Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
Summary: Understanding how temptation works and the battle between our flesh and our spirit is key to understanding how to avoid temptation and stay on track to follow our Lord Jesus.
Woven into the story of the Last Supper and threaded through Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion is the story of Peter’s denial of Jesus. The story begins the night Jesus shares his last supper with his disciples. It is Passover, and the meal is a special one. Judas has already negotiated the price of betrayal with the Pharisees and is waiting for his opportunity to strike.
It is a busy night. This is also the night that Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and institutes communion. Jesus knows what is ahead of him. He has told his disciples what will happen, but their minds cannot grasp what is going on. Jesus then tells them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me…” (Matthew 26:31)
Peter’s response is classic. Instead of listening to his spirit, his pride of flesh jumps to the fore and claims, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33)
Was that a wise thing to say? Was it true? Was it something that Peter could know? Does a human have the power and authority to make a vow that will “never” be overturned?
Peter was about to learn the answer to these questions.
In response to the voice of Peter’s “natural man,” Jesus (aka God) tells him about his future. Jesus says, “[T]his very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” (Matthew 26:34)
Peter has already been tempted and failed. He just doesn’t know it.
After dinner, Jesus and his disciples go out into the night. They walk through the city and out of the city gate to a place known as the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him to a quiet place in the garden away from the others so he can pray — that is, converse with his Father. He instructs his disciples to do the same:
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
Peter and his friends don’t do what they are told. Instead, they fall asleep. But just because they fell asleep doesn’t mean we should do the same. The cure for temptation is to obey our Lord and “watch and pray.”
Application: Watch and pray.
Food for Thought: How does watching and praying keep us from being tempted?
To keep watch refers to being alert to any danger. And praying is utilizing God’s power against that danger – so we will be prepared to stand during temptation.
We have an enemy who seeks us real harm, so we need to be prepared (1 Peter 5: 8). Since this enemy is not flesh and blood, we enter into the battle in God’s power and not our own (Ephesians 6: 10 – 17). At the end of this famous spiritual warfare passage, Paul mentions prayer six times in three verses (Ephesians 6: 18 – 20).
Watching and praying allows us to be alert and armed for battle. The opposite would be what we see of the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane. They were not ready or strengthen for battle like Jesus was. When Judas showed up to betray Jesus, Jesus was prepared, the disciples were not.
If Jesus needed to be alert and pray to be strengthened, I know I need to do at least as much.
“Jesus was prepared, the disciples were not.”
Rich –
What a great summation of the New Testament! How do we get prepared? I love the guidance you have given us. Thanks!
How does watching and praying keep us from being tempted?
If our eyes are on God and in prayer then its filling your mind and time with good instead of emptiness for unwholesome thoughts.
My original answer is that it’s not about me. In a blessed way I can keep watch over others and pray for them as they sleep. Or like some I know with a lot on their heart and minds I can pray for my brothers who need sleep.
Tim,
“Keep our eyes on God.” What good advice! I would add that to do that we need to keep our physical eyes on God’s Word and our spiritual eyes on His Spirit.
I like the phrase “the best defense is a good offense.” Watching and praying keeps us from being tempted by keeping us in the present, mindful, and in contact with the Father. It is important that when temptation does come (because it never stops), that we seek God’s Will and not our own. That’s harder to do if you are taken by surprise.
Also, watching and praying keeps us from “blending” in with the world around us. It puts us in a place that God’s light can shine through us.
The closer I walk with God the farther I am to old self. It is a constant “renewal of my mind” that doesn’t happen behind the scenes, but mindfully in each moment.
Romans 12:2-3 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Thanks Chris!
I like your comment that the closer we walk with God the farther we are from our old selves. That has certainly been true for me!
01-20-2023, How does watching and praying keep us from being tempted?
Jesus knew that, for our benefit, His entire life must be lived in total submission, within the will of His heavenly Father. He was fully God and He willingly set aside His heavenly glory to live His earthly life as a full member of humanity. He lived as a sinless man, in perfect obedience to God and qualified as the Saviour of fallen humanity, redeeming everything the first Adam lost. He is our defining example of watching and praying which contributed to His success.
Christians have been blessed by God. We have been called, and empowered to effectively serve, be used by God for His purposes where we are, today. To watch is to be alert to events around us and respond according to God’s will. Prayer is spiritual communication between a believer and God, a TWO-WAY relationship in which we should not only talk to God but also listen to Him. Prayer with God is like a child’s conversation with his father, we learn more listening than we do talking.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. Not abandoning our faith, but constantly looking to God in all things. This is not something we do under our own power, but our response to the power of the Holy Spirit who reveals God’s desires for each of us.
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Today we seek to live in God, alert to His presence in all things, ( sending blessings, allowing testings for our growth and ministry ) listening to His small still voice, 1 Kings 19:11-13. We seek a goal we will never achieve during our time on earth, however we can keep trying
“alert to His presence”
Ron,
Thank you for your words today. I especially like the phrase, “alert to His presence” because it prompts me to wonder what God’s presence is like.
As we become more aware of our own spiritual nature, we learn to “see” in the spiritual realm. It is there, in the spirit, that we can best see the Spirit of God.