Articles
Watch and Pray Series: Watch What - Part 6
Barbara L. Klika, MSW, Undershepherd, Life Coach
February 2013
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26: 41 KJV
Yeshua spent His last free hours before accomplishing His purpose in a garden, a protected place with those He loved, His talmudim. He asked them to watch and pray so that they didn't enter into temptation. What were they supposed to watch? As we have seen the thematic comparisons throughout the ages, it seems there may be a message there for us. What are we supposed to be watching?
It has something to do with avoiding temptation, but what temptation would there be while watching and praying with Maschiach Himself? They were in a sort of "prayer closet" with Him; what could possibly go wrong there?
The Outline of Biblical Usage for the word translated as "temptation" here is quite helpful. These are things we are to watch out for so that we can respond appropriately.
1) an experiment, attempt, trial, proving
- a) trial, proving: the trial made of you by my bodily condition, since condition served as to test the love of the Galatians toward Paul (Gal. 4:14)
- b) the trial of man's fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy
1) an enticement to sin, temptation, whether arising from the desires or from
the outward circumstances
2) an internal temptation to sin
- a) of the temptation by which the devil sought to divert
Jesus the Messiah from his divine errand
3) of the condition of things, or a mental state,
by which we are enticed to sin, or to a lapse from the faith and holiness
4) adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove one's character, faith,
holiness
- c) temptation (i.e. trial) of God by men
1) rebellion against God, by which his power and justice are, as it were, put to the proof and challenged to show themselves (1)
Did you notice a strong connection between the idea of "stumble" and "temptation?" (check back in Part 5--Made to stumble? for a reminder.) They can both refer to a testing experience, something that might cause one to fall away from what was previously believed. At least for me, when I have thought of "temptation" I have generally thought of something more like category b) above: an enticement to sin. A temptation can also be considered the whole process, as in a trial, an affliction, or a proving. Even as Messiah warned that all would be made to stumble on account of Him, so did He instruct the watchers to pray against that very thing.
The source of these temptations is varied. It may be a trial allowed/sent by our Elohim to prove our fidelity or the rising up in rebellion from within to challenge Him. However, if we look more closely we will see that the direction was to pray that they do not enter into such temptation. Then as now, temptations/trials/afflictions WILL come! We should not be surprised by them as we stand firm in prayer against falling into them! Not only should we not be surprised, but perhaps even welcome them as an opportunity for our faith to be strengthened in the midst of a challenge! How often YHWH has a twofold purpose: witness and division.
Testing, trying, separating--the sheep from the goats-- the tares and the chaff from the wheat--even scattering and sowing the seed at the same time.
In fact, far from being invulnerable while we are closest to our Messiah, sometimes the personal response to that heady privilege leaves us that much more vulnerable to all the wrong things within ourselves. Witness Elijah after the confrontation with the prophets of Baal and the sheer intensity of his fear. Witness anyone who becomes puffed up in pride at the revelation he has received and see the benefit of the thorn in Paul's side that was not to be taken away. (2 Cor. 12: 7)
These are things we are to watch out for. Is that the same as just to watch?
Messiah had begun to prepare His talmudim sometime ahead of this event, so we can gain some additional understanding by looking at what He had already said. Since we know Messiah is "from the beginning" we know that He spoke through the prophets. The disciples would have known these words well. Prophets had many things to say about what it means to stumble in temptation but perhaps one of the most pointed was this from Jeremiah (18:15):
Because My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to worthless idols, and they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in pathways and not on a highway.
Ezekiel confirms that we can be our own worst enemy (14:7)
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity.
In John's record of these events (John 15), we also see part of the immediate preparation of these disciples. Yeshua made some important points for us all to remember. If we do so, He said we will be less susceptible to temptation and stumbling!
These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. KJV
These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be made to stumble. NKJV
"These things" include many assurances. He coupled His assurance with remaining joyful.
- Belief in Yeshua and the Father relieves troubled hearts
- He goes before us to prepare a place and will come back for us
- Knowing Him equals knowing the Father
- He will do requests made in His Name
- Loving Him equals keeping His commandments
- He has asked the Father for the Comforter to come to those who know Him
He gave us the metaphor of a vine with branches and roots.
- He is the true vine and the Father is the husbandman/gardener
- The only way to bear His fruit is to abide in Him
- Every branch that remains in Him will bear fruit and be pruned to bear more
- Unfruitful branches that don't abide in Him will be cast forth and burned
- We are assured that the world will hate us as it hated Him
The metaphor is explained!
- Keeping commandments equals abiding in Him
- Keeping commandments leads to being His friend, not just a servant
- He chose us, ordained us and sustains us in order that we bear His fruit
Did you see the three main points here that will keep us from falling into temptation, stumbling or taking offense?
- Knowing Him,
- loving Him,
- keeping His commandments
These three things equal abiding in Him. This abiding includes awareness of the need for discipline/pruning yet allows for this to happen without fear. It is abiding in Him that will keep us fruitful, without stumbling.
What do we watch? Messiah Yeshua!
Abiding in Him will produce strong roots which will hold fast, unlike those who haven't kept their eyes on Him. If we fear or object to the pruning, we will limit our growth and strength. Perhaps we can take our cue from Moshe (Lev. 26:40-41) Jeremiah (3:13) Nehemiah (9:29) and David (Psalm 51:4) and see how important it is to receive discipline, trusting YHWH's mercy even in wrath for those who love Him. His discipline is for our good.
Mark makes this observation ( 4:17)
"and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.
As we endure in Messiah, we confirm that He has called us and sustains us so we see that Peter echoes our direction (2 Peter 1:10):
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
Now as we watch and pray in these darkening days, we know that not entering into temptation involves these three actions:
Knowing and loving Him by keeping His commandments.
These things are what it means to abide in Him. They sound a lot like 'shema, shema, Yisrael," don't they? How much more joyful and strong we will be in Him if we keep Him in the center of our thoughts, our goals, our world. Held fast there by our attention to Him, the attraction of all else will pale in comparison and we will be so much less susceptible to temptation.
We may watch for the other things that distract and discourage us; for signs of pride or idolatry in ourselves, for misleading teachings, for lying signs and wonders but our main attention needs to be watching Messiah and following Him.
Like a "good counterfeit" other things will draw us away but our strength and our roots grow deep only by concentrating on the "real thing." Alert to counterfeits but focused on the Way, the Truth and the Life!
Yeshua, draw us close to You please! Let all else fade away in comparison to Who You are and the sure and certain Hope we have in you. Please keep on doing whatever it takes to teach us more about what it means to really abide in You every day and every hour. Sustain us with Your joy while You prune us and remind us often that pruning brings more fruit! Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. You are the Author and the Finisher of our Faith. We look to You in these darkest hours as practice for the deeper darkness that is yet to come. May we be found in You, spotless and unblemished, a fit and joyful Bride!
Footnotes
1 Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for peirasmos (Strong's 3986)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 18 Oct 2010. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/