Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

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BibleExplorer

Junior Member
Jul 1, 2017
18
3
3
#1
"Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Luke 22:44

Whenever this verse comes up, the discussion is usually about whether or not somebody could actually sweat blood, and often involves a medical explanation of how it could happen to a person under extreme duress.

I'm wondering if maybe we've jumped to the conclusion that He actually sweat blood.

Maybe the Scripture is just giving us a mental picture of the profuse sweating, the amount of sweat much greater than a normal sweat.

In great amount and falling in drops rapidly. The sweat was not falling like rain, that would be an obvious exaggeration, but maybe it was falling like blood when someone's bleeding.

What are your thoughts?
 
Jan 25, 2015
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#2
If your body is under a certain amount of stress the veins burstand if they are in your sweat glands it could appear as if you are sweatingblood.

So the answer is yes, you can literally sweatblood.
 

loveme1

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2011
8,083
190
63
#3
The Messiah was to be a literal sacrifice for our sins.. having done no wrong was about to suffer to save us from our destruction.

Water and Blood came out of His side.. I believe blood and water was coming out of Him as He prepared in Spirit.

I remember GOD saying that Abel’s Blood was crying out to Him from the ground..


All these things are True and there is nothing by man needed to explain how.. because by Faith we live.. and somethings we just don’t need the answer to.. can we explain how Mary was with child by the Holy Spirit? Yet it is True and our Faith is that GOD is above us all.. the clay is formed by the Good potter whom they see not in front of them.. yet they see, Hear and feel from within..

Worry not to dispute things you need explanations for.. I believe in GOD and know nothing is impossible for Him. Inner content.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,097
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#4
Luke 22:39) And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40 .) And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 .) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 .) Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 .) And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 .) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 .) And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

Seems to me it is simply a descriptive statement and not to be taken literally, but that is just me....;
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
6,624
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#5
Personally, I agree with P_R.... I think it is a description of how the sweat dripped off him because of his anguish in prayer.

I don't think he literally sweated blood from his pores...
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,542
3,503
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#6
Personally, I agree with P_R.... I think it is a description of how the sweat dripped off him because of his anguish in prayer.

I don't think he literally sweated blood from his pores...
Agreed. The word "as" gives us the thought that it was not literal blood. One is in anguish and pain if blood is flowing down one's face, so the Lord also was in anguish and pain as He prayed and sweat poured down His face.
 
Mar 28, 2016
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#7
Sweat is used spiritually to symbolizes a unseen work.

Christ is doing a spiritual work of pouring out His Spirit not seen according to the promised demonstration.(Isaiah 53 ) The words "as it were" help us know a parable is in view.

The father strengthening Him so he could finish the work of the two working together in perfect harmony and submission to one another .Therefore bringing us the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding.

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.Luk 22:42

Blood and water both symbolize that not seen the pouring out of His Spirit. When the scriptures uses the phrase... "drink the blood" it is in respect to the work of one giving strength to another.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
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#8
Why can't you believe?

Consider how offensive our sin was before God. This was a great offense and required a great effort to set aright. If a man could atone for his sins it would require an even greater effort than to pray with such intensity as to sweat blood. Christ exhibited an effort, a labor in prayer far greater than any man had ever demonstrated by His blood stained sweat yet He still was going to the cross to finish the atonement.

The intensity of the prayer effort of Christ on our behalf should never be diminished. The offense of our sin can never be understated in the presence of our Holy God.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
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#9
Why can't you believe?

Consider how offensive our sin was before God. This was a great offense and required a great effort to set aright. If a man could atone for his sins it would require an even greater effort than to pray with such intensity as to sweat blood. Christ exhibited an effort, a labor in prayer far greater than any man had ever demonstrated by His blood stained sweat yet He still was going to the cross to finish the atonement.

