Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
- BSB Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
- ESV Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- NKJV Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- NASB Keep watching and praying, so that you will not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- NLT Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus urges them to watch and pray so they will not fall into temptation, noting the spirit is willing but the flesh weak. Prayerful vigilance is the means of standing in trial.
Overview
Jesus diagnoses the human condition: sincere intentions are repeatedly undone by frailty. The remedy he prescribes is watchful prayer that draws strength from God. This echoes the petition of the Lord's Prayer to be kept from temptation and remains vital counsel for every believer.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Matt 26:41Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- Matt 24:42Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.
- Luke 21:36Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
- Luke 22:40When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”
- Rom 7:18–25For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.
- Rev 3:2–3Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God.
- Luke 22:46and said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
- Gal 5:17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
- 1 Cor 16:13Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!
- Mark 14:34He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.”
- Matt 6:13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
- 1 Pet 5:8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
- Matt 25:13Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
- Rev 3:10Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
- Phil 2:12So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 14:38 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.