Luke 22 39

Luke 22:39 kjv

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

Luke 22:39 nkjv

Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.

Luke 22:39 niv

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

Luke 22:39 esv

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.

Luke 22:39 nlt

Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.

Luke 22 verses

Luke 22 39 Meaning

Luke 22:39 describes Jesus' customary departure from the city to the Mount of Olives, a familiar place of retreat, with His disciples accompanying Him. This act sets the immediate scene for His final fervent prayer in Gethsemane before His arrest, emphasizing His regular spiritual discipline even in the face of immense distress.

Luke 22 39 Context

Luke 22:39 follows Jesus instituting the Last Supper and foretelling His betrayal and Peter's denial. It immediately precedes His profound agony and prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and His subsequent arrest. The entire chapter outlines the unfolding events of Jesus' passion, beginning with the conspiracy to betray Him, leading to His ultimate sacrifice. This verse signifies Jesus' final preparation and spiritual resolve, drawing upon a long-established pattern of seeking divine communion at a familiar and significant location outside the city's turmoil. It marks a transition from the upper room discourse to the intense spiritual battle in the garden.

Luke 22 39 Word analysis

• "And he came out" (Greek: ἐξῆλθεν, exēlthen): This indicates Jesus' physical departure from the upper room within the city walls of Jerusalem where the Last Supper had concluded. It signifies a move from the intimate setting to the solitude needed for spiritual preparation, marking a transition towards His hour of trial.
• "and proceeded" (Greek: ἐπορεύετο, eporeueto): This imperfect tense verb portrays a continuous, deliberate movement. It conveys Jesus' calm and resolute progression towards His destination, emphasizing His purposeful action rather than haste or confusion, even in the face of imminent suffering.
• "as was his custom" (Greek: κατὰ τὸ ἔθος αὐτοῦ, kata to ethos autou): This phrase is highly significant, denoting an established habit, a deeply ingrained practice. Luke often highlights Jesus' consistent prayer life. This points to Jesus' spiritual discipline; His act of seeking solitude for prayer was not an impromptu decision but a regular, sustained part of His life, even in extreme duress (cf. Lk 21:37). It underscores His reliance on God the Father.
• "to the Mount of Olives" (Greek: εἰς τὸ Ὄρος τῶν Ἐλαιῶν, eis to Oros tōn Elaiōn): This is a specific ridge east of Jerusalem, rich in biblical and prophetic significance.
  • It served as a location for significant prophetic pronouncements, including Jesus' own Olivet Discourse (Mt 24; Mk 13; Lk 21).
  • It held historical echoes of King David's distressed flight (2 Sam 15:30).
  • It was a customary place for Jesus to teach, rest, and pray, providing solitude near the bustling city. Gethsemane, the garden of His agony, lies on its lower slopes.
  • It is prophetically linked to His Second Coming (Zech 14:4; Acts 1:11-12).
• "and the disciples followed him" (Greek: ἠκολούθησαν δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ οἱ μαθηταί, ēkolouthēsan de autō kai hoi mathētai): The disciples' presence signifies their immediate, albeit temporary, accompaniment. They are present as witnesses to the events leading to Gethsemane, though they will soon struggle with their faith and commitment. Their following marks the beginning of their journey through the events of Jesus' passion.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And he came out and proceeded as was his custom": This phrase underscores Jesus' consistent and disciplined spiritual life. It reveals that even at His most critical hour, He did not deviate from His established practice of seeking divine communion and strength. This acts as a profound example of steadfast faith and reliance on the Father under extreme pressure. It portrays Jesus not as a passive victim but as an active agent moving toward His divine destiny with unwavering commitment rooted in habitual prayer.
• "to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him": This section establishes the profound physical and symbolic setting for the approaching climax of Jesus' earthly ministry, alongside the immediate witnesses. The Mount of Olives, known to be a place of both tranquil retreat and prophetic significance for Jesus, becomes the hallowed ground for His final agonizing prayer. The disciples' presence highlights their initial commitment to remain with Him, setting the stage for the stark contrast between Jesus' resolve and their impending spiritual weakness and desertion, demonstrating the profound gravity of the events about to unfold.

Luke 22 39 Bonus section

Luke's unique emphasis on Jesus' prayer life throughout his Gospel is distinctly reinforced by "as was His custom" (Lk 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28; 11:1). This habit points not only to a personal devotional life but to Jesus' foundational reliance on the Father as a consistent pattern, offering a model for discipleship. The Mount of Olives serves as more than just a geographic location; it is a sacred space of profound encounter. Jesus' return there carries a deep, prophetic resonance, reminiscent of significant moments of anguish and expectation in Israel's history. This journey from the Last Supper to Olivet, before Gethsemane, maps the progression of Jesus' active self-sacrifice, highlighting His intentional steps toward His preordained suffering for humanity's redemption.

Luke 22 39 Commentary

Luke 22:39 is a concise yet profound statement, portraying Jesus' unwavering commitment to His spiritual disciplines even as He approached the peak of His redemptive mission. "As was His custom" underscores His established pattern of seeking God, especially in solitude on the Mount of Olives. This habitual prayer life, even moments before His ultimate trial in Gethsemane, demonstrates profound spiritual integrity and absolute dependence on the Father's will. The disciples' accompaniment signifies their lingering presence, serving as silent witnesses to Jesus' deliberate journey toward His suffering. This verse perfectly sets the scene for the agonizing prayer, highlighting Jesus' divine discipline and His readiness to embrace the cross through unwavering communion with God.

Examples:

• This verse teaches us the critical importance of maintaining spiritual disciplines (like prayer) consistently, especially during challenging times.
• It highlights Jesus as the ultimate example of depending on God for strength, rather than relying on self, even in the face of immense suffering.
• It encourages finding and utilizing specific places for spiritual retreat and communion with God.