Waldenstrom's Commentary

translated by Tommy Carlson

Dr. Paul Peter Waldenström based his comments on a Greek New Testament text that he translated into Swedish. Tommy Carlson has translated both the Biblical text and Waldenström’s comments from the Swedish text, 2nd Edition, 1892.

Verse 39 — And¹ when he had come out,² he went as was his usual custom to the Mount of Olives and with him followed the disciples.

1. Compare 22:39-46 to Matthew 26:30, 36-46; Mark 14:26, 32-42; John 18:1. Matthew gives the most complete story of Jesus suffering in Gethsemane. Luke is very brief. He does not mention Gethsemane, does not say anything about Jesus taking Peter, John, and James with him, and says nothing about the prayer he repeated three times. However, the story about the appearance of the angel before Jesus as well as the sweat drops of blood are peculiar to Luke.
2. From the house where they were.

Verse 40 — But when he had come to the place,¹ he said to them: “Pray that you may not be led into temptation.”

1. The usual place, that is to say, Gethsemane.

Verse 41 — And he himself was torn away¹ from them about a stone’s throw,² and after he had fallen on his knees,³ he prayed,

1. In the original text the expression is specially selected. He was pulled or torn from his disciples by the intense anguish in his soul, in order to be alone for awhile.
2. In other words, not so far that his disciples were unable to hear his cries of prayer.
3. According to Matthew 26:39 he fell on his face.

Verse 42 — Saying: “Father, if you want to, take this cup away¹ from me² — yet, not my will, but yours must be!”

1. Verbatim: If you want to, take this cup away from me.
2. The Lord should add: DO IT. But he breaks off the sentence and instead leaves everything in God’s good pleasure. Another manuscript reads: “Father, if you want, take this cup away from me.”

Verse 43 — But before him was a vision of an angel from heaven to give him strength.¹

1. Giving him strength to endure the bitter struggle. So deep was the degradation to be, that he, who was the Lord of heaven and earth, needed to be strengthened through a created being.

Verse 44 — And his soul was filled with anguish and he prayed (even) more anxiously,¹ and his sweat was like clumps² of blood that fell down³ on the ground; (See John 12:27 and Hebrews 5:7.)

1. The appearance of the angel did not end his anguish, it merely strengthened him. The increased strength was now felt in the intensity in the praying.
2. The Greek word that is used in the original text does not mean DROPS but rather CLUMPS. It does not say that the Lord’s sweat was blood, but that it was LIKE clumps of blood.
3. It must be noted the authenticity of verses 43 and 44 is disputed. Witness for their authenticity is still predominant.

Verse 45 — and when he stood up from praying and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping from the grief.¹

1. Severe and long grief is so tiring to a person that finally the person falls asleep.

Verse 46 — And he said to them: “Why do you sleep? Stand up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”