Q: Why did Jesus tell His disciples to get swords & then tell them not to use them?
17-Nov-09
This does seem perplexing & even contradictory, but Christ never makes mistakes & always does things with purpose. Therefore, there must be something to be learned. There must be a reason for it. Let’s look at Scriptures that cause us to ask the question in the first place.
After Judas agrees to betray Jesus (Lk 22.1-6), the last supper (Lk 22.7-23), the disciples get a humility lesson (Lk 22.24-30) & after Jesus predicts Peter’s denial (Lk 22.31-34)…
Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?"
"Nothing," they answered.
He said to them, "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. It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."
The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords."
"That is enough," he replied. – Lk 22.35-38
Then after Judas betrays Jesus (Lk 22.47-48)…
When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him. – Lk 22.49-51
Did you catch that?! It says Jesus healed the servant’s ear that was cut off!!! Matthew goes on to clarify…
"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" – Mt 26.52-54
So we know that Jesus didn’t need the disciples to protect Him. However, there seems to be another story running in the background regarding the servant. John discloses...
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) – Jn 18.10
John tells us of Peter's denial during one of Jesus' trials after He was betrayed…
As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?"
He denied it, saying, "I am not."
One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. – Jn 18.25-27
So it seems that the servant Malchus has a connection to Christ’s prediction that Peter would deny Him. This is enough reason in & of itself – the whole situation being used to fulfill Christ’s words. God isn’t even required to give us an answer (Job 33.13). However, one can’t help but think what an impact this had on Malchus. Let alone, what discussions he had later with those who witnessed the miraculous healing of his ear. Would they not have told others? Would they not have told the priests whom they served?
On the surface, it seems like Jesus was generally pretty rigid with the religious elite such as the priests, Pharisees & Sadducees. However, there are instances where you can see that perhaps Jesus was actually graciously showing Himself to them. You have the case where after Jesus miraculously healed a man of leprosy, He sent him exclusively to the priest (Lk 5.14). A similar account occurs when Jesus heals 10 lepers (Lk 17.14).
In fact He healed many people in full view of the religious elite (Lk 6.6-11, 13.10-17). Jesus was throwing them fodder for their faith (Jn 14.11). Yet they still chose to ignore all that the evidence & sought His life (Mk 11.18, 14.1) & ultimately had the King of Glory killed (Mt 27.20). Jesus even predicted this (Mt 20.18) & He could have prevented it (Mt 26.53-54, Mk 8.31), but He had to obey the Father & make a way for us to be saved.
After Jesus’ resurrection & the coming of the Holy Spirit on His disciples, Peter, the former denier, was now strengthened & emboldened to speak for God & announced to those around the Temple…
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. – Acts 3.13-15
Peter & the disciples went out & preached the Gospel & it was not without affect…
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. – Acts 6.7
One can deduce that Jesus used Peter’s rampage with the sword to both fulfill the prediction of his denial, yet also used it to strengthen his faith. It was Peter who cut off Malchus’ ear & saw Christ heal it. It was Malchus’ cousin who witnessed those same events & brought about the fulfillment of Peter’s denial. It was the miraculous healing of Malchus that bolstered Peter's faith & produced boldness to preach the Gospel. And it was this preaching along with Jesus’ many miracles, including that of Malchus, that lead to the salvation of many priests!
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Rom 8.28
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" – Mt 23.37-39
After Judas agrees to betray Jesus (Lk 22.1-6), the last supper (Lk 22.7-23), the disciples get a humility lesson (Lk 22.24-30) & after Jesus predicts Peter’s denial (Lk 22.31-34)…
Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?"
"Nothing," they answered.
He said to them, "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. It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."
The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords."
"That is enough," he replied. – Lk 22.35-38
Then after Judas betrays Jesus (Lk 22.47-48)…
When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him. – Lk 22.49-51
Did you catch that?! It says Jesus healed the servant’s ear that was cut off!!! Matthew goes on to clarify…
"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" – Mt 26.52-54
So we know that Jesus didn’t need the disciples to protect Him. However, there seems to be another story running in the background regarding the servant. John discloses...
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) – Jn 18.10
John tells us of Peter's denial during one of Jesus' trials after He was betrayed…
As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?"
He denied it, saying, "I am not."
One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. – Jn 18.25-27
So it seems that the servant Malchus has a connection to Christ’s prediction that Peter would deny Him. This is enough reason in & of itself – the whole situation being used to fulfill Christ’s words. God isn’t even required to give us an answer (Job 33.13). However, one can’t help but think what an impact this had on Malchus. Let alone, what discussions he had later with those who witnessed the miraculous healing of his ear. Would they not have told others? Would they not have told the priests whom they served?
On the surface, it seems like Jesus was generally pretty rigid with the religious elite such as the priests, Pharisees & Sadducees. However, there are instances where you can see that perhaps Jesus was actually graciously showing Himself to them. You have the case where after Jesus miraculously healed a man of leprosy, He sent him exclusively to the priest (Lk 5.14). A similar account occurs when Jesus heals 10 lepers (Lk 17.14).
In fact He healed many people in full view of the religious elite (Lk 6.6-11, 13.10-17). Jesus was throwing them fodder for their faith (Jn 14.11). Yet they still chose to ignore all that the evidence & sought His life (Mk 11.18, 14.1) & ultimately had the King of Glory killed (Mt 27.20). Jesus even predicted this (Mt 20.18) & He could have prevented it (Mt 26.53-54, Mk 8.31), but He had to obey the Father & make a way for us to be saved.
After Jesus’ resurrection & the coming of the Holy Spirit on His disciples, Peter, the former denier, was now strengthened & emboldened to speak for God & announced to those around the Temple…
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. – Acts 3.13-15
Peter & the disciples went out & preached the Gospel & it was not without affect…
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. – Acts 6.7
One can deduce that Jesus used Peter’s rampage with the sword to both fulfill the prediction of his denial, yet also used it to strengthen his faith. It was Peter who cut off Malchus’ ear & saw Christ heal it. It was Malchus’ cousin who witnessed those same events & brought about the fulfillment of Peter’s denial. It was the miraculous healing of Malchus that bolstered Peter's faith & produced boldness to preach the Gospel. And it was this preaching along with Jesus’ many miracles, including that of Malchus, that lead to the salvation of many priests!
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Rom 8.28
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" – Mt 23.37-39