Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 26:37-38

"And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me." — Matthew 26:37-38 (ASV)

The three disciples who had been with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration were privileged to be nearer to Him than the rest of their brothers, but even they must not be actually with Him. His sorrow was so great that He had to bear it alone, and there was also that Scripture to be fulfilled: I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me. Yet He still wanted His three choicest companions near Him, so that He might derive such slight solace from their presence as they could offer Him.

They had never before seen their Lord overwhelmed with Atlantic billows of sorrow like those that rolled in upon Him when He began to be sorrowful and very heavy. He was bowed down as if an enormous weight rested on His soul—as indeed it did. This was the soul-travail, the soul-offering for sin, which was completed on the cross; and well might He say, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. The sorrow of His soul was the very soul of His sorrow. His soul was full of sorrow, until He seemed to reach the utmost limit of endurance and to be at the very gate of death.

In such dire distress, He needed faithful friends at hand, so He said to Peter, James, and John, Tarry you here, and watch with me. He had to bear alone the awful burden of His people’s sin, but His disciples could show their sympathy with Him by watching at a respectful distance and adding their poor prayers to His mighty wrestlings. Alas! They did not prize the privilege Christ gave them. Have we not been too much like them when our Savior has commanded us to watch with Him?