53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
53 Don't you realize that I am able right now to call to my Father, and twelve companies - more, if I want them - of fighting angels would be here, battle-ready?
53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
53 Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?"
54 But if I did that, how would the Scriptures come true that say this is the way it has to be?"
54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"
54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?"
(Read Matthew 26:47-56)
No enemies are so much to be abhorred as those professed disciples that betray Christ with a kiss. God has no need of our services, much less of our sins, to bring about his purposes. Though Christ was crucified through weakness, it was voluntary weakness; he submitted to death. If he had not been willing to suffer, they could not conquer him. It was a great sin for those who had left all to follow Jesus; now to leave him for they knew not what. What folly, for fear of death to flee from Him, whom they knew and acknowledged to be the Fountain of life!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 26:53
Commentary on Matthew 26:47-56
(Read Matthew 26:47-56)
No enemies are so much to be abhorred as those professed disciples that betray Christ with a kiss. God has no need of our services, much less of our sins, to bring about his purposes. Though Christ was crucified through weakness, it was voluntary weakness; he submitted to death. If he had not been willing to suffer, they could not conquer him. It was a great sin for those who had left all to follow Jesus; now to leave him for they knew not what. What folly, for fear of death to flee from Him, whom they knew and acknowledged to be the Fountain of life!