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Grammar Analysis: Matthew 26:36-46 — Gethsemane, The Cup Accepted

Overview

The pivot passage of redemption: at Gethsemane Christ asks three times whether the cup of wrath may pass, and in verse 42 submits to drink it. The Greek morphology carries the weight of this pivot — a shift from παρελθάτω (let it pass, v.39) to γενηθήτω (let it be done, v.42), from a conditional "if possible" to a divine-passive resolution. The narrative frame uses historical presents (ἔρχεται, λέγει) that pull the reader into real-time tension, while the closing clauses use the perfect (ἤγγικεν) to announce that the decisive hour has arrived and abides.

Text

Greek (NA/Byz):

36 Τότε ἔρχεται μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς χωρίον λεγόμενον Γεθσημανεί, καὶ λέγει τοῖς μαθηταῖς Καθίσατε αὐτοῦ ἕως οὗ ἀπελθὼν ἐκεῖ προσεύξωμαι. 37 καὶ παραλαβὼν τὸν Πέτρον καὶ τοὺς δύο υἱοὺς Ζεβεδαίου ἤρξατο λυπεῖσθαι καὶ ἀδημονεῖν. 38 τότε λέγει αὐτοῖς Περίλυπός ἐστιν ἡ ψυχή μου ἕως θανάτου· μείνατε ὧδε καὶ γρηγορεῖτε μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ. 39 καὶ προελθὼν μικρὸν ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ προσευχόμενος καὶ λέγων Πάτερ μου, εἰ δυνατόν ἐστιν, παρελθάτω ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ τὸ ποτήριον τοῦτο· πλὴν οὐχ ὡς ἐγὼ θέλω ἀλλ᾽ ὡς σύ. 40 καὶ ἔρχεται πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς καὶ εὑρίσκει αὐτοὺς καθεύδοντας, καὶ λέγει τῷ Πέτρῳ Οὕτως οὐκ ἰσχύσατε μίαν ὥραν γρηγορῆσαι μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ; 41 γρηγορεῖτε καὶ προσεύχεσθε, ἵνα μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς πειρασμόν· τὸ μὲν πνεῦμα πρόθυμον, ἡ δὲ σὰρξ ἀσθενής. 42 πάλιν ἐκ δευτέρου ἀπελθὼν προσηύξατο λέγων Πάτερ μου, εἰ οὐ δύναται τοῦτο παρελθεῖν ἐὰν μὴ αὐτὸ πίω, γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου. 43 καὶ ἐλθὼν πάλιν εὗρεν αὐτοὺς καθεύδοντας, ἦσαν γὰρ αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ βεβαρημένοι. 44 καὶ ἀφεὶς αὐτοὺς πάλιν ἀπελθὼν προσηύξατο ἐκ τρίτου, τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον εἰπὼν πάλιν. 45 τότε ἔρχεται πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς Καθεύδετε λοιπὸν καὶ ἀναπαύεσθε· ἰδοὺ ἤγγικεν ἡ ὥρα καὶ ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδίδοται εἰς χεῖρας ἁμαρτωλῶν. 46 ἐγείρεσθε, ἄγωμεν· ἰδοὺ ἤγγικεν ὁ παραδιδούς με.

KJV:

36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, 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]. 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak. 42 He 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. 43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take [your] rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

Word-by-Word Parsing

Verse 36

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
Τότε τότε G5119 Adverb
ἔρχεται ἔρχομαι G2064 V-PNI-3S — Pres Mid/Pass Ind 3Sg (historical present)
μετ᾽ μετά G3326 Prep
αὐτῶν αὐτός G846 P-GPM
ὁ Ἰησοῦς Ἰησοῦς G2424 Art + N-NSM
εἰς εἰς G1519 Prep
χωρίον χωρίον G5564 N-ASN — field, piece of land
λεγόμενον λέγω G3004 V-PPP-ASN — Pres Pass Ptcp (being called)
Γεθσημανεί Γεθσημανί G1068 N-PRI — Gethsemane
καὶ λέγει λέγω G3004 V-PAI-3S — Pres Act Ind 3Sg (historical present)
τοῖς μαθηταῖς μαθητής G3101 N-DPM
Καθίσατε καθίζω G2523 V-AAM-2P — Aor Act Impv 2Pl (sit down!)
αὐτοῦ αὐτοῦ G847 Adv — here
ἕως οὗ ἕως / ὅς G2193/G3739 until which
ἀπελθὼν ἀπέρχομαι G565 V-2AAP-NSM — Aor Act Ptcp
ἐκεῖ ἐκεῖ G1563 Adv
προσεύξωμαι προσεύχομαι G4336 V-ADS-1S — Aor Dep Subj 1Sg (I may pray)

