Matthew 26 36

Matthew 26:36 kjv

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Matthew 26:36 nkjv

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there."

Matthew 26:36 niv

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

Matthew 26:36 esv

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray."

Matthew 26:36 nlt

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go over there to pray."

Matthew 26 verses

Matthew 26 36 Meaning

Matthew 26:36 describes Jesus' arrival with His disciples at a significant place named Gethsemane, immediately following the Last Supper and the prophetic declarations made there. Upon reaching Gethsemane, Jesus instructs His disciples to remain at that spot while He withdraws to pray in a separate, more solitary area. This verse marks the profound transition from the Upper Room teachings and the Passover observance to the agonizing and pivotal event of Jesus' prayer in the garden, foreshadowing the impending suffering and crucifixion.

Matthew 26 36 Context

Matthew 26:36 unfolds immediately after Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper, identifies His betrayer, and predicts Peter's denial and the scattering of the disciples. The setting has moved from the Upper Room in Jerusalem, where the solemn Passover meal transitioned into the new covenant meal, across the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives. It signifies the commencement of Jesus' ultimate suffering and betrayal. This entire passage (Matt 26:36-46) sets the scene for Gethsemane as the crucible where Jesus' human will is utterly submitted to the divine will, demonstrating perfect obedience in the face of excruciating spiritual anguish. It also marks a deepening separation between Jesus and His disciples, as He moves from their immediate company for His solitary prayer.

Matthew 26 36 Word analysis

• Then (Τότε - Tote): A transitional adverb, indicating a sequence of events. It connects the supper and teachings to the next crucial phase, marking a shift from fellowship and instruction to the beginning of the Passion.
• Jesus went (ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς - erchetai ho Iēsous): The use of the historic present tense makes the narrative vivid and immediate, drawing the reader into the action as if it is happening now. It emphasizes Jesus as the primary actor, purposefully initiating this next step.
• with them (μετ’ αὐτῶν - met' autōn): Refers to His eleven faithful disciples (Judas having departed). This indicates their physical proximity and the continued presence of a believing remnant, although they will later fail to stay awake.
• to a place (εἰς χωρίον - eis chōrion): Refers to an enclosed plot of land or estate. It suggests a known, perhaps semi-private, location frequently visited.
• called Gethsemane (λεγόμενον Γεθσημανῆ - legomenon Gethsēmanē): From the Aramaic Gat Šmānîm, meaning "oil press." This name is deeply symbolic, foreshadowing the immense "pressing" and crushing suffering Jesus would endure here—His sweat like drops of blood, the struggle with His Father's will, and the weight of sin before His arrest. It was likely an olive grove with an olive press at the foot of the Mount of Olives, a familiar spot to Jesus.
• and he told (καὶ λέγει - kai legei): Again, the historic present, creating immediacy. Jesus takes the initiative to give a clear command and statement of His purpose.
• his disciples (τοῖς μαθηταῖς - tois mathētais): All who were with Him, distinct from the larger group who had previously followed. Soon, only Peter, James, and John will be taken further, then even they will be left.
• Sit here (Καθίσατε αὐτοῦ - Kathisate autou): An imperative command, indicating His authority even in His vulnerable state. It establishes a specific boundary and place for them to wait, underscoring His need for private, concentrated prayer.
• while I go over there and pray (ἕως οὗ προσεύξωμαι ἐκεῖ - heōs hou proseuxōmai ekei): This phrase highlights Jesus' immediate intention and profound spiritual need. "Go over there" (ekei) denotes a distinct separation and distance from the disciples, emphasizing the solitude Jesus sought for this intense period of communion with the Father. "Pray" (proseuxōmai) underlines His primary purpose, a deep spiritual struggle to submit fully to the Father's will.
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane": This phrase marks the critical movement from the Last Supper's intimacy to the impending agony. The transition to Gethsemane sets the stage for the true human and divine struggle.
  • "and he told his disciples, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray'": This establishes Jesus' clear instruction and the initial separation for prayer. It signifies Jesus’ human need for spiritual preparation and dependence on the Father before His ultimate sacrifice, yet it is a command from Him as their Lord. The request to 'sit here' also hints at their limited capacity to partake in His unique spiritual agony.

Matthew 26 36 Bonus section

The journey to Gethsemane, typically across the Kidron Valley, would have meant descending and then ascending the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives. This topographic change subtly mirrors the spiritual descent into agony and the ascent towards divine purpose and sacrifice. Furthermore, the Mount of Olives was not just an olive grove but also the expected place for the Messiah's return (Zec 14:4), creating a powerful tension between Jesus' current profound suffering and His future glorious return, tying His humble prayer to His cosmic triumph. Some traditions indicate that Gethsemane was a place Jesus often visited (Jn 18:2), emphasizing His choice of a familiar, solitary, yet poignant location for His ultimate test.

Matthew 26 36 Commentary

Matthew 26:36 sets the stage for Jesus' deepest personal agony before His crucifixion. Arriving at Gethsemane, an "oil press," immediately symbolizes the intense spiritual and emotional crushing He is about to undergo for humanity's sins. Jesus, who regularly sought solitary prayer, demonstrates His unwavering reliance on His Father, especially in this moment of extreme vulnerability and the culmination of His earthly ministry. By instructing His disciples to "sit here" while He goes "over there to pray," Jesus signals a profound and necessary solitude for the unique struggle He faces—a spiritual battle that the disciples, in their human weakness, are not yet equipped to comprehend or participate in fully. This moment highlights Jesus' profound humanity, His absolute obedience to the Father's will even unto death, and the weight of divine wrath He was about to endure for the world's redemption. It is the antechamber to the cross, where submission triumphs over self-will.