Neville Goddard on Matthew 26:39-44 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Matthew 26 in context

Scripture Focus

39And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

40And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

42He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

43And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

44And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Matthew 26:39-44

Biblical Context

Jesus prays in Gethsemane, asking if the cup may pass, then yields to the Father’s will; after finding his disciples asleep, he urges watchfulness and prays three times.

Neville's Inner Vision

Matthew 26:39-44 reads as a map of inner states. The cup is not a threat in the outer world, but a belief you have adopted that you cannot bear what life demands. The first petition springs from self-will: 'may this cup pass' and you feel the weight of limitation. Yet the second and third prayers reveal a shift: you return to the I AM and align your desire with the divine purpose, saying, 'nevertheless, thy will be done.' In Neville's tongue, the threefold prayer is the threefold discipline of the mind: first, the recognition of the limitation; second, the revision of it by the acceptance of the I AM; third, the deepening faith that the will already operates through you. 'Watch and pray' becomes a practice to stay awake to inner movements—so the will that is willing meets the form of life with ease rather than resistance. The result is not changing God but awakening to your own state, which makes the external scene bend to your realized consciousness.

Practice This Now

Place yourself in your own Gethsemane by closing your eyes and stating, 'I am the I AM; thy will be done in me.' Then revise the scene until you feel the shift as if you already walk in alignment with divine will.