Caller: The question I've had has puzzled me for a long while. It's found in Luke chapter 22, verses 35 through 38. I was just wondering why did Jesus want the disciples to have swords, or to have a sword?
Pastor Doug: Now you want Luke 22:35-38. I'm looking this up now. You're talking about when the disciples said, 'We have two swords and He said it is enough?' Well that's actually a misunderstanding in the translation. When Jesus said it is enough, it's the same thing as when He told the disciples beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Then Jesus responded by saying, 'Ah you don't get what I'm saying.' When He said 'it is enough', He's saying, 'No. Enough with that kind of thinking.'
They were thinking about physical swords. He wasn't saying, 'Oh good. Two swords are all we're going to need.' You have to read verse 36 also in that. But now He goes on to say, 'He who has a moneybag let him take it, and likewise a knapsack and he who has no sword let him sell his garment and buy one.' Is that the one you're talking about?
Caller: Yes. Yup.
Pastor Doug: Well there Jesus again is talking about the Word of God, which is quick and sharp and powerful as a two-edged sword. He even used that symbol all through the Bible. In Revelation for instance, Christ is pictured with a sword coming out of His mouth. In Hebrews 4 it says the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. In Ephesians 6 it says the Word of God is a sword. When Christ said, 'I did not come to send peace, but a Sword', again He was speaking about His Word. His disciples understood that symbol, or He hoped that they would, but Christ was never endorsing that they resort to violence.
Caller: Well I thought that - I'd always been told - I had such a hard time understanding that and then the fact that I'd just assumed probably these were the same swords that Peter probably used to cut off the messenger's ear when they were in Gethsemane.
Pastor Doug: Yeah but do you remember where Jesus said, 'Put your sword away, for he who lives by the sword will die by the sword'?
Caller: Yeah.
Pastor Doug: We're not talking a physical sword because if you live by that, you die by it.
Caller: Right.
Pastor Doug: It's like when even David went against Goliath he said, 'You come against me with a sword, a spear and a shield, but I come against you with the Lord.' And David did use a sword that day but the trust of Christians should never be in physical armaments.
Caller: And I would have to agree with you. That's why I found these so puzzling to me. These verses, I could not understand what He was trying to tell us.
Pastor Doug: Well I hope that's helpful.
Caller: Yes.
Pastor Doug: You know the first lesson, the first Amazing Facts study guide that we offer, it's called Is There Anything Left You Can Trust? Have you ever seen that?
Caller: Yes I have.
Pastor Doug: Okay - well it deals a little bit with the Word of God as a sword in there. And the article that we offer which is The Armor of God, you can call our resource number. It has a pretty picture on the cover too. It's called The Armor of God, and it deals with all these implements and where you find and refer to in the Bible. So I recommend that you or anyone else who has further questions on that, give a call. We'll send it to you for free.
Caller: Well I appreciate that.
Resource Number: 1-800-835-6747