Humanity Was Made to Be Weak; Our Lord Included (Matthew 26:36-46).
length: 62:01 - taught on Feb, 25 2026
Class Outline:
Wednesday February 25, 2026
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me."
39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible [good times always possible? Prosperity gospel], let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
He gives them two commandments: keep alert and praying - both present imperatives; and then He gives a reason: that you may not enter into temptation.
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
[we will return to this soon; stay tuned!]
Then He says the memorable phrase / truth: “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Most commentators will see “spirit” as the human spirit or inner desire, inner self:
For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind.
The flesh (sarx) is used in multiple ways and not always bad.
The key is the word sarx. It does not always mean sinfulness.
Meanings of sarx:
Earthly life:
concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh …
Physical life:
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
Being:
because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Flesh: (multiple passages)
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
It can also mean “race” as in the Jewish race (ROM 9:3); and human ancestry (ROM 9:5).
Then we move into the not neutral but weak and sinful:
Human limitations:
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.
Sinful nature:
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh;
Jesus said the flesh is weak. Truly the flesh in being sinful is of the weakest thing on earth, for it causes the most damage and pain on earth by far.
Christ’s flesh.
concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Both aspects of Him are here. We would not consider Him to be two people. He is one with two natures.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Descended from David, flesh, Jesus Christ was not a superman but a true man.
The flesh - humanity is weakness.
Our sinfulness has terrible results, and the most terrible is the thought that our flesh is not weak but strong.
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul implored the Lord three times. Jesus also prayed three times.
What was Paul’s prayer? Take it out now!
My will be done.
Let’s compare it to Christ’s prayer in the garden. “If it is possible …” vs. “Lord remove the thorn.”
Response to Christ: (unheard by us but obvious): It is not possible to remove the cup of sin and death, You must drink it all.
Lord: (prayer 2) “If this cannot pass away (and I know it cannot) Your will be done.”
Response to Paul: “My grace is enough for you (to handle your thorn).”
Paul: (prayer 2 and 3) “Lord remove the thorn!!”
Paul was stuck. Whatever the thorn was it had to remain and he either had to find a worldly solution if there was one (this is the path of many believers when they come face to face with their weakness as people; not sin!) or to soldier on in the plan of God for his life. He humbled himself and carried on and he found something: being weak was awesome.
Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast (glory) about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in (on) me (like a tent).
The image is glorying in weak humanity because it is clothed with Christ.
He loves being a human man - weak. He love being a weak human man clothed with Christ - strong.
Paul now glories in his humanity - not sin!
God made man weak so as to depend upon Him. He made Him naked and blessed by Him.
We must become like children.
“I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.”
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
“Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
“but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.”
“But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.”
Our Lord Jesus did not so much choose to submit to the Father as He did choose to be truly and fully human.
Christ dignified humanity by becoming human.
Why pray?
Prayer: The weak man moves closer to the source of all good to him.
Humanity: the self that can seek and commune with God while possessed of total weakness to do anything good apart from God.
"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." [Augustine]
Think on it:
God is going to show you your utter weakness. He has to because He loves you. He will because it is the truth.
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