Verse 37

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
παραλαβὼν παραλαμβάνω G3880 V-2AAP-NSM — Aor Act Ptcp
τὸν Πέτρον Πέτρος G4074 Art + N-ASM
τοὺς δύο υἱοὺς υἱός G5207 Art + A + N-APM
Ζεβεδαίου Ζεβεδαῖος G2199 N-GSM
ἤρξατο ἄρχω G756 V-ADI-3S — Aor Mid Ind 3Sg (he began)
λυπεῖσθαι λυπέω G3076 V-PPN — Pres Pass Inf (to be grieved)
καὶ ἀδημονεῖν ἀδημονέω G85 V-PAN — Pres Act Inf (to be troubled, distressed to the point of anguish)

Verse 38

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
Περίλυπός περίλυπος G4036 A-NSF — exceedingly sorrowful
ἐστιν εἰμί G1510 V-PAI-3S
ἡ ψυχή μου ψυχή / ἐγώ G5590/G1473 Art + N-NSF + P-1GS
ἕως θανάτου ἕως / θάνατος G2193/G2288 Adv + N-GSM — "unto death"
μείνατε μένω G3306 V-AAM-2P — Aor Act Impv 2Pl (remain!)
ὧδε ὧδε G5602 Adv
γρηγορεῖτε γρηγορέω G1127 V-PAM-2P — Pres Act Impv 2Pl (keep watching!)
μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ μετά / ἐγώ G3326/G1473 Prep + P-1GS

Verse 39 — THE FIRST PRAYER

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
προελθὼν προέρχομαι G4281 V-2AAP-NSM — Aor Act Ptcp (going forward)
μικρὸν μικρός G3398 A-ASN — a little (adverbial accusative)
ἔπεσεν πίπτω G4098 V-2AAI-3S — Aor Act Ind 3Sg (he fell)
ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ πρόσωπον / αὐτός G4383/G846 Prep + N-ASN + P-GSM
προσευχόμενος προσεύχομαι G4336 V-PNP-NSM — Pres Mid Ptcp (praying)
λέγων λέγω G3004 V-PAP-NSM — Pres Act Ptcp (saying)
Πάτερ μου πατήρ / ἐγώ G3962/G1473 N-VSM — Vocative + P-1GS (My Father!)
εἰ εἰ G1487 Cond particle (if)
δυνατόν ἐστιν δυνατός / εἰμί G1415/G1510 A-NSN + V-PAI-3S
παρελθάτω παρέρχομαι G3928 V-2AAM-3S — Aor Act Impv 3Sg (let it pass!)
ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ ἀπό / ἐγώ G575/G1473 Prep + P-1GS
τὸ ποτήριον τοῦτο ποτήριον / οὗτος G4221/G3778 Art + N-NSN + D-NSN (this cup)
πλὴν πλήν G4133 Adv (nevertheless)
οὐχ ὡς ἐγὼ θέλω θέλω G2309 V-PAI-1S
ἀλλ᾽ ὡς σύ ἀλλά / σύ G235/G4771 Conj + P-2NS

Verse 40

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
ἔρχεται ἔρχομαι G2064 V-PNI-3S (historical present)
εὑρίσκει εὑρίσκω G2147 V-PAI-3S (historical present)
καθεύδοντας καθεύδω G2518 V-PAP-APM — Pres Act Ptcp (sleeping, ongoing)
Οὕτως οὕτω G3779 Adv
οὐκ ἰσχύσατε ἰσχύω G2480 V-AAI-2P — Aor Act Ind (you had no strength)
μίαν ὥραν εἷς / ὥρα G1520/G5610 A-ASF + N-ASF — accusative of duration
γρηγορῆσαι γρηγορέω G1127 V-AAN — Aor Act Inf