The intensity of the prayer effort of Christ on our behalf should never be diminished. The offense of our sin can never be understated in the presence of our Holy God.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
Why can't some believe what? Are you saying that his flesh did profit and it was used for more than a demonstration of a work not seen and sin could be atoned for by human ability ?
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
6,624
1,381
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#10
[SUP]22:44[/SUP] And having become in agony, he was praying more intensely, and his sweat became like thick drops of blood going down upon the soil.
Again, his sweat became like drops of blood... Luke did not say his sweat became blood....

It doesn't matter, really.... the message is that Jesus was in agonizing prayer, NOT "did he actually sweat blood"...

He could have, I firmly believe that. I'm simply going by what the scripture says... his sweat was LIKE great drops of blood dripping to the ground.
 
Sep 6, 2017
1,331
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#11
Yes they were anguishing prayers, like blood falling from a wound,

Mt26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Mt26:37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Lk22:40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
Mt26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

Lk22:41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
Lk22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
Lk22:44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Mk14:35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.

Mk14:37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
Mk14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Mk14:39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.

Mt26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
Mt26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Lk22:45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
Mt26:43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
Lk22:46 "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Mt26:41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Mt26:44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Mk14:36 <"Abba>, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Lk22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
Mk14:40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Mk14:41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
 
Jan 25, 2015
9,213
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#12
[h=2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematidrosis

Signs and symptoms[/h]Blood usually oozes from the forehead, nails, umbilicus, and other skin surfaces. In addition, oozing from mucocutaneous surfaces causing nosebleeds, blood stained tears, and vicarious menstruation are common.[SUP][2][/SUP] The episodes may be proceeded by intense headache and abdominal pain and are usually self-limiting. In some conditions, the secreted fluid is more dilute and appears to be blood-tinged, while others may have darker bright red secretions resembling blood.[SUP][3][/SUP]
While the extent of blood loss generally is minimal, hematidrosis also results in the skin becoming extremely tender and fragile.
[h=2]Causes[/h]Hematidrosis is a condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood, occurring under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress.[SUP][4][/SUP] Severe mental anxiety activates the sympathetic nervous system to invoke the stress-fight or flight reaction to such a degree as to cause hemorrhage of the vessels supplying the sweat glands into the ducts of the sweat glands.[SUP][5][/SUP] It has been suggested that acute fear and extreme stress can cause hematidrosis.[SUP][6][/SUP]
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,097
6,480
113
#14
This kinda brings to mind the way some folks think the bread and wine used during Communion actually become the flesh and blood of Christ when they put it in their mouths...........just saying

Again, his sweat became like drops of blood... Luke did not say his sweat became blood....

It doesn't matter, really.... the message is that Jesus was in agonizing prayer, NOT "did he actually sweat blood"...

He could have, I firmly believe that. I'm simply going by what the scripture says... his sweat was LIKE great drops of blood dripping to the ground.
 

gotime

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2011
3,537
88
48
#15
"Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Luke 22:44

Whenever this verse comes up, the discussion is usually about whether or not somebody could actually sweat blood, and often involves a medical explanation of how it could happen to a person under extreme duress.

I'm wondering if maybe we've jumped to the conclusion that He actually sweat blood.

Maybe the Scripture is just giving us a mental picture of the profuse sweating, the amount of sweat much greater than a normal sweat.

In great amount and falling in drops rapidly. The sweat was not falling like rain, that would be an obvious exaggeration, but maybe it was falling like blood when someone's bleeding.

What are your thoughts?
Luke was a physician of the time. I think he said blood because He literally began to sweat blood. I don't think it is a coincidence that the only place this is mentioned is in Luke being a doctor of sorts.

Once one understands what Jesus was going through it becomes clear why there is so much stress to this point here in the garden.

What is happening here is seen in the shadow of the sanctuary. Our sins are at this time being put on Christ and he is already starting to feel the separation from His Father.

Sweating blood is a serious problem and when it happens it means death is near that is why Jesus also said:

Mat 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
"even unto death"

That is why Luke records that He needed strength:

Luk 22:43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luk 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

notice even after he gets strengthened he is still in agony.

