A Tempting Study: Part 2

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: A Tempting Study: Part 2 ------------------- Date: 7/2/2001
Keywords: "prayer" "temptation"
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Passage: Matthew 26:36-46*

36. 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, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt."

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."

42. He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done."

43. And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.

45. Then He came to the disciples, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46. "Arise, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"

Questions

1. The verses above record the incident in the Garden of Gethsemene when Jesus wanted His three friends to "KEEP WATCH" while He was steeling Himself for the terror of what was about to come -- the cross. Why do you think Jesus wanted His friends with Him?

 

2. What prohibited them from doing what Jesus wanted them to do? (look at v. 43)

 

3. What could have enabled them to "KEEP WATCH" with Jesus? (see v.41)

 

Practical help

Driving a car requires alertness. Many people are outraged these days because of the inattention to safety that occurs when a driver is talking on a cell phone.

Similar lapses can occur, morally. We stop THINKING about what we are doing with the keyboard, where we are surfing, what Web site we are aiming for -- and the next thing we know we are asleep at the wheel, drifting over lanes of sexual traffic, and EXACTLY where we don’t want to be.

When Jesus gave His words of warning and wisdom to His sleepy-headed disciples, He was also speaking to automobile operators and computer operators.

First, keep watching. Be alert. THINK about what you are doing. Don’t live mindlessly, purposelessly, but intentionally.

Second, pray. Jesus didn’t necessarily give this in order of priority. Rather, the thought is, "As you alertly keep watch over your actions, entrust yourself to God. Praise Him for His goodness toward you. Confess your sins to Him. Give Him thanks. Pray for your friends.

Next time you are alone with the phosphor screen, and face the temptation to look at pornography, do what Jesus advises: THINK and PRAY!

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."