conferences I–X IX.17.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith III.24 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 58.
Cited together in Conferences I–X IX.17.
Cited together in Catechism §612.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith III.18.
Cited together in The City of God XVI.2.
Cited together in The City of God XVI.2.
Cited together in The City of God XVI.2.
Cited together in Catechism §612.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.20.
Cited together in Catechism §612.
Cited together in John Chrysostom on Matthew 26:39–44 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 54.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 54.
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 26:39–44 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 58.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 58.
Cited together in The City of God XVI.2.
Cited together in The City of God XVI.2.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 54.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 54.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith III.18.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Catechism §536.
Cited together in Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.26.
Cited together in Catechism §536 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.20.
Cited together in The City of God XVI.2.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 54.
Cited together in The City of God XVI.2.