Bible Study series: Luke 22:35-38. There is now a major shift in the mission. This is now long-term, a lifetime, not a short one.
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn, so let’s learn together.
I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click here:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Luke 22:35-38
35 Further, he said, “When I sent you without wallet and traveling bag and extra footwear, did you lack anything? They said, “Nothing.” 36 He told them, “However, now the one having a wallet should take it along, likewise also the travel bag; and the one who does not have one should sell his cloak and buy a sword. 37 For I tell you that it is necessary that what was written be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the lawless’ [Is. 53:12], for indeed the things written about me are coming to an end.” 38 They said, “Lord, look. Here are two swords.” He told them, “It is sufficient.” (Luke 22:35-38)
Comments:
The significance of the two swords should make for some interesting discussion and disagreements! But no quarreling (I hope).
35:
Luke 9:2-3: “He sent them preaching the kingdom of God and to heal diseases. 3 He told them, ‘On the road, take nothing; don’t have a staff nor traveler’s bag nor bread nor money nor two coats each.’”
They lacked nothing. God provides where he guides. Never fear.
36:
Now, however, there is a shift in the mission. Things are about to get “real,” as in “real dangerous.” They are in Jerusalem, and the temple authorities are about to arrest him, and the highest authorities are about to order his execution. They should buy a sword, for self-defense. However, the next verses teach us that he did not call them to start a military.
37:
Being numbered among the lawless indicates what those who are about to arrest him and drag him through a trial normally required of criminals.
“necessary”: see v. 7 for more comments, looking for the Greek verb dei.
The things written about him are coming to an end. That is written in the present tense, so his fulfillment of the prophecies about his ministry, like his death, resurrection and ascension, are coming being accomplished, but not the prophecies about his Second Coming. Those are waiting to be fulfilled.
Grammarians and NT scholars Culy, Parsons, and Stigall note that this is the first time Jesus speaks directly of himself in fulfilling prophecy: “in me.” Up to now, he had used the title “Son of Man.”
At that link, there is a long table of quoted verses from the OT and NT, but Jesus fulfills more than just those quoted verses. He also fulfills major themes and systems and patterns of the OT, like the whole sacrificial system and all the covenants. That’s huge.
38:
“it is sufficient”: some commentators say the one Greek word can mean “Enough!” So Jesus was rebuking them for showing him the two swords. But I don’t think that’s what’s happening here, because Jesus told them to buy one for each, unless he was being ironical.
So let’s study the issue more fully.
Two swords are not enough to start a militia or grow a military, so why did he tell them to buy a sword, each, but then cut the limit to two?
Verse 37 says: “It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the lawless.’” By far the clearest purpose of the two swords is Jesus’ reference to Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 53:12). He was destined to be arrested like a criminal, put on trial like one, and even crucified like one. He was hung on the cross between two thieves, which is also a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Luke 23:32; 39-43). What are criminals known for carrying with them? Weapons, and to be numbered among criminals, Jesus must also have weapons. That is why he said that only two swords would be enough – to fulfill this prophecy. Also, Matthew mentions fulfilling prophecy (Matt. 26:54). If Peter had kept on physically using the sword to prevent Christ’s arrest, prophecy would not have been accomplished smoothly and without hindrance. That is why Jesus told Peter to put his sword back in its place (Matt. 26:52). And in Luke he says to Peter after the disciple cut off an ear, “No more of this!” (Luke 22:51).
The swords could be for self-defense or to warn the disciples that trouble is coming.
This contextual interpretation does not say that the two swords did not exist (Luke 22:38). They are not only symbols, nor were they imaginary or invisible. They were real. Peter really did cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest with one of them (Matt. 26:50-51; Luke 22:49-51). But it would be misguided to build church doctrine on such a reaction in the heat of the moment, during Jesus’ arrest at night.
However, Jesus said to Peter in the Garden, “Put your sword back in its place,” meaning, back in its scabbard or holder or in Peter’s belt or another article of clothing. He never said to throw the sword away, off to the side at a distance. Therefore, it is entirely possible that some disciples carried the two weapons after the crucifixion and burial when they lived in hostile territory and continued carrying them even after the things got calmer.
However, the New Testament and later reliable tradition says that none of the apostles fought or even tried to fight their way out of fiery trials with swords, as some sort of violent martyrs. Therefore, a lifestyle of the sword was never part of the disciples’ new life, as they preached the message of hope. Evidently, the example of Jesus throughout his life and in the Garden of Gethsemane made an impression on Peter and the others. Though part of this is an argument from silence (drawing conclusions from what a text or history does not say), it is a significant silence of the historical records that speaks volumes, and it will be backed up by later articles in this series.
Jesus did not intend the early disciples to multiply the swords, as he did the loaves and the fishes, and then raise a secret or open militia to preach the gospel and threaten people if they did not receive their message or opposed the disciples outright. Two swords are not enough for such an odd goal. Instead, they were to follow the kingdom message and stay away from the path of violence as a matter of policy or an alternative method of getting people to convert. He called his disciples to rise above their culture of violence.
See the post:
2. The Gospels: Was Jesus a Pacifist? (where this long study can be found)
Also see these posts in the series:
1. The Kingdom of God: Was Jesus a Pacifist?
2.. The Gospels: Was Jesus a Pacifist?
3. Were the Early Christians Pacifists?
4. Can Christians Join the Military or Police Force?
GrowApp for Luke 22:35-38
1. Read Luke 9:2-3. God provided for the apostles, when he guided them. God provides where he guides. How has he provided for you? Have you heard any inspiring story?
2. A wallet speaks of money, and a travel bag speaks of a long-term trip. There is a business side of missions, and preparation is important too. Talk about your mission trips, if you have taken one.
RELATED
11. Eyewitness Testimony in Luke’s Gospel
3. Church Fathers and Luke’s Gospel
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND MORE
To see the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the bottom. You will also find a “Summary and Conclusion” for discipleship.
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