{Watch and pray} (gr(8867)oreite kai proseuchesthe). Jesus
repeats the command of verse  38  with the addition of prayer and
with the warning against the peril of temptation. He himself was
feeling the worst of all temptations of his earthly life just
then. He did not wish then to enter such temptation (peirasmon,
here in this sense, not mere trial). Thus we are to understand
the prayer in  Mt 6:13  about leading (being led) into
temptation. Their failure was due to weakness of the flesh as is
often the case. {Spirit} (pneuma) here is the moral life
(intellect, will, emotions) as opposed to the flesh (cf.  Isa
31:3  Ro 7:25 ). {Except I drink it} (ean m(8820)auto pi(935c)).
Condition of the third class undetermined, but with likelihood of
determination, whereas {if this cannot pass away} (ei ou dunatai
touto parelthein) is first-class condition, determined as
fulfilled, assumed to be true. This delicate distinction
accurately presents the real attitude of Jesus towards this
subtle temptation.