Matthew 14:23
He prays not as one in need, but as high priest making petitions on our behalf. And a little later: until evening, to show that one must not be fickle about this, but have endurance and eagerness. He also teaches this: that when there is need, we ought to speak what benefits the common good to those we meet, and after such conversation and teaching proceed to prayer.
He prays not as God needing something, but as high priest making petitions on our behalf — and yet, according to what he is understood to be and is, God by nature, himself supplying the holy ones’ requests. He prays until evening to show that one must not be fickle about it, but show endurance and long-suffering. So he was going up there and praying (Matthew 14:23).
Greek
Εὔχεται δὲ οὐχ ὡς δεόμενος, ἀλλ' ὡς ἀρχιερεὺς τὰς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἱκεσίας ποιούμενος. καὶ μετ' ὀλί γον· ἕως ἑσπέρας, ἵνα δείξῃ, ὅτι οὐ δεῖ ἁψικόρως ἔχειν περὶ τούτου, ἀλλ' ὑπομονὴν καὶ προθυμίαν. δι δάσκει δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ὥστε ἐν ᾧ χρεία, ὀφείλομεν τὰ κοινωφελῆ λα λεῖν τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσιν καὶ μετὰ τὴν τοιαύτην διάλεξιν καὶ διδασκαλίαν ἐπὶ τὴν προσευχὴν χωρεῖν. Προσεύχεται οὐχ ὡς δεόμε νός τινος ὁ θεός, ἀλλ' ὡς ἀρχιερεὺς τὰς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἱκεσίας ποιούμενος, καίτοι καθ' ὃ νοεῖται καί ἐστι θεὸς φύσει αὐτὸς χορηγῶν τοῖς ἁγίοις τὰ αἰτήματα. εὔχεται δὲ ἕως ἑσπέρας, ἵνα δείξῃ, ὅτι οὐ χρὴ ἁψικόρως ἔχειν περὶ αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ' ὑπομονὴν καὶ μακροθυμίαν ἐνδείκνυσθαι. ὁ μὲν οὖν ἀνέβαινεν ἐκεῖσε καὶ προσ ηύχετο.