Luke 22:36

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Dude653

Dude653

Senior Member
#1
Mar 19, 2011
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#1
This is a widely debated scripture. Some say the sword is a metaphor but I see no reason to believe so. I believe Jesus literally wanted his disciples to buy swords to defend themselves.
Often throughout the Bible a sword is used as a metaphor for the word of God but seeing as how these were men who hung out with Jesus everyday and witnessed all his miracles, they would have already had the metaphorical sword
 
Z

Zi

Guest
#2
#2
Later Peter did not chop the ear off of a man with a metaphorical sword. He would have used the one purchased
 
J

Jackson123

Senior Member
#3
Feb 6, 2014
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#3
Dude653 said:
This is a widely debated scripture. Some say the sword is a metaphor but I see no reason to believe so. I believe Jesus literally wanted his disciples to buy swords to defend themselves.
Often throughout the Bible a sword is used as a metaphor for the word of God but seeing as how these were men who hung out with Jesus everyday and witnessed all his miracles, they would have already had the metaphorical sword
Click to expand...
Paul never defend himself use sword, no did Stephen or other apostle.
 
MarcR

MarcR

Senior Member
#4
Feb 12, 2015
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#4
What Peter did with his literal sword, Jesus took upon Himself to undo.

Which brings us back to the figurative sword, I believe.
 
S

shrume

Senior Member
#5
Jun 26, 2017
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#5
MarcR said:
What Peter did with his literal sword, Jesus took upon Himself to undo.

Which brings us back to the figurative sword, I believe.
Click to expand...
Can you sell a coat and buy a figurative sword?
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#6
Jul 18, 2017
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#6
Dude653 said:
This is a widely debated scripture. Some say the sword is a metaphor but I see no reason to believe so. I believe Jesus literally wanted his disciples to buy swords to defend themselves.
Click to expand...
You are correct. There is nothing metaphorical about the items mentioned in that verse -- a money belt, a traveler's sack and a sword for self-defense. In those days people were walking while traveling from point A to point B. They were also in danger of being attacked by robbers (as in the parable of the Good Samaritan). We don't know whether the apostles actually followed these instructions or not, but chances are that because this was spoken by the Lord, they did exactly as instructed.

Also, what Peter did was not in self-defense, but to defend the Lord, and He did not need (or want) such actions taken on His behalf. He could have summoned a host of angels if that was the plan.
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#8
Jul 31, 2013
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#8
MarcR said:
What Peter did with his literal sword, Jesus took upon Himself to undo.

Which brings us back to the figurative sword, I believe.
Click to expand...

it's very significant that Jesus healed Malchus' ear

but is it odd that Peter had a sword all this time, without Jesus encouraging him to dispose of it?

They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords."
And He said to them, "It is enough."
(Luke 22:38)​

some people say that when He told them "it is enough" we should read that in an exasperated tone of voice that almost means "shut up!!" -- like you're craning your head back to tell the kids in the backseat to stop acting up and sit quietly ((or else!! i'll pull this car over!!)) . . . i don't know about that, but i guess it's possible.

still, maybe more significantly, in Gethsemane is the only record i know of where Peter actually used his sword. he seems to have put it in his scabbard, and left it there. ((or maybe the record's just incomplete))
 
Dude653

Dude653

Senior Member
#9
Mar 19, 2011
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#9
Live By The Sword and die by the sword just means that people who lived violent lives tend to die violent deaths. That certainly doesn't mean we cannot defend ourselves if need be
 
DustyRhodes

DustyRhodes

Senior Member
#10
Dec 30, 2016
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#10
I believe it was literal but not for defence in a fight. He was sending them out into
the world and then as now, there are many obstacles that can be encountered.
For example wolves, jackals or any other matter of beast. That makes more sense
as it falls into scripture. At the same time, some churches take it as a call for all
in the congregation to buy arms. The thing is if you take something literally as they
defend, then sword means sword and not gun. Two or three verses later, Jesus ask
how many swords to you have and they responded two. Jesus said that is enough.
Therefore staying on the theme of literally, 2 means 2 and not 2 hundred. In my view
that is not a literal understand but a creative one.
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#11
Jul 31, 2013
36,665
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#11
I've been studying longsword fighting for several years now so I like to take the more strictly literal view haha

But yes, good point about 2 being 'enough' - for at least 12 men, arguably 70, or even more!
 
G

gdyloves

Banned
#12
Aug 8, 2017
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#12
I think Jesus meant it metaphorically.
He was saying to the disciples remember when u needed nothing cause I provided for you he was using that as a reference to compare and contrast to the events that they were about to go through they were safe before but now "get your bags and a sword" in other words things are changing . The disciples often misunderstood his words because they took them literal that is why when one of them said "I'll get two swords" Jesus said "enough" cause he knew his words were falling on deaf ears.
 
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