Verse 41

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
γρηγορεῖτε γρηγορέω G1127 V-PAM-2P — Pres Act Impv (keep watching!)
προσεύχεσθε προσεύχομαι G4336 V-PNM-2P — Pres Mid Impv (keep praying!)
ἵνα μὴ ἵνα / μή G2443/G3361 purpose/negative
εἰσέλθητε εἰσέρχομαι G1525 V-2AAS-2P — Aor Act Subj 2Pl (that you not enter)
εἰς πειρασμόν πειρασμός G3986 Prep + N-ASM
τὸ μὲν πνεῦμα πνεῦμα G4151 Art + Prt + N-NSN
πρόθυμον πρόθυμος G4289 A-NSN — ready, willing
ἡ δὲ σὰρξ σάρξ G4561 Art + Conj + N-NSF
ἀσθενής ἀσθενής G772 A-NSF — weak

Verse 42 — THE PIVOT

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
πάλιν πάλιν G3825 Adv
ἐκ δευτέρου δεύτερος G1208 Prep + A-GSN
προσηύξατο προσεύχομαι G4336 V-ADI-3S — Aor Mid Ind (he prayed — completed act)
Πάτερ μου πατήρ G3962 N-VSM
εἰ οὐ δύναται δύναμαι G1410 Cond + Neg + V-PNI-3S (if it is not possible)
τοῦτο παρελθεῖν οὗτος / παρέρχομαι G3778/G3928 D-NSN + V-2AAN (for this to pass)
ἐὰν μὴ ἐάν / μή G1437/G3361 Cond (unless, except)
αὐτὸ πίω αὐτός / πίνω G846/G4095 P-ASN + V-2AAS-1S — Aor Act Subj 1Sg (unless I drink it)
γενηθήτω γίνομαι G1096 V-AOM-3S — Aor Passive Impv 3Sg (let it be done!)
τὸ θέλημά σου θέλημα / σύ G2307/G4771 Art + N-NSN + P-2GS

Verse 43

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
ἐλθὼν ἔρχομαι G2064 V-2AAP-NSM — Aor Act Ptcp
εὗρεν εὑρίσκω G2147 V-2AAI-3S — Aor Act Ind
καθεύδοντας καθεύδω G2518 V-PAP-APM
ἦσαν εἰμί G1510 V-IAI-3P — Imperfect (were being, ongoing state)
γὰρ γάρ G1063 Conj (for)
βεβαρημένοι βαρέω G916 V-RPP-NPM — Perfect Pass Ptcp (having been weighed down, standing weighed)

Verse 44

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
ἀφεὶς ἀφίημι G863 V-2AAP-NSM — Aor Act Ptcp (having left)
πάλιν ἀπελθὼν πάλιν / ἀπέρχομαι G3825/G565 Adv + V-2AAP-NSM
προσηύξατο προσεύχομαι G4336 V-ADI-3S
ἐκ τρίτου τρίτος G5154 Prep + A-GSN (a third time)
τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον αὐτός / λόγος G846/G3056 Art + P + N-ASM (the same word)
εἰπὼν λέγω G3004 V-2AAP-NSM — Aor Act Ptcp

Verse 45

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
ἔρχεται ἔρχομαι G2064 V-PNI-3S (historical present)
λέγει λέγω G3004 V-PAI-3S (historical present)
Καθεύδετε καθεύδω G2518 V-PAI-2P — Pres Act Ind 2Pl (not imperative — "you are sleeping")
λοιπὸν λοιπός G3063 A-ASN — adverbial "henceforth / still"
ἀναπαύεσθε ἀναπαύω G373 V-PMI-2P — Pres Mid Ind 2Pl (you are resting)
ἰδοὺ ὁράω G3708 V-2AMM-2S — frozen interjection (behold!)
ἤγγικεν ἐγγίζω G1448 V-RAI-3S — Perfect Act Ind 3Sg (has drawn near and is here)
ἡ ὥρα ὥρα G5610 Art + N-NSF — the hour
ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου υἱός / ἄνθρωπος G5207/G444 Art + N-NSM + Art + N-GSM — Son of Man
παραδίδοται παραδίδωμι G3860 V-PPI-3S — Pres Pass Ind 3Sg (is being handed over — futuristic present / divine passive)
εἰς χεῖρας χείρ G5495 Prep + N-APF
ἁμαρτωλῶν ἁμαρτωλός G268 A-GPM — of sinners

