Matthew 26:40-45 And he comes to the disciples, and finds them asleep, and said to Peter, What, could you not watch with me one hour?… I. WHAT IS THE SCRIPTURE SENSE OF INFIRMITY? 1. The state of human nature is such as to be liable to many pains, diseases, and at last to death. In this sense Christ is said to bear our infirmities, being by the law of His nature subject to the like weakness — hunger, thirst, sleep, dread of pain. 2. Men are not more weak in their bodies than in their minds, nor more exposed to bodily pains than to the impressions of sin, which is our spiritual disease. 3. Next to this general sense of infirmity comes the particular infirmities included in it. It is urged in defence that these passions are natural; also that they are inherent. That a natural passion has the same author with nature, and belongs to us as we are men, therefore not to be avoided. None of these have infirmity enough to be an excuse for sin. II. WHAT SORT OF SINS THEY ARE WHICH WILL ADMIT OF AN EXCUSE BECAUSE OF THE INFIRMITY FROM WHICH THEY PROCEED. There is an imperfection in the obedience of the best of men — coldness in devotion, wandering thoughts, which is a weakness to be forgiven. The one way to entitle us to the plea is by endeavouring sincerely and universally to obey the will of God. (T. Sherlock, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? |
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