Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 26:43
And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
Verse 43. Their eyes were heavy.] That is, they could not keep them open. Was there nothing preternatural in this? Was there no influence here from the powers of darkness?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And he came and found them asleep again,…. For they were aroused and awaked, in some measure, by what he had said to them; but no sooner was he gone but they fell asleep again, and thus he found them a second time; or, “he came again and found them asleep”; so read the Vulgate Latin, the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and Munster’s Hebrew Gospel:
for their eyes were heavy; with sleep through fatigue, sorrow, c. Mark adds, “neither wist they what to answer him”, Mr 14:40 they were so very sleepy, they knew not how to speak; or they were so confounded, that he should take them asleep a second time, after they had had such a reproof, and exhortation from him, that they knew not what answer to make him; who probably rebuked them again, or gave them a fresh exhortation.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For their eyes were heavy ( ). Past perfect passive indicative periphrastic. Their eyes had been weighted down with sleep and still were as they had been on the Mount of Transfiguration (Lu 9:32).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
43. And found them sleeping again. This drowsiness arose neither from excessive eating and drinking, nor from gross stupidity, nor even from effeminate indulgence of the flesh, but rather—as Luke tells us—from immoderate sorrow. Hence we perceive more clearly how strong is the tendency of our flesh to indifference; since even dangers lead us to forgetfulness of God. Thus on every hand Satan finds suitable and ready opportunities of spreading his snares for us. For if we dread no danger, he intoxicates and drowns us in sleep; and if we experience fear and sorrow, which ought to arouse us to pray, he overwhelms our senses, so that they do not rise to God; and thus, in every respect, men fall away and forsake God, till he restores them. We must observe also this circumstance, that the disciples, after having been sharply reproved, almost at that very moment fall again asleep. Nor is this said of the whole body, but of the three whom Christ had selected to be his chief companions; and what shall we say of the greater number, when this happened to the flower of them? Now the repetition of the same words was not a vain repetition, ( βατταλογία ) which Christ formerly condemned in hypocrites, (Mat 6:7) who hope that they will obtain by idle talking what they do not ask honestly and sincerely. (209) But Christ intended to show by his example, that we must not be discouraged or grow weary in praying, if we do not immediately obtain our wishes. So then, it is not a superfluous repetition of the words, if a repulse which we have experienced is so far from extinguishing the ardor of prayer, that we ask a third and fourth time what God appears to have denied.
(209) Harmony, vol. 1, p. 313
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(43) He came and found them asleep again.The motive of this return we may reverently believe to have been, as before, the craving for human sympathy in that hour of awful agony. He does not now rouse them or speak to them. He looks on them sorrowfully, and they meet His gaze with bewildered and stupefied astonishment. They wist not what to answer Him (Mar. 14:40).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.’
And once again He returns to the three and finds them asleep, for their eyes just would not stay open. Their weakness of flesh was constantly overcoming their spirit. (Old age especially brings out this weakness of the flesh when often for some it is impossible to keep awake, which is the origin of the idea of ‘forty winks’. But these were comparatively young men. It should not have been so with them. They have become prematurely old).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
Ver. 43. He came and found them asleep again ] After so sweet an admonition, so sovereign a reproof; who knows how often an infirmity may recur, even after repentance? See it in Samson, in Jonah, in those apostles, for their contention “who should be greatest,” &c.
For their eyes were heavy ] For sorrow (saith St Luke, Luk 22:45 ), which, exhausting the spirits, renders a man more sluggish; and hindering concoction, sends up vapours to the brain, and so causeth sleep. This was somewhat, but not sufficient to excuse them. Christ took them with him into the garden for their society and prayers. But they not only not help him, but wound him by their dulness unto duty, and instead of wiping off his bloody sweat, they draw more out of him. Judas had somewhat else to do now than to sleep, when Peter was fast, and could not hold up. Zechariah the prophet lay under such a like drowsy distemper, Zec 4:1 , for though awaked and set to work, he was even ready to fall asleep at it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
43. ] Mark adds, and it is a note of accuracy, .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 26:43 . : again! surprising, one would say incredible on first thoughts, but not on second. It was late and they were sad, and sadness is soporific.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
43.] Mark adds, and it is a note of accuracy, .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 26:43. , …, for, etc.) The cause of their sleeping a second time [Aetiologia; see Appendix].-, weighed down. Such slothfulness frequently overpowers the godly when it is least becoming.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
for: Pro 23:34, Jon 1:6, Luk 9:32, Act 20:9, Rom 13:1, 1Th 5:6-8
Reciprocal: Jon 1:5 – and was Mat 25:5 – they Mat 26:40 – and findeth Luk 22:45 – sleeping
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:43
The eyes of the disciples were heavy with the fatigue of sorrow.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 26:43. For their eyes were heavy. Drowsiness, not deep sleep, is meant; Mark adds (Mar 14:40): and they knew not what they should answer Him.