TACTICAL PRAYING

Luke 22:39–46 (ESV) — 39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Luke 22:39–46 ESV

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

I. OUR PRAYER EXAMPLE

Luke 22:41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,

Luke 22:41 ESV

41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,

John 11:41–42 (ESV) — 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

John 11:41–42 ESV

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

“Jesus, of course, is our supreme exemplar, as he gives himself entirely to God’s will as he faces the cross, the greatest evil and suffering the world has ever known and will ever know. We can take comfort that Jesus is like us, that he is flesh and blood, that he did not want to suffer, that he hoped the cross could be avoided. We have a Savior who knows what it is like to be tempted in every arena of life (Heb. 2:18; 4:14–16).” [1]

II. OUR CALL TO PRAY

Luke 22:40a And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray…

Luke 22:40a ESV

40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

“Upon arriving with the disciples Jesus exhorts them to prayer, to utter dependence on God, so that they will not fall into temptation.” [2]

III. OUR PRAYER FOCUS

Luke 22:40, 46 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”….46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Tactical: Having skill in planning or maneuvering to accomplish a purpose. Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Matthew 26:40–41 (ESV) — 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:40–41 ESV

40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Mark 14:37–38 (ESV) — 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Mark 14:37–38 ESV

37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 6:13 (ESV) — 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 6:13 ESV

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

“Upon arriving with the disciples Jesus exhorts them to prayer, to utter dependence on God, so that they will not fall into temptation. The exhortation fits with the Lord’s Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:4), and with the admonition to “stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (21:36). Such words are particularly appropriate on this occasion, as the disciples are about to face the greatest temptation of their lives.”[3]

“…the disciples must continue in prayer so that they do not fall prey to temptation. Such prayer shows a keen awareness that, apart from God’s grace, we can do nothing (John 15:5), that endurance in goodness comes from God himself.”[4]

[1] Schreiner, T. R. (2021). Luke. In I. M. Duguid, J. M. Hamilton Jr., & J. Sklar (Eds.), Matthew–Luke: Vol. VIII (pp. 1067–1068). Crossway. [2] Schreiner, T. R. (2021). Luke. In I. M. Duguid, J. M. Hamilton Jr., & J. Sklar (Eds.), Matthew–Luke: Vol. VIII (p. 1066). Crossway. [3] Schreiner, T. R. (2021). Luke. In I. M. Duguid, J. M. Hamilton Jr., & J. Sklar (Eds.), Matthew–Luke: Vol. VIII (p. 1066). Crossway. [4] Schreiner, T. R. (2021). Luke. In I. M. Duguid, J. M. Hamilton Jr., & J. Sklar (Eds.), Matthew–Luke: Vol. VIII (p. 1067). Crossway.