Worship—Grow—Serve: How is your balance and rhythm as a disciple of Christ? Invite Culture “No Perfect People Allowed”

Did you invite someone to worship, growth group, or a service opportunity?

5×5 Nuggets (5 NT chapters each week; 5 minutes per day)

Were there any insights gained that you would like to share with the group?

Week of October 13, 2019 John 1-5
Week of October 20, 2019 John 6-10
Week of October 27, 2019 John 11-15

OPEN

Read Matthew 22:39-46

  • Why do you think Jesus went to the garden to pray?
  • Why do you think Jesus was asking God to spare him from the coming ordeal?
  • Why did Jesus warn his disciples about impending temptation? How did Jesus

    encourage them to face temptation.

    Jesus dreads what is to come, but he nevertheless accepts his Father’s will and prays earnestly for strength for himself and his disciples.

    DIG

    1. Where did Jesus go in v. 39? Why did he do this? Who went with him?
    2. What did Jesus tell the disciples to do when they got there?
    3. What did Jesus do while they were praying?
    4. What did Jesus ask for in v. 42? What happened afterward, according to v. 43?
    5. What happened to Jesus as he continued to pray?
    6. What were the disciples doing when Jesus returned to them? What did he say?

    REFLECT

  • Why do you think Jesus told the disciples to pray earnestly not to enter into

    temptation?

  • Why do you think Jesus asked for “this cup to pass”? What does that tell us about

    him? (hint: humanity of Jesus)

  • Why do you think the disciples fell asleep? How do you think it made Jesus feel?
  • How can you begin to pray for God to protect you from temptation?

Commentary Notes

22:39 Jesus proceeded on the way to the cross just as predicted. “As usual” refers to Jesus’ practice of going to the Mount of Olives with his disciples. This is the information supplied by Judas to the chief priests so they could arrest Jesus. “And his disciples followed him.” Even as they followed him in this time of suffering, so some of them would follow him in death (Acts. 7:54-8:1; 12:1-5).

22:40 Although Luke did not mention the garden of Gethsemane, his readers may be aware of the “the place” where Jesus was betrayed. “Pray that you will not fall into temptation” has similar themes in 1 Cor. 16:13; Eph 6:18; 1 Thess 5:6; 1 Peter 5:8.

22:42 “Father”—Luke omitted the Aramaic “Abbba” [Daddy] found in Mark 14:36. Notice the appeal Jesus made to God’s will. The “cup” is a metaphor for Jesus’ suffering.

22:45 No explanation is given for why the disciples were “sorrowful.” However, Luke’s readers knew why, for they were familiar with the passion story and knew what was about to take place.

22:46 The reiteration of this command (22:40) closes the account and shows that Luke considered this its dominant theme. Compare 18:1.