Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Parallel translations
- WEB Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, 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.”
- 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 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 ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
- Matt 24:42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
- Luke 21:36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
- Luke 22:40And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
- Rom 7:18–25For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
- Rev 3:2–3Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
- Luke 22:46And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
- Gal 5:17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
- 1 Cor 16:13Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
- Mark 14:34And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
- Matt 6:13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
- 1 Pet 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
- Matt 25:13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
- Rev 3:10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
- Phil 2:12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, 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
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