Matthew 26 42

Matthew 26:42 kjv

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Matthew 26:42 nkjv

Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done."

Matthew 26:42 niv

He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

Matthew 26:42 esv

Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done."

Matthew 26:42 nlt

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done."

Matthew 26 verses

Matthew 26 42 Meaning

Matthew 26:42 presents Jesus' second Gethsemane prayer, revealing His perfect humanity experiencing profound anguish, yet fully committing to His divine mission. Despite the immense suffering represented by "this cup," Jesus wholly submits to the Father's will, demonstrating profound trust and obedience essential for the salvation plan. This prayer underscores the absolute necessity of His atoning sacrifice.

Matthew 26 42 Context

Matthew 26:42 is situated in the Garden of Gethsemane, shortly before Jesus' arrest. Following the Last Supper and prophecy of His disciples' desertion, Jesus withdrew to pray. His soul was "very sorrowful, even to death" (Mt 26:38). This is His second prayer in a series of three, emphasizing His intense agony as He contemplated the horrific suffering and divine wrath associated with bearing the world's sin. His disciples, repeatedly warned to watch and pray, continue to fall asleep, highlighting the contrast between their human weakness and His perfect steadfastness in the face of immense spiritual and emotional burden. The "cup" symbolically represents the full measure of divine judgment and suffering that He must endure for humanity's redemption.

Matthew 26 42 Word analysis

• Again (πάλιν, palin): Indicates repetition. This prayer follows His first plea (Mt 26:39), emphasizing His persistent and wrestling prayer in agony, but also His unyielding determination to align with the Father.

• a second time (ἐκ δευτέρου, ek deuterou): Reinforces the "again" and the structured progression of His prayers. It underscores His continued pursuit of divine will, demonstrating perseverance and dedication despite deep distress.

• he went away (ἀπῆλθεν, apelthen): Signifies a deliberate withdrawal from the disciples. He seeks solitude and direct communion with God during His profound inner struggle. This action underscores the intensely personal nature of His agony and submission.

• and prayed (προσηύξατο, proseuxato): A straightforward term for fervent prayer, indicating His active communication and reliance on the Father.

• saying (λέγων, legon): Introduces the exact words of His prayer, conveying the depth of His request and submission.

• My Father (Πάτερ μου, Pater mou): An intimate, personal address, reflecting a unique, deep relationship with God. It speaks of trust, filial affection, and absolute reliance on divine authority, even amidst extreme personal suffering.

• if this cannot pass away (εἰ οὐ δύναται τοῦτο παρελθεῖν, ei ou dunatai touto parelthein): The "if" clause introduces a condition. "Cannot pass away" signifies the absolute necessity of the suffering. There is no alternative path for salvation other than drinking the cup; it is a divine imperative, not merely a preference. "This" refers to the "cup" of suffering mentioned previously.

• unless I drink it (ἐὰν μὴ αὐτὸ πίω, ean mē auto piō): Clearly defines the required action: a complete, personal endurance of the appointed suffering and wrath. "To drink the cup" is an Old Testament metaphor for experiencing divine judgment or severe affliction (e.g., Isa 51:17, Psa 75:8). Jesus acknowledges that His active participation in this suffering is non-negotiable for the divine plan.

• your will be done (γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, genēthētō to thelēma sou): This phrase is the climax of His submission. It is a resolute affirmation, echoing the Lord's Prayer (Mt 6:10). Despite His profound human desire to avoid the "cup," His ultimate priority is complete alignment with God's perfect plan. It is a model of surrender and absolute trust.

• "Again...he went away and prayed, saying...": Highlights the intense, repeated struggle and the persistence of Jesus in seeking the Father's will. It’s not a superficial prayer but a wrestling with human emotion while maintaining divine resolve.

• "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it...": This segment reveals the "way of the cross" as the only path for atonement. It underscores the theological necessity of Christ's suffering and death for humanity's salvation, there was no other possible means of reconciling God and humanity.

• "...your will be done.": This powerful declaration embodies perfect obedience, sacrificial love, and unwavering trust. It is the core message of Gethsemane – Christ's active and willing submission to God's redemptive plan, even to the point of unimaginable suffering and death.

Matthew 26 42 Bonus section

The nature of Jesus' struggle in Gethsemane was not a questioning of the Father's goodness, but the deep-seated horror that His sinless being would become sin on humanity's behalf, and the experience of bearing the full weight of divine wrath against sin. This unique aspect of the "cup" goes beyond mere physical suffering, encompassing the spiritual anguish of separation from the Father as He became the sin offering (2 Cor 5:21). The Greek phrasing, "εἰ οὐ δύναται" (ei ou dunatai), literally meaning "if it is not able" or "if it cannot," implies a definite conclusion reached through divine necessity. This is not Jesus hypothesizing possibility, but affirming an existing, unalterable divine truth: the redemption plan requires His drinking of this cup. His subsequent "Your will be done" is thus an informed and profound declaration of consent and perfect execution of that already established divine imperative.

Matthew 26 42 Commentary

Matthew 26:42 encapsulates the profound paradox of Gethsemane: Jesus' deep humanity wrestling with divine purpose. His prayer moves from an initial plea for an alternative (Mt 26:39) to a resolute acceptance of God's non-negotiable plan. The phrase "if this cannot pass away unless I drink it" affirms the singular necessity of the cross for human salvation. There was no alternative means for redemption. This was not a moment of changing God's will but aligning with it completely, demonstrating His perfect obedience even unto death (Phil 2:8). Jesus consciously chooses the path of utmost suffering to fulfill the Father's saving design. His Gethsemane prayers reveal that His death was not a passive fate but an active, willed act of self-sacrifice.

• Practical Usage Example: When facing immense personal hardship or a difficult path you know is God's will, recall Jesus' Gethsemane prayer: "Your will be done." It encourages surrender and trust in God's perfect plan, even when it demands great personal cost.