Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, Jesus' mention of a sword could not have been an actual recommendation for the use of violence by His followers against opponents (especially since He rebuked Peter very shortly thereafter for his use of a sword at the time of His arrest).

Instead, Jesus' words were intended as an emphatic warning to the apostles (and, by extension, to all of His followers) of the greatly increased opposition and persecution that they would face, and have to be prepared to deal with, in the near future when He would no longer be among them. (And that would be in addition to the hazards -- such as wild beasts, for example -- that they would encounter as a normal part of the missionary travels that they would soon be undertaking.)

September 09 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

The sword is a symbol of warfare, conflict and self-defence. Swords were used by people to fight against their enemies.

In the context of this verse, Jesus knows that a massive spiritual battle is about to begin. Satan will try to tempt Jesus to use his power and authority to end his suffering before his mission is completed (to die for the sins of the whole world). Satan already used Judas to betray Jesus and he would fill the disciples with fear and cause them to run away and hide. Satan had asked to sift Peter (the leader of the disciples) as wheat, but Jesus had prayed for Peter, that his faith would not fail him, and when he had turned back, to strengthen his brothers (Luke 22:31-32).

In Luke 22:35 Jesus asked them "When I sent you without a purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" Nothing, they answered. Why? Because Jesus was protecting and empowering them by his Holy Spirit, as they ministered in the towns and villages he sent them to.

But now Jesus could not protect his disciples, because he had to suffer alone to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. Jesus knew that Satan had filled the religious leaders with hatred toward him and they would also vent their anger towards the disciples. So Jesus told them to get a sword to protect themselves, and they brought two swords. 

In Luke 22:47-53 we read about Judas's betrayal and Jesus's arrest. The disciples asked Jesus if they should use their swords now, and Peter struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus said, "No More of this!" and healed the man's ear.

Then Jesus asked the officers of the guard "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? But this is your hour when darkness reigns. In John's gospel account of Jesus's arrest (John 18:1-11) we learn that Jesus asked the temple guard twice "who is it you want" and they replied "Jesus", and he said "I am he". Then Jesus said, "if you are looking for me, then let these men go." This happened to fulfil Jesus word "I have not lost one of those you gave me."

At that moment of Jesus suffering, he was helpless to protect his disciples against the forces of evil allayed against him. In his humanity, I think he initially exhorted them to protect themselves (get a sword) but later told them to stop it, because he was not leading a rebellion. But Jesus had prayed for his disciples, and that was all the protection they needed in this dark hour.

September 09 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Emo Tenorio Shomer

I humbly submit for your consideration the Words spoken by the Lord to expose the significance while addressing His friends then and now.

(Luke 22:34) Jesus dresses down His friend Simon Peter with a prophecy.

(Luke 22:35)”When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?
In this scripture Jesus acknowledges the twelve disciples past kingdom season and then transitions into a new world season with His eleven friends.

(Luke 22:36) "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.

In this scripture Jesus is telling His friends to be prepared for what He knows will soon come upon them, remember the betrayal by Judas is in the back ground.
Consider: If He was speaking spiritually of the Word as meaning a sword?

Why then would He instruct them to sell their cloak to purchase what was already freely given them at supper? One must purchase within the secular world, where as stuff is freely given within the kingdom.

(Luke 22:38) The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords."
"That is enough," he replied.

In this scripture they answer in the affirmative as to possessing two physical objects that Jesus could see, and I humbly submit they are metal swords.

Note: there are only two swords among the eleven, implying only those with the mental - physical abilities and training discipline should carry a sword to protect a larger group. "THAT IS ENOUGH" he replied.

(Luke 22:50) And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

Jesus rebuked Peter for striking a servant only doing what his master had requested also who was not a direct threat. As his back was to the sword in Peter’s right hand to enable the clean cutting of the right ear only. Shield in left hand and sword in the right hand was the custom.

(Luke 22:56-59) Peter disowns Jesus at the fire; likely because some the servants relatives were seated among the crowd, wanting to exact revenge for their poor relative with the new ear problem, which was the custom again.

Bottom line
I submit the Lord knew the season had changed between the first disciple send off and the current one and He was equipping His friends to meet the coming challenges and dangers of this new season. (Luke 12:56)

The first training mission build their faith and the second would build their administrative discipline in the correct deployment and usage of weapons for defending themselves and spreading the Gospel message. (Psalms 149:6-7; Psalms 149:9)

"The occupation of the good soldier of Christ is war" ~Charles Spurgeon

In the Lord's freedom a sheepdog standing.................warrior on

September 09 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

JEAN KABUYA Pastor @Breath of Life

Beloved, here is my understanding of the Scriptures as taught by the Lord and Saviour--Yeshua Ha Massiach, Jesus the Messiah (all Scriptures taken from King George Version). Until this time the 12 had not understood what HE meant.

The Saviour and Prince of Peace would have not told His disciples to buy the metal swords (blades to protect themselves). These could be uses for violence! Whoever uses violence dies by violence.

Ref: When HE is arrested, Cephas (Peter) uses the sword (blade) and rips away Malchus' ear. What does the Lord say? “Return your sword in its ephod for who kills by the sword will die by the sword. I mean here the metal blade called SWORD.

Please read Matt 26:51-52. You may continue to verse 53:
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Remember the law, which stipulated: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But HE taught to love the enemies.

Matt 5:38-42:
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." (48)

As well as the the reply to the rich man in Luke 18:22: ”…sell all and follow me--THE WORD (The Way –The Truth and The Life):

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, "Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."

And what did Yeshua Ha Massiach teach in Matt 6:14-15?
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:25-26;
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Emphasized by Paul to the church in Ephesus 4:32:
2 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

And in Colossians 2:12, 13:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
And Cephas to the Church in 1 Peter 2:1-3…
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

To conclude please read Isaiah 11: 4B:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Ephesians 6:17:
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Hebrews 4:12:
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.

And Revelation 1:16; 19:15.

Stay all blessed!

October 18 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report