Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
In the days of his flesh (Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 10:20). Hebrews 5:7-10 state summarily the subject, to be handled more fully in Hebrews 7:1-28; Hebrews 8:1-13.
When he had offered - rather, 'in that He offered.' His crying and tears were part of the experimental lesson of obedience which He submitted to learn from the Father (when God was qualifying Him for the high priesthood). "Who" is to be construed with "learned (His) obedience;" х teen (G3588)] the obedience which He rendered as the needful qualification for His priesthood. This shows that "Christ glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest" (Hebrews 5:5), but was appointed thereto by the Father.
Prayers and supplications - `both prayers and supplications.' In Gethsemane, where He prayed thrice, and on the cross, "My God my God." etc.: probably repeating inwardly all the 22nd Psalm. "Prayers" refer to the mind; "supplications" also to the body (namely, the suppliant attitude) (Bengel). х Deeeseis (G1162), "prayers," imply need ( dei (G1163)); hiketeerias (G2428), "supplications;" literally, an olive branch wrapt in white wool and bands, which suppliants held in their hands to imply they implored help.]
With strong crying and tears. The "tears" are an additional fact communicated by the inspired apostle, not in the gospels (Matthew 26:37; Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:33; Luke 22:44, "in an agony He prayed more earnestly ... His sweat
... great drops of blood falling down to the ground"). In this, as in other Gospel facts, Paul approximates most to Luke, his companion in travel. Psalms 22:1 ("roaring ... cry"), Psalms 22:2; Psalms 22:19; Psalms 22:21; Psalms 22:24; Psalms 69:3; Psalms 69:10, "I wept."
Able to save him from death - Mark 14:36, "All things are possible unto thee" (John 12:27). His cry showed entire participation of man's infirmity: His reference of His wish to God's will, His sinless faith and obedience.
Heard in that he feared. There is no intimation in Psalms 22:1-31, or the gospels, that Christ prayed to be saved from mere dying. What He feared was the hiding of the Father's countenance. His holy filial love must rightly have shrunk from this strange and bitterest of trials without impatience. To have been passively content at the approach of such a cloud would have been, not faith, but sin. The cup of death He prayed to be freed from was, not corporal, but spiritual - i:e., the (temporary) separation of His human soul from the light of God's countenance. His prayer was "heard" in His Father's strengthening Him to hold fast His unwavering faith under the trial (My God, my God, was still His filial cry, claiming God as His, though God hid His face), and soon removing it in answer to His cry during the darkness, "My God, my God," etc. But see below a further explanation. х Eisakoustheis (G1522) apo (G575) tees (G3588) eulabeias (G2124)] 'Was heard from explanation. х Eisakoustheis (G1522) apo (G575) tees (G3588) eulabeias (G2124)] 'Was heard from His fear' - i:e., so as to be saved from His fear.
Compare Psalms 22:21, "Save me from the lion's mouth (His prayer): thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns." Or what better accords with the strict Greek, 'in consequence of His REVERENTIAL FEAR' - i:e., in that He shrank from separation from the Father's bright presence, yet was reverentially cautious not to harbour a shadow of distrust or want of perfect filial love. In the same sense Hebrews 12:28, and Hebrews 11:7 the verb. The derivation means the cautious handling of some precious, yet delicate vessel, which with ruder handling might easily be broken (Trench). Compare Jesus' spirit, "If it be possible ... nevertheless not my will, but thy will be done;" and with Hebrews 5:5, implying reverent fear: wherein He showed He had the requisite for the office specified (Hebrews 5:4). Alford, 'What is true in the Christian's life, that what we ask from God, though He may not grant in the form we wish, yet He grants in His own, and that a better form, does not hold, good in Christ's case; for Christ's real prayer, "Not my will, but thine be done," in consistency with His reverent fear toward the Father, was granted in the very form in which it was expressed, not in another.