Matthew 26:37
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
παραλαβὼν
he took with him
G3880
παραλαβὼν
he took with him
Strong's:
G3880
Word #:
2 of 13
to receive near, i.e., associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Πέτρον
Peter
G4074
Πέτρον
Peter
Strong's:
G4074
Word #:
4 of 13
a (piece of) rock (larger than g3037); as a name, petrus, an apostle
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
υἱοὺς
sons
G5207
υἱοὺς
sons
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
8 of 13
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
λυπεῖσθαι
to be sorrowful
G3076
λυπεῖσθαι
to be sorrowful
Strong's:
G3076
Word #:
11 of 13
to distress; reflexively or passively, to be sad
Cross References
Matthew 4:21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.Matthew 17:1And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,Mark 5:37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
Historical Context
Peter, James, and John formed Jesus's closest circle throughout his ministry. They alone witnessed the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37), the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8), and now the Gethsemane agony. This progression reveals Christ's deliberate discipleship pattern—from resurrection power to transfiguration glory to substitutionary suffering, preparing them to understand the full scope of his messianic mission.
Questions for Reflection
- Why did the same disciples who saw Christ's glory on the mountain of Transfiguration need to witness his agony in the garden?
- What does the intensity of Christ's emotional distress reveal about the nature of the atonement he was about to accomplish?
- How does understanding that Jesus's sorrow was spiritual (bearing sin) rather than merely physical (fearing death) deepen your appreciation of his sacrifice?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee—the same inner circle who witnessed the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1) now witness the agony. James and John, who boasted they could drink Christ's cup (Matthew 20:22), would now see what that cup truly contained. Began to be sorrowful and very heavy (λυπεῖσθαι καὶ ἀδημονεῖν, lupeisthai kai adēmonein)—the Greek conveys deep grief and distressing anxiety, an overwhelming spiritual anguish.
The word adēmonein suggests being 'away from home,' utterly disoriented—the spotless Son experiencing alienation from the Father as he contemplated bearing sin. This was not physical fear of death but horror at becoming sin itself (2 Corinthians 5:21), the cup of divine wrath against all human rebellion.