1) Luke 22:36 Peace & Taking the Sword

The disciples of Christ have a serious challenge when it comes to determining their attitude to war. Yahshua has left us with statements that not only have two sides, but are also double edged. He told his disciples,

But now, he that has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (Luke 22:36)

It is quite clear. Yahshua is telling his followers to buy a sword and fight. However, Yahshua's statement regarding carrying weapons is located in a specific context and is designed to make us think rather than give a simple answer. For when Peter does use a sword on the night Yahshua was betrayed, he says to Peter,

“all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword”. Mat. 26:51

That Yahshua expounded the radical principle of loving one's enemies has been well established. He makes no claims that one's enemies will love one in return. He indicates, rather, that by being his follower one will have an increase in enmity. Matthew (10:34) writes that Yahshua said early in the ministry to the disciples:

Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword.

In an environment where he has developed enemies due to challenging statements and they carry swords, what is Yahshua's advice? At the last supper Luke (22:35-38) records a conversation:

He (Yahshua) said unto them, “When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing?”

And they said, “Nothing.”

Then said he unto them, “But now, he that has a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.”

And they said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.”

And he said unto them, “It is enough.”

The advice is to buy a sword. What was Yahshua thinking? Yahshua knows he is about to be killed that night and that his miraculous power is not available to the disciples. Previously, in the ministry the power of Yahweh had protected them and they had no need of anything. Now, for a few days there was no power at all. John (16:7) records Yahshua saying frankly:

It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Intercessor will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Yahshua said that the power personified as 'the intercessor' (also 'comforter', 'counsellor' or 'helper') will be sent. This did happen at Pentecost (Acts 2:4-17). It is recorded that from the last supper to the time of Pentecost the disciples had no extraordinary powers. At the last supper they are given advice to carry swords. However, Yahshua's point may not be that they should carry swords, rather, he is warning them in language as blunt as he knows how that events are about to become nasty, so nasty their lives are in danger. That the danger is sensed is evidenced by the fact there are actually two swords already amongst those gathered. Peter must have taken what was said seriously, for he ends up carrying and using one of the swords. It is to be noted that the circumstances that Yahshua warned the disciples of actually happened that night. The advice may have no relevance to followers at any other time, except as historical information. They do, however, give us Yahshua's opinion. He had no problem with his disciples carrying or even buying swords, at that time. Yahshua implies there may be a time for taking a sword and fighting.

However, at that time when Yahshua is reckoned 'amongst the transgressors', when Peter does take up the sword, he is reprimanded by Yahshua.

The four gospels together give a detailed account of what Jesus said at the time he is taken by the officers.

John18:3-5 : Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, comes there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Jesus went forth, and said unto them, “Whom seek ye?”

They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said unto them, “I am he.”

And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

Then asked he them again, “Whom seek ye?”

And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:”

Luke 22:48-53 But Jesus said unto him, “Judas, betray thou the Son of man with a kiss?”

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, “Lord, shall we smite with the sword?”

John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

Luke 22:48-53 And Jesus answered and said, “Suffer ye thus far.” And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Matthew 26:51-54 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. Think thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

John 18:11 The cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?”

Luke 22:48-53 Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, “Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

From the four accounts we have a fairly complete picture of what happened on that night. Despite knowing the crowd had come with the intent of killing him and having endured great stress with no sleep the night before, Yahshua is calm, thinking on his feet. An armed and militant multitude with weapons featuring prominently, sought Yahshua. When Yahshua is identified they all fall back and the situation becomes more ordered. The disciples, recognise the situation as the one Yahshua warned them of, and despite being outnumbered, ask if they are to use their swords. At this point Yahshua is seized by a group, most likely including Malchus. Peter uses his sword. He is obviously not an expert swordsman for he only takes off an ear. It must have been enough for them to let go, for Yahshua is free to carry out a conversation. Firstly, from Luke's record he answers, “Suffer ye thus far” or “Let be until this”, which seems to indicate they are not to act until some future event, which most likely is Yahshua commanding some space to heal the ear, as he then proceeds to heal the ear. However, it could also equally restrain the disciples from using their swords as it inadvertently answers their question. He then turns to Peter and says the words only recorded by Matthew.

