Warfare

Take up a Sword?

Jesus told the apostles to take swords so He could heal the ear of a man before the Romans carrying Him off to death, that they might see who He is. The overwhelming evidence of the examples given by Stephen, Paul, etc. was to be martyred, not fight back. The right to bear arms in this country was for militia protection from invasion, and was completely separate from Christian life; it was a secular issue - so why should we be so caught up in the world and not be about our Father's business? We are to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph.6:17). Heb.4:12.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

Luke 22:36-38

36 Then He said to them, “ But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me:‘ And He was numbered with the transgressors. ’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”

38 So they said, “ Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “ It is enough.”

MHCC

The disciples must not expect that their friends would be kind to them as they had been. Therefore, he that has a purse, let him take it, for he may need it. They must now expect that their enemies would be more fierce than they had been, and they would need weapons. At the time the apostles understood Christ to mean real weapons, but he spake only of the weapons of the spiritual warfare. The sword of the Spirit is the sword with which the disciples of Christ must furnish themselves.

WPNT

22:36

Buy a sword (agorasato machairan). This is for defence clearly. The reference is to the special mission in Galilee (Lu 9:1- 6; Mr 6:6- 13; Mt 9:35- 11:1). They are to expect persecution and bitter hostility (Joh 15:18- 21).

Jesus does not mean that his disciples are to repel force by force, but that they are to be ready to defend his cause against attack. Changed conditions bring changed needs. This language can be misunderstood as it was then.

22:38

Lord, behold, here are two swords (kurie idou machairai hode duo). They took his words literally. And before this very night is over Peter will use one of these very swords to try to cut off the head of Malchus only to be sternly rebuked by Jesus (Mr 14:47; Mt 26:51f.; Lu 22:50f.; Joh 18:10f.).

Then Jesus will say:"For all that take the sword shall perish with the sword" (Mt 26:52).

Clearly Jesus did not mean his language even about the sword to be pressed too literally. So he said:"It is enough" (Hikanon estin). It is with sad irony and sorrow that Jesus thus dismisses the subject. They were in no humour now to understand the various sides of this complicated problem. Every preacher and teacher understands this mood, not of impatience, but of closing the subject for the present.