Matthew 26:41 English Standard Version (ESV) Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Mark 14:38 English Standard Version (ESV) Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Romans 8:3 English Standard Version (ESV) For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

I appreciate that Matthew and Mark quoted the exact same words. It is confirming a truth which we can all identify with. Paul explains for us in Romans 8:3 what the effect weak flesh has in connection with keeping the law. Weak flesh keeps the law from performing the function of being righteous. If we do right we are right.

Knowing we are weak God sent His Son Jesus Christ to do for us what we could not do for ourselves, to condemn sin itself. The first verse in Romans 8 puts condemnation to task and is the subject of the first portions of Romans 8.

Romans 8:1 English Standard Version (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit). Those words added to the ESV translation are a reminder that if we are in Christ, this is how we should walk with Christ. It seems we need to be constantly reminded of how to walk. Perhaps that is because we still have to deal with our weak flesh.

Before we go too far afield allow me to draw us back to the no condemnation issue. Romans 8:3 point out that sin has been condemned. It lives under a death sentence. That is what condemned means. We who are in Christ no longer live under a sentence of death.

We have already been executed. Jeopardy is applied. We cannot be crucified afresh.

John 4:24 English Standard Version (ESV) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

There are times within the Word of God that the word must is used. It is a word of necessity even if we do not understand the reasoning behind those necessities, God said must. There must be a good reason behind it.

I checked all the English translations of John 4:24 and discovered that the vast majority of translations use the word must. There were other words used in substitution which carry similar if not the same meaning. Necessary was one of them. Then there were a few versions that translated the original in such a manner that I became uncomfortable reading them. I have my reasons, my opinion, and for me to tell you they are wrong and to avoid reading those versions would be hypocritical of me considering what I said yesterday.

If I were to say any translation is so far afield of other translations that God cannot use that translation to touch the lost, I would be utterly wrong. Nothing is impossible for God. On the other hand I find certain things to be extremely difficult. I can share my opinions, I can reason with others, but I do not have the right to insist that anyone must agree with me or be in peril for ending our relationship.

When we break off communication all hope is lost. Wars are not settled on the battle field, they are settled at the peace tables. Both sides must sue for peace or one side will suffer genocide and the victor will be seen by history as evil. The tactics of warfare in this kingdom are performed in the heavenly realms and not by making others suffer.

Ephesians 6:12 English Standard Version (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.