Verse 46

Word Lemma Strong Parsing
ἐγείρεσθε ἐγείρω G1453 V-PEM-2P — Pres Mid/Pass Impv (rise!)
ἄγωμεν ἄγω G71 V-PAS-1P — Pres Act Subj 1Pl — hortatory (let us go!)
ἰδοὺ ὁράω G3708 V-2AMM-2S — interjection
ἤγγικεν ἐγγίζω G1448 V-RAI-3S — Perfect
ὁ παραδιδούς παραδίδωμι G3860 V-PAP-NSM — Pres Act Ptcp, articular substantive (the one betraying)
με ἐγώ G1473 P-1AS

Key Grammatical Features

1. παρελθάτω → γενηθήτω — The Pivot of the Two Prayers

The grammatical hinge of the passage lies between v.39 and v.42. Both verbs are third-person aorist imperatives — a rare form in the NT that expresses a direct command issued toward a third-party subject (here, the "cup" and the "will").

  • v.39 παρελθάτω (G3928, παρέρχομαι) — V-2AAM-3S — "let it pass by." The cup is the grammatical subject; Christ addresses the cup itself and commands it to pass. The conditional frame εἰ δυνατόν ἐστιν ("if it is possible") makes this a petition bounded by the Father's possibility.
  • v.42 γενηθήτω (G1096, γίνομαι) — V-AOM-3S — "let it come to be." Form is aorist passive in morphology but middle/stative in sense ("become, happen"). The subject is τὸ θέλημά σου ("your will"). This is the same form used in the Lord's Prayer (Mat 6:10).

The structural pivot: in v.39 Christ commands the cup ("let it pass from me"); in v.42 he commands the Father's will ("let yours be done"). The subject of the imperative shifts from the object of his dread to the sovereign plan. The form is the same; the submission is total.

The conditional frames reinforce this. V.39 uses εἰ δυνατόν ἐστιν ("if it is possible") — open-ended first-class condition. V.42 flips it: εἰ οὐ δύναται τοῦτο παρελθεῖν ἐὰν μὴ αὐτὸ πίω ("if this cannot pass unless I drink it") — Christ now states the negated alternative that answers his own question. By v.42 he has received the answer: the cup cannot pass; therefore γενηθήτω.

2. πίω — The Aorist Subjunctive of Drinking the Cup

v.42 πίω (G4095, πίνω) — V-2AAS-1S — Aorist Active Subjunctive, 1st person singular. Embedded in ἐὰν μὴ αὐτὸ πίω ("unless I drink it"), this is the grammatical heart of the atonement decision. The aorist aspect frames the drinking as a single completed act — not a repeated sipping, but one decisive draught. The subjunctive mood registers the act as contingent in the condition-clause but, paired with γενηθήτω, becomes the accepted path forward.

Note: the pronoun αὐτὸ (it, neuter) matches τὸ ποτήριον (the cup, neuter) — the same cup of v.39 is now the thing he will drink.

3. ἤγγικεν — The Perfect That Closes the Scene (vv.45, 46)

ἤγγικεν (G1448, ἐγγίζω) appears twice — V-RAI-3S — Perfect Active Indicative 3Sg. The Greek perfect describes a completed past action whose result stands in the present: "has drawn near and is now here." Twice Christ marks the arrival:

  • v.45 ἤγγικεν ἡ ὥρα — "the hour has arrived and stands."
  • v.46 ἤγγικεν ὁ παραδιδούς με — "the betrayer has arrived and stands."

The perfect tense is dramatically different from an aorist here. An aorist would merely report "the hour drew near." The perfect asserts that the event has crossed the threshold and its result abides — the tension is no longer anticipatory but present. Pairing both perfects with ἰδοὺ ("behold!") turns v.45-46 into a dual arrival announcement: the hour is here; the betrayer is here.

4. παραδίδοται and παραδιδούς — The Handing-Over of Two Tenses (v.45-46)

Two forms of παραδίδωμι (G3860) frame the conclusion:

  • v.45 παραδίδοται — V-PPI-3S — Present Passive Indicative 3Sg (is being handed over). This is a futuristic present — an imminent event so certain that it is described as already in motion. The passive voice without stated agent can be read as a divine passive: the handing-over is under God's appointment. The agents named next — "into the hands of sinners" — are the instrument, not the ultimate cause.
  • v.46 ὁ παραδιδούς με — V-PAP-NSM — Present Active Participle, articular substantive (the one betraying me). The article + participle construction creates a title: "the betrayer." The present aspect is timeless-identifying — this is who Judas now is. The participle names a role he cannot step out of at this moment.

