Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 26:37

"And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled." — Matthew 26:37 (ASV)

On “Gethsemane,” see comment on Mk 14:32. Taking three of his disciples with him, Jesus now faces deep, inner distress. His words “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow” reflect almost verbally the refrain of Pss 42–43. Jesus experiences a sorrow so deep it almost kills. Having revealed his deepest emotions and thus given his disciples the most compelling of reasons to do what he asks, he tells them to stay and “keep watch with me” while he goes a little farther on to pray alone. His words “with me” imply that he wanted them to keep awake and go on praying.