Yahshua gives this thought, almost as if a discovery, to Peter as a reason for not using his sword, that those that take the sword will perish with it. This is not enough of a reason for Peter though and Yahshua explains that this is his choice so the scriptures are be fulfilled, by pointing out that he has access to deliverance and he shows that he must submit to arrest by force.

Yahshua does not tell Peter to never use a sword, or tell him he is wrong for using the sword, rather he tells him the fate of those who do take up swords. On what basis does Yahshua make this claim?

2) Fate of those who take the sword

There are a few precedents for this statement from the scriptures Yahshua knew well where people are killed with their own swords.

Samuel said, As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women. Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal. (1Samuel 15:33)

Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head therewith. (1Samuel 17:51)

You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house (2Samuel 12:9-10)

The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. (Psalm 7:16)

The wicked have drawn out the sword,... Their sword shall enter into their own heart. (Psalm 37:14-15)

All these incidents encapsulate the principle that taking the sword to occasion another's death may result in one's own death.

So why might Yahshua tell his disciples to buy a sword due to the danger they stand in and then, when they have a chance to use a sword, tell them that taking the sword will result in their own death by sword? Firstly it must be realised that the two are not contradictory pieces of advice, but rather statements of a complex two sided reality. Yahshua is not so much telling his disciples to buy a sword, rather he is telling them they are in the type of danger where one would normally need a sword. The danger was real, for James was killed with the sword not long after this (Acts 12:2). He then tells them they should only use this sword if they desire to die by the sword. In other words others will be out to kill you, and you may need to carry a defensive weapon but you shouldn't take hold of it.

To most people this would seem to be rotten advice. But there is a factor that Yahshua believed that makes all the difference. He believed that Yahweh has the ultimate control of life and death. David did not need a sword. Goliath died by his own sword. With some thought the disciples could work out that in this situation they would need to trust in Yahweh. It is a paradox like the one that says that those that save their life may lose it, where the wisdom is in understanding that death now may mean eternal life later.

Yahshua points out to Peter that the real power is with Yahweh. That he is doing his Father's will in submitting to death is a persistent belief, for when Yahshua concludes his comments to those arresting him he points out to them it is “their hour”, which implies he believes they have only temporary power. He also tells them they are the power of darkness, again pointing out that they have only limited time. John records Yahshua saying at his trial before Pilate,

My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36)

In this statement he was playing with Pilate's expectations as he twisted the norm of that era, where there were many armed gangs, to make Pilate understand that his kingdom was extraordinary. It also showed Yahshua's view that the servants of Christ weren't to fight then because his kingdom is not to be won then with mere earthly armed might. But Yahshua did not say his servants would never fight and in this there is the implication that there may be a time when his servants may fight.

3) Taking the sword: The future

According to John, Yahshua returns to his comments on taking the sword in his revelation:

And it was given unto him (the beast) to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:... And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:7-10)

Again we have a situation where the servants of Yahshua are in danger from the sword and are overcome. He reminds his servants, “if any kill with the sword, must be killed with the sword”. This is consistent with what Yahshua told Peter. This is both advice and comfort. The comfort to the servants is that retribution by the sword will eventually come.

And the retribution in the future will be Yahshua himself with a two edged sword in his mouth!

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Rev 19:13-15 KJV)

That the sword comes from the mouth indicates that it is by his Word the nations will be ruled. The idea of the mouth being like a sharp sword is not new. Yahshua would have known Isaiah's prophecy of the Messiah where he has a two edged sword going from his mouth very well.

The LORD has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name. And he has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand has he hid me, .... And he said, It is a light thing that thou should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou may be my salvation unto the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:1-6)

Yahshua commands his followers to carry a sword, but he tells us that taking a sword, even in dire situations, will result in our death by it. He does not say his followers will never fight. Perhaps that's because he valued and knew the Hebrew scriptures and they say in song:

Let the saints be joyful in glory:..Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand; ...To execute upon them the judgement written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 149:5-9)

The Yahshua's advice is a two edged sword. Paul's clarifies it as,

the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17)

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