Luke 22:36-40: a reflection

36Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a bag. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 37For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ For that which concerns me is being fulfilled.” 38They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” He said to them, “That is enough.” 39He came out and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. 40When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”

As Jesus and his disciples come to the Mount of Olives on the night of his arrest, he gives them a pointed instruction: to pray that they may not enter into temptation. When he was at the place, he said to them, pray that you don't enter into temptation. Knowing that a great trial was coming, and that his disciples would be sorely tempted, Jesus does not tell them merely to try hard or brace themselves; he tells them to pray, to pray specifically that they may not enter into temptation. Prayer is the weapon he gives them against the coming temptation; and their failure to pray, as they slept instead, would leave them unprepared when the trial came. This shows the call to pray against temptation, that we may not fall into it. Pray that you may not enter into temptation. Prayer is our weapon against the temptation that comes. Jesus tells us to pray against temptation, not merely to brace ourselves. Praying against temptation prepares us for the trial.

Notice what Jesus tells the disciples to do in the face of coming temptation: to pray. He knew that a severe trial was about to come upon them, that they would be tempted, tested, shaken. And his instruction is not to rely on their own resolve, to grit their teeth and brace themselves, but to pray, and to pray specifically that they might not enter into temptation. Prayer is the means he gives them to be kept from falling. And we know from the account that they did not pray as he told them; they slept instead, and when the trial came, they fled and, in Peter's case, denied him. Their failure to pray left them unprepared. This teaches us something vital about facing temptation. Our own resolve and willpower are not enough against temptation; we need to pray, to ask God to keep us from entering into temptation, to strengthen us against it. Jesus, who taught us to pray, lead us not into temptation, here directs us to pray against the temptations we face. When we sense temptation coming, or in the ordinary course of our lives where temptation is always near, we do well to pray against it, asking God to keep us from falling, rather than relying only on our own strength. Praying against temptation is how Jesus tells us to prepare for it. Do not rely only on your own resolve; pray against temptation. Ask God to keep you from entering into temptation. Prayer, not willpower alone, prepares us against temptation.

That is worth taking to heart, for Jesus tells us to pray that we may not enter into temptation, so that prayer, not our own resolve alone, is our preparation against it. We can rely on our own willpower against temptation, gritting our teeth and bracing ourselves; but Jesus told his disciples to pray that they might not enter into temptation, and their failure to pray left them unprepared when the trial came. Prayer prepares us. When you face temptation, do not rely only on your own resolve; pray against it, asking God to keep you from falling. Pray that you may not enter into temptation, making prayer your preparation against it rather than relying on your own resolve alone, as Jesus, on the night of his arrest, told his disciples at the Mount of Olives to pray that they might not enter into temptation; for Jesus knew that a severe trial was coming and that his disciples would be sorely tempted, and his instruction was not to grit their teeth and brace themselves but to pray, and to pray specifically that they might not enter into temptation, giving prayer as the means to be kept from falling, and we know that they did not pray as he told them but slept instead, so that when the trial came they fled and denied him, their failure to pray leaving them unprepared, which teaches us something vital, since our own resolve and willpower are not enough against temptation but we need to pray, asking God to keep us from entering into temptation and to strengthen us against it, as Jesus who taught us to pray, lead us not into temptation, here directs us to pray against the temptations we face, so that when we sense temptation coming, or in the ordinary course of life where temptation is always near, we do well to pray against it, asking God to keep us from falling rather than relying only on our own strength.

Lord Jesus, as you and your disciples come to the Mount of Olives on the night of your arrest, you give them a pointed instruction: to pray that they may not enter into temptation. When he was at the place, he said to them, pray that you don't enter into temptation. Knowing that a great trial was coming, and that your disciples would be sorely tempted, you do not tell them merely to try hard or brace themselves; you tell them to pray, specifically that they may not enter into temptation. Prayer is the weapon you give them; and their failure to pray, as they slept instead, would leave them unprepared when the trial came. Show me what you tell the disciples to do in the face of coming temptation: to pray. You knew that a severe trial was about to come upon them. And your instruction is not to rely on their own resolve, but to pray, specifically that they might not enter into temptation. Prayer is the means you give them to be kept from falling. And they did not pray as you told them; they slept instead, and when the trial came, they fled and denied you. Their failure to pray left them unprepared. This teaches me something vital about facing temptation. My own resolve and willpower are not enough against temptation; I need to pray, to ask God to keep me from entering into temptation, to strengthen me against it. You, who taught us to pray, lead us not into temptation, here direct me to pray against the temptations I face. Take that to my heart, for you tell me to pray that I may not enter into temptation, so that prayer is my preparation against it. When I face temptation, keep me from relying only on my own resolve; help me pray against it, Lord, asking you to keep me from falling and to strengthen me, rather than trusting my own strength alone as your disciples did to their cost.