I believe he needed strengthening so that our sin did not crush him before the time of the cross. And it was not the cross that killed Him but our sin. That is why they were surprised when Jesus died so early.

any way my two cents. take it or leave it. blessings.
 

Jimbone

Senior Member
Aug 22, 2014
2,694
818
113
44
#16
Yes they were anguishing prayers, like blood falling from a wound,

Mt26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Mt26:37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Lk22:40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
Mt26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

Lk22:41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
Lk22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
Lk22:44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Mk14:35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.

Mk14:37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
Mk14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Mk14:39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.

Mt26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
Mt26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Lk22:45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
Mt26:43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
Lk22:46 "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Mt26:41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Mt26:44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Mk14:36 <"Abba>, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Lk22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
Mk14:40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Mk14:41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Seeing it laid out like this was very cool, I've never seen it like this before. Thanks brother for sharing this, I understand what parallel passages are, and that it makes a more complete picture, but reading it all together in the way you posted was truly awesome to see and I just wanted to thank you for sharing this.
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#17
This kinda brings to mind the way some folks think the bread and wine used during Communion actually become the flesh and blood of Christ when they put it in their mouths...........just saying
Water and blood as to the pouring out of are used in parables to represent that which did profit the giving of spirit life in jeopardy of ones own spirit.. Christ said of his flesh it did not profit.

The promise was in Joel he would pour out his spirit not seen .That which is used to represent His Spirit must be poured into the lifeless spiritless dust it was formed from.

The parable drink blood as it relates to men must be compared to like parables if a person is to find the spiritual understanding hid from natural man . Natural man would think blood is the life of the spirit rather that the other way around walking by sight like the Catholics which they call the real presence and the JW's who also walk by sight and not by faith the unseen.

The gospel as to the suffering of Christ beforehand where given like below .This gives meaning to the words drink the blood informing us it if pouring out of one life in jeopardy of another. I think it is a mirror image of the work in the garden using sweat to indicate he was pouring of His spirit in jeopardy of His own spirit life.


And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!1Ch 11:16

The water at the well by the gate is representative of thirsting for the gospel . Christ repenting the gate the water the gospel

And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David "would not drink of it", but poured it out to the LORD.And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I "drink the blood of these men" that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.1Ch 11:17-19


With the pouring out of Christ Spirit in jeapordy of His own he purchased our salvation.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#18
Why can't some believe what? Are you saying that his flesh did profit and it was used for more than a demonstration of a work not seen and sin could be atoned for by human ability ?
Is the prayer in the garden provided to us as a lesson in prayer? His body reflected the agony of His soul for the sins of the people. Our prayers though they may never attain the same level of intensity as His are certainly intended to never be taken lightly. Prayer is at times to be a labor that we partake in to seek Gods blessing. When is the last time some have even shed a tear in prayer let alone labored with and intensity to produce sweat?

How does the example of Christ laboring in prayer compare to the modern concept of praying in tongues? Praying without effort, knowledge or understanding?

The body, flesh, of Jesus was sacrificed along with His blood to atone for our sin. Isaiah 53 speaks to Jesus receiving stripes in His flesh for our sin.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
Sep 6, 2017
1,331
13
0
#19
Seeing it laid out like this was very cool, I've never seen it like this before. Thanks brother for sharing this, I understand what parallel passages are, and that it makes a more complete picture, but reading it all together in the way you posted was truly awesome to see and I just wanted to thank you for sharing this.
Your welcome brother, I'm happy you enjoyed the orderly passages, when I started with the account I noticed there was three times Jesus went back and forth praying, as well each of the three gospels was presenting each of the prayers differently in what Jesus had said in the prayers and also the reactions of the deciples in three different ways, so from that I could see that all three accounts was to flow together as one account.

currently I'm working on bringing all the four gospels into one orderly flowing book, hopefully one day I will complete my project and be able to share the book with others, from time to time I do post some of the things I've worked on already as I done here.
 
Dec 12, 2013
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#20
Surgeons who have preformed long, difficult, high risk surgeries have sweat blood and or sweat that appeared like blood....I will take the bible for what it says concerning this.......