Combining the information given by all the Evangelists, we find from Matthew and Mark that, before leaving them at all, before Jesus entered the garden, He enjoined on them the necessity of vigilance: “Tarry ye here, and watch with Me”; while we learn from Luke that, at the same time, He enjoined the necessity of prayer: “He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples also followed Him. And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Lk 22:39,40). So Jesus really had nothing new to say to them – no fresh or additional advice to give them – but what they had heard from the beginning.
And there is a lesson in this. In the decay or slumber of your Christian life, it is not something new that is to revive you; not some novel doctrine; not some unheard-of Christian exhortation, or one lately discovered; not some remarkable and striking advice, prescribing some royal road different from that in which the usual footsteps of the flock are marked – not prescribing even any method of revival hitherto unknown to yourself. No, there is a great snare hidden under any such expectation as that. You are to stand in the beaten path and inquire for the good old ways you trod before, if you would find re-invigorating grace and rest unto your soul.
It is indeed desirable that this old commandment – to inquire for the good old way – may come as a new commandment to you now. It is to be hoped that, by a fresh baptism of the Spirit, fresh humiliation and sense of danger, and quickened spiritual perception on your part, it may have almost the aspect of an absolutely-new commandment, in its newly-discovered suitability, and in its striking seasonableness. But it is the same commandment that you have heard from the beginning of your Christian life: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation”.
Yet it need not seem to you an old commandment; or if old, yet it should be welcome as an old and faithful friend. Realise your weak and defenceless state, in the light of your experience and especially of the sins and failings that have made it necessary that Jesus should come and re-issue this injunction to you. Realise, with this, the multitude and power and assailing force of those that are enemies to your soul – and realise your own fearful want of wisdom or experience in spiritual warfare – which is almost the only thing which your initial experience has taught you. Think of the subtlety and wiles of the devil, and of the manifold circumstances in which he finds you at a great disadvantage, as when weak and weary in body and faint in mind, even though pursuing.
Think how the enemy can turn all such disadvantage to account, and realise especially the terrible, fatal outcome if you cannot conquer. If this battle is finally lost, you are lost. And does it not come upon you, with the joy of a great and fresh discovery, that the old command is still as suitable as ever; that while you may be ever surrounded by temptation and assailed, you have ever the liberty – I shall not say the duty but – the privilege, the warrant, the right, to watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation at all? And you have the high assurance that the prayer of vigilance and faith moves, for your protection, the infinite wisdom and love and power and faithfulness of God. As it does so, this old, this new, commandment – if only it is observed and obeyed – will, even in the midst of innumerable and more-than-visible dangers, gird your soul with the glad assurance of present safety and the sure hope of a final triumph.
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” For what Jesus said to the disciples, he says to all: Watch and pray. Watch: be vigilant; be a faithful sentinel on your post of duty – your post of honour. Let the eye of faith and spiritual wisdom be wide open on your position; and you shall see much that the world can never see, much that it concerns you very greatly that you should see.
First of all, there is the particular duty of sentinels and soldiers in the warfare of faith: watch and know yourself. “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” Arrest its traitorous lusts and besetting sins: condemn and crucify them. If they will not die at once, as they seldom will, watch them all the more; double the guard on them and put them under the surveillance of conscience in its highest force and honour. And while they are thus crucified and watched, and their dominion prevented, let not their presence cast you out of communion with the Holy One, but rather let the peace of God garrison your heart and let it rule there, to which also you are called.
Watch the dangers of your special callings, your companionships, your particular connections with the world, your objects of personal attachment. Watch very specially the sources and causes of past unfaithfulness and failure. Watch the enemy’s approaches, his methods of trying you. He goes about like a roaring lion. He changes himself into an angel of light. Watch, so that you may not be ignorant of his devices.
Watch your graces – what state they are in, what danger they are in, what strength they have. Watch especially your repentance and your faith. O keep them for ever fresh. See if the vine flourishes, or if the little foxes spoil the tender grapes. Watch what the Lord has given you: the gracious and contrite heart, the meek and quiet spirit, which are of great price. Watch the treasure of your renewed heart, that you may ever be able to bring forth good things from it. Keep that good thing which is committed to you, through the Holy Spirit “that dwelleth in you”. Be not deceived into slumbering, at any time, for Satan by subtlety may beguile you. Be ever aware of the disposition of the enemies’ powers. Be with the prophet on your watch. Indeed, watch with Christ on your tower. Watch with Him. Abide in Christ, and watch with Him.
Pray also: with all prayer and supplication, watching thereunto with all perseverance. Pray that, through God’s grace, you may be preserved from being tempted, or may be supported and delivered when you are tempted. If He please He can prevent you, not only from entering into temptation, from falling into its snare and seducement, but even from being assailed by temptation at all. And doubtless, often in answer to the appeal of conscious weakness and holy fear, the Lord dispenses with the discipline of temptations. Yet, apart from such a frame of humble holy self-deprecation, it might have been indispensable to try His people and to prove them. Pray therefore, in subjection to the wisdom and the will of your Father, that He would prevent temptations from forming themselves against you.
But, in any case, pray that they may not form themselves against you and prosper. Pray that He would let you know when temptation is at hand, that He would always forewarn you of every special danger. Pray that He would make you not unwise in these things, but understanding the wiles of the devil and the will of the Lord. Pray that He would make you strong in Himself and in the glory of His power. Pray for armour, and put it on. Put on the whole armour of God, praying always in the Spirit. If you would not enter into temptation, pray above all in the name of Him who was in all points tempted like as you are, yet without sin. And let the remembrance of the temptations the Lord suffered feed your faith with nourishment of new life and hope, in the assurance that He is able and willing to succour them that are tempted.
Thus, “watch and pray”, doing both. And more: not only combining but blending them. Pray to be enabled to watch. Watch so that you may know what to pray for. Pray for the grace of vigilance. Watch for materials of prayer. Watch that you may know temptation by its mere presence, and pray to be preserved from knowing it in its successful power. Pray that your eyes may be purged from dimness and anointed with eyesalve, so that you may see afar off and discern good and evil. And then watch with keen and piercing eye, that you may see the answers to prayer. Watch the efficacy of prayer. Pray for success in watching. Watch if you would be on the alert to pray. Pray that you may be kept alert upon your watchtower.
The enemy is subtle: you must watch his movements. You yourself are weak: you must pray for strength. If you could keep yourself, it might be sufficient to watch; but as God only can keep you, you must join prayer with watchfulness. If God would keep you any otherwise than by strengthening and guiding you to keep yourself, it might be sufficient to pray; but as it is, you must combine watchfulness with prayer – watching for your salvation with fear and trembling, the Lord working in you and enabling you to watch, of His good pleasure.
Thus be persuaded both to “watch and pray that you enter not into temptation”. Such is the blessed exhortation which Jesus graciously gives, even when He comes to reprove and rebuke His disciples.
This exhortation to believers is taken, with editing, from Martin’s The Shadow of Calvary. This book has recently been reprinted.