What does "let this cup pass from Me" signify in Matthew 26:39? Text And Setting Matthew 26:39 records: “Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.’ ” . The verse sits in Gethsemane on the night of Passover, bracketed by the Last Supper (vv. 26–30) and the arrest (vv. 47–56). The Lord has just identified the bread and wine as His body and blood of the covenant (v. 28), so the “cup” motif is already prominent. Original Language: ὁ Ποτηριον (Ho Potērion) The noun potērion means a drinking vessel and, figuratively, one’s allotted experience. In papyri of the era the idiom “to drink the cup” can denote undergoing fate, whether favor or judgment. Matthew’s perfective aorist infinitive “παρελθεῖν” (to pass away/leave) suggests full removal of what the cup contains, not merely a brief respite. Old Testament Background: The Cup Of Wrath And Salvation 1. Wrath: Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17, 22; Jeremiah 25:15 portray a foaming cup in Yahweh’s hand that the nations must drink till they stagger—symbolizing divine judgment. 2. Suffering of the Righteous: Psalm 116:13 balances this with “the cup of salvation,” showing God can turn judgment into deliverance. 3. Covenant Ceremony: Exodus 24:8 foreshadows covenantal blood sprinkled for forgiveness, later linked to the Passover cup. Second Temple And Rabbinic Parallels In 4QpHab 8:13–14 (Dead Sea Scrolls) “the cup of the fury of God” describes eschatological punishment. Early rabbinic material (m. Sanhedrin 70a) applies “cup” to suffering assigned from heaven. These sources confirm a shared Jewish metaphor immediately recognizable to first-century hearers. Synoptic Harmony Mark 14:36 includes “Abba, Father,” Luke 22:42 adds “remove this cup from Me.” All three Gospels agree: (1) Jesus contemplates a defined experience; (2) He submits to the Father’s will. John 18:11 completes the picture—“Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”—showing acceptance following the prayer. The Cup Identified: Divine Wrath Borne At The Cross Combining the textual and canonical data, the cup represents the totality of redemptive suffering: • Physical torture and crucifixion (Psalm 22; Matthew 27:35). • Spiritual burden of sin (Isaiah 53:5–6,10; 2 Corinthians 5:21). • Experiencing God’s judicial abandonment (“Why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46). Hence Jesus petitions concerning the wrath reserved for humanity that will soon be poured on Him (Romans 3:25–26). Christ’S Humanity And Obedience The prayer discloses authentic human anguish. Hebrews 5:7–8 states He “offered petitions with loud cries and tears” and “learned obedience from what He suffered.” The request reveals no reluctance to redeem but the natural aversion to sin-bearing and the desire, if consistent with the Father’s plan, to bypass it. Perfect obedience is demonstrated when He subordinates His human will: “Yet not as I will.” Atonement, Substitution, And Covenant 1. Substitution: Isaiah 53:4–6 clarifies the Servant bears others’ iniquities. 2. Propitiation: Romans 3:25 uses hilastērion, temple mercy-seat language; by drinking the cup, Christ absorbs wrath, satisfying justice and extending mercy. 3. Covenant: The Last Supper’s cup (“this is My blood of the covenant,” v. 28) pairs with Gethsemane’s cup; shedding blood and drinking wrath are two aspects of one redemptive act inaugurating the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Pastoral And Discipleship Implications Believers share in Christ’s cup in a derived sense: Mark 10:38–39 foretells suffering for His followers, yet never the cup of wrath—Jesus has drunk that alone. Our trials become a fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10) devoid of condemnation (Romans 8:1). Common Objections Answered • “Jesus feared death.” Response: Fear of physical death alone is inadequate; countless martyrs faced execution. The cup signifies unparalleled spiritual transaction—bearing sin’s curse (Galatians 3:13). • “Greek myths also speak of fate’s cup.” Response: Biblical usage predates and differs: it centers on covenantal justice rooted in Yahweh’s holiness, not capricious fate. • “Petition contradicts foreknowledge.” Response: Omniscience coexists with authentic relational prayer; the Son eternally consents to the plan (Revelation 13:8) yet fully experiences the temporal sequence of human decision during the incarnation (Philippians 2:6-8). Conclusion: The Cup’S Significance “Let this cup pass from Me” encapsulates the apex of redemptive history: the Sinless One contemplates draining the chalice of divine wrath so the guilty may raise the cup of salvation (Psalm 116:13). It showcases simultaneously His perfect humanity, unfaltering obedience, and divine mission, forming a vital cornerstone for understanding atonement, covenant, and Christian discipleship. |
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