The symmetry is striking: the divine passive παραδίδοται (what is being done to the Son) is answered by the active participle ὁ παραδιδούς (the one doing it). Both are present — the action is unfolding in real time.

5. Historical Presents — ἔρχεται and λέγει (vv.36, 40, 45)

Matthew's narrative frame uses the present indicative for past events at the scene's major turns:

  • v.36 ἔρχεται... λέγει ("comes... says")
  • v.40 ἔρχεται... εὑρίσκει... λέγει ("comes... finds... says")
  • v.45 ἔρχεται... λέγει ("comes... says")

These are historical presents (V-PNI-3S / V-PAI-3S) — past-time narration in present-tense morphology. The effect is immediacy: the reader is pulled into the scene as it happens. Three cycles of prayer-and-return are each opened with ἔρχεται, producing a three-beat rhythm that matches the three prayers of v.39, v.42, v.44.

6. γρηγορεῖτε — Present Imperative vs. Aorist Imperative (vv.38, 41)

The disciples receive imperatives in two aspects:

  • v.38 μείνατε (Aor Impv) καὶ γρηγορεῖτε (Pres Impv) — "remain" (a single act: stay there) + "keep watching" (ongoing).
  • v.41 γρηγορεῖτε καὶ προσεύχεσθε — both Present Imperatives (keep watching, keep praying).

The present imperative commands continuous, habitual action. In v.41, after the first failure, Christ intensifies: not a single watchful moment but a sustained posture. The contrast with v.38's single μείνατε (aorist — "stay here in this place, one act") marks Christ's growing demand as the hour closes in.

7. βεβαρημένοι — Perfect Passive Participle of Heavy Eyes (v.43)

βεβαρημένοι (G916, βαρέω) — V-RPP-NPM — Perfect Passive Participle Nom Pl Masc. Periphrastic construction: ἦσαν... βεβαρημένοι = "were [having been] weighed down." The perfect participle plus imperfect ἦσαν forms a periphrastic pluperfect — "their eyes stood weighed down." The passive voice leaves the weight's source unnamed (physical exhaustion, spiritual inability — Matthew does not say). The stative force of the perfect puts the disciples in a fixed condition: their eyes are heavy and remain heavy.

8. ἤρξατο λυπεῖσθαι καὶ ἀδημονεῖν — The Onset of Anguish (v.37)

ἤρξατο (G756) — V-ADI-3S — Aorist Middle Indicative (he began) + two present active/passive infinitives λυπεῖσθαι ("to be grieved") and ἀδημονεῖν ("to be in anguish"). The construction ἄρχομαι + infinitive is a formal incipient idiom: "he began to [do X] — and continued doing it." The present infinitives mark the grief and anguish as ongoing states, not momentary pangs. What begins in Gethsemane will not let go until Golgotha.

ἀδημονέω is the strongest Greek word for psychic distress — used only three times in the NT (Mat 26:37; Mar 14:33; Phi 2:26). It denotes distress so sharp it borders on collapse.

9. ἐγείρεσθε... ἄγωμεν — The Hortatory Close (v.46)

Verse 46 closes with two commands in different forms:

  • ἐγείρεσθε — V-PEM-2P — Present Middle/Passive Imperative 2Pl ("rise up!") — addressed to the disciples.
  • ἄγωμεν — V-PAS-1P — Present Active Subjunctive 1Pl. This is a hortatory subjunctive — "let us go." The 1st-person-plural subjunctive replaces the imperative when the speaker includes himself in the command.

Christ does not command them to go somewhere; he joins them: "let us go." The hortatory subjunctive refuses to leave them behind — even as he walks into the betrayal. This single verb form carries the whole pastoral posture of the scene's closing.

10. Πάτερ μου — Vocative of Intimate Address (vv.39, 42)

Πάτερ (G3962, πατήρ) — N-VSM — Vocative Singular Masculine. Both prayers open with the vocative plus μου ("my"): "My Father!" The vocative is the direct-address form; paired with the first-person pronoun μου, it is intimate and possessive — the address of a son, not a petitioner.

