THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 26 - Verse 45

Verse 45. Sleep on now, and take your rest. Most interpreters have supposed that this should be translated as a question, rather than a command. "Do you sleep now, and take your rest? Is this a time, amidst so much danger, and so many enemies, to give yourselves to sleep?" This construction is strongly countenanced by Luke, Lu 22:46,) where the expression, "Why sleep ye?" evidently refers to the same point of time. There is no doubt that the Greek will bear this construction; and in this way the apparent inconsistency will be removed between this command, to sleep, and that in the next verse, to rise and be going. Others suppose that, his agony being over, and the necessity of watching with him being now passed, he kindly permitted them to seek repose till they should be roused by the coming of the traitor; that, while they slept, Jesus continued still awake; that some considerable time elapsed between what was spoken here and in the next verse; and that Jesus suffered them to sleep until he saw Judas coming, and then aroused them. Others have supposed that he spoke this in irony: "Sleep on now, if you can; take rest, if possible, in such dangers, and at such a time." But this supposition is unworthy of the Saviour and the occasion. Mark adds, "It is enough." That is, sufficient time has been given to sleep. It is time to arise and be going.

The hour is at hand. The time when the Son of man is to be betrayed is near.

Sinners. Judas, the Roman soldiers, and the Jews.