Mar 14:37-42 | RWP | e4.org | Simon, sleepest thou? ( Σιμων, καθευδεισ; ). The old name, not the new name, Peter. Already his boasted loyalty was failing in the hour of crisis. Jesus fully knows the weakness of human flesh (see on ).

‏ Mark 14:37-42

Simon, sleepest thou? ( Σιμων, καθευδεισ; ). The old name, not the new name, Peter. Already his boasted loyalty was failing in the hour of crisis. Jesus fully knows the weakness of human flesh (see on Mt 26:41).

Very heavy ( καταβαρυνομενο ). Perfective use of κατα- with the participle. Matthew has the simple verb. Mark's word is only here in the N.T. and is rare in Greek writers. Mark has the vivid present passive participle, while Matthew has the perfect passive βεβαρημενο.

And they wist not what to answer him ( κα ουκ ηιδεισαν τ αποκριθωσιν αυτω ). Deliberative subjunctive retained in the indirect question. Alone in Mark and reminds one of the like embarrassment of these same three disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mr 9:6). On both occasions weakness of the flesh prevented their real sympathy with Jesus in his highest and deepest experiences. "Both their shame and their drowsiness would make them dumb" (Gould).

It is enough ( απεχε ). Alone in Mark. This impersonal use is rare and has puzzled expositors no little. The papyri (Deissmann's Light from the Ancient East and Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary) furnish many examples of it as a receipt for payment in full. See also Mt 6:2ff.; Lu 6:24; Php 4:18 for the notion of paying in full. It is used here by Jesus in an ironical sense, probably meaning that there was no need of further reproof of the disciples for their failure to watch with him. "This is no time for a lengthened exposure of the faults of friends; the enemy is at the gate" (Swete). See further on Mt 26:45 for the approach of Judas.