Mark 14:38 Meaning and Explanation
“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus tells them to watch and pray so they do not enter temptation, for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
What Does Mark 14:38 Mean?
Even now Jesus is teaching. He gives the sleeping three a command and a diagnosis: Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready — willing, eager, as their vows at supper showed — but the flesh is weak, unequal to its own promises.
He does not despise their willing spirit; he tells them how to keep it from being overrun. Watching and praying are the bridge between intending good and doing it. This is mercy for everyone who has discovered the weakness of their own resolve: the answer is not louder vows but deeper dependence — eyes open, help asked, before the trial arrives.
Mark 14:38 in the Original Language
gregoreo (γρηγορέω), 'watch' -- to stay awake, to be alert and on guard.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 14:38
What does Mark 14:38 mean?
Jesus tells them to watch and pray so they do not enter temptation, for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.