Matthew preserves this Greek form of what Mark transliterates as Αββα (Mar 14:36). The vocative carries the whole Trinitarian weight of the scene: Christ addresses the Father as his Father even as he asks for the cup to pass, and addresses the same Father as his Father when he accepts the cup. The vocative form does not change between the two prayers — the relationship is constant; only the petition resolves.

Clause Structure

The pericope divides into three prayer-and-return cycles, each opened with a historical-present ἔρχεται, followed by a finding of sleep, followed by a rebuke or declaration:

Cycle 1 (vv.36-40): - Setting — v.36 (arrival at Gethsemane) - Inner circle — v.37 (Peter + sons of Zebedee, onset of anguish) - First address — v.38 (ψυχή exceedingly sorrowful; watch-command with aor + pres impv) - First prayer — v.39 (παρελθάτω — "let it pass") - Return + finding asleep — v.40 (historical presents; rebuke to Peter)

Cycle 2 (vv.41-43): - Exhortation — v.41 (present imperatives; spirit/flesh maxim) - Second prayer — v.42 (γενηθήτω — "let it be done") - Return + finding asleep — v.43 (perfect passive ptcp — eyes "weighed down")

Cycle 3 (vv.44-46): - Third prayer — v.44 (same λόγος as v.42; redundancy signals closure) - Return + declaration — v.45 (perfect ἤγγικεν — "the hour has arrived"; futuristic present παραδίδοται) - Final summons — v.46 (hortatory ἄγωμεν; perfect ἤγγικεν repeated; articular present participle ὁ παραδιδούς)

The three prayers echo the three Lord-have-mercy pattern of Jewish piety and match the three returns. The second prayer is the pivot; the third seals it. The scene closes not with prayer but with motion — ἐγείρεσθε, ἄγωμεν — the submission of v.42 now enacted in the body.

The Pivot: Summary of Morphological Movement

Position Form Parsing Function
v.39 Prayer 1 παρελθάτω Aor Act Impv 3Sg "let the cup pass" (petition)
v.39 frame εἰ δυνατόν ἐστιν 1st-class cond "if possible" (question open)
v.39 close οὐχ ὡς ἐγὼ θέλω ἀλλ᾽ ὡς σύ Pres Act Ind 1Sg + ellipsis will-submission stated
v.42 frame εἰ οὐ δύναται... ἐὰν μὴ πίω 1st-cl neg + 3rd-cl cond "if not... unless I drink" (question answered)
v.42 Prayer 2 γενηθήτω Aor Pass Impv 3Sg "let it be done" (submission)
v.42 Prayer 2 πίω Aor Act Subj 1Sg "I drink [it]" (the cup accepted)
v.45 παραδίδοται Pres Pass Ind 3Sg divine passive — handing-over begins
v.45, 46 ἤγγικεν Perf Act Ind 3Sg "the hour / betrayer has arrived and is here"
v.46 ἄγωμεν Pres Act Subj 1Pl — hortatory "let us go" — motion into the hour

The grammatical arc: conditional petition → contrary condition answered → submissive imperative → accepted drinking → present-passive arrival → perfect standing-near → hortatory motion. The cup is drunk grammatically before it is drunk physically.

Cross-References

Grammar library: - mood-aorist-imperative.md — third-person aorist imperatives (παρελθάτω, γενηθήτω) - divine-passive.md — παραδίδοται in v.45 - participle-perfect-passive-state.md — βεβαρημένοι in v.43 - participle-legon-discourse.md — λέγων in vv.39, 42 - aorist-passive-indicative.md — related aorist passive morphology

Word studies: - G4221-poterion.md — ποτήριον, the cup - TR-kowc-poterion.md — Hebrew כּוֹס / Greek ποτήριον bridge - G3962-pater.md — πατήρ vocative

Parallel passages (for further grammatical comparison): - Mark 14:32-42 — parallel account; preserves Αββα (vocative) alongside ὁ πατήρ - Luke 22:39-46 — parallel account; adds strengthening angel and bloody sweat - John 18:11 — "the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" — πίνω aorist subj - Mat 6:10 — γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου — identical form to Mat 26:42 (the Lord's Prayer fulfilled by the Lord himself) - Mat 20:22; 26:27-29 — prior "cup" sayings in Matthew - Isa 51:17, 22; Jer 25:15-17; Psa 75:8 — OT cup-of-wrath background (LXX ποτήριον)