Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 26:45-46

"Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me." — Matthew 26:45-46 (ASV)

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

May the Master never have to say this concerning any one of us, for his dear name's sake! Amen.

I do not think Jesus was speaking ironically when He said, Sleep on now, and take your rest, but that He allowed them to take a little sleep while He sat by and watched.

Not long did He sit or did they sleep, for through the olives He could see the glare of the approaching torches. The stillness of the night was broken by the tramping and shouting of the rabble throng that had come to arrest Him.

He gently wakened His drowsy disciples by saying, Rise, let us be going, adding words that must have struck terror to their sorrowing hearts, Behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

The crushing in “the olive press” was over. The long-looked-for “hour” of betrayal had come, and Jesus went calmly forward, divinely strengthened to meet the terrible trials that yet awaited Him before He could fully accomplish the redemption of His chosen people.