NRA Jesus An honest look at Luke 22:36

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Weapons aren’t something that Jesus talked about very much. While Jesus had a lot to say about loving people and not using violence, he rarely (if ever) talked about ownership of weapons. There does seem to be one verse though, that may indicate that Jesus wants his followers to have weapons. Let’s take a look at the verse in question.

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.
Luke 22:36

Upon first glance, it seems as though Jesus is telling all his disciples to buy swords. Some find this strange given all Jesus had taught about abstaining from violence and loving even enemies. Why would he tell his disciples to get swords if his teachings would prevent them from using them? (Luke 6:27-36) On the assumption that Jesus would not blatantly contradict himself, we should start with the assumption that Jesus did not intend his disciples to use the swords he seemingly instructed them to buy. Several things stand out if we look further into Luke’s account.

Fulfilling Prophecy

Like with any verse in the Bible, we should look at the surrounding verses for context when trying to understand what is being communicated. So let’s look at this verse in context:

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.”
Luke 22:35-37

The prophecy that Jesus is referring to comes from Isaiah 53:12. It seems that the purpose of having some of his disciples carry swords was not so they could defend him, but simply to fulfill this prophecy, thereby justifying his opponents’ arrest of him as a political revolutionary.1 This seems like it could be a valid interpretation, and it seems to be Jesus’ own explicit explanation.2

Luke references Isaiah to say the sword would be what numbers Jesus with the transgressors.3 If this is indeed what the swords were for, then the logical question we must ask is “do we really want to use this verse to defend weapon ownership”? The definition of a transgressor is to “violate a law, command, moral code, etc.; offend; sin.” Do we want to be numbered with transgressors? Do we want to look like a lawbreaker? Do we want to look like a sinner? Do we want to not look like Jesus?

Jesus Commands Buying Tools of Death?

If Jesus had intended the swords to be used to defend themselves, the twelve disciples would need more than two. In the following verse (v38) the disciples show Jesus two swords and he replies, “That’s enough!” Surely two swords are insufficient to defend thirteen men.4 Jesus wasn’t the first or the last messiah figure to come on the scene, and all of them were known for being violent revolutionaries. Two swords were sufficient to make Jesus appear as, and ultimately to be crucified as, a political transgressor.

We could stop there but the majority of theologians don’t even interpret these verses in this way.

The majority of Biblical scholars don’t believe that Jesus is even being literal when he says to buy swords.5 William Klassen says, if Jesus was being literal it “subverts everything else Luke records about the nature of Christ’s kingdom.”6 James Edwards, in his commentary on Luke says, “‘Buy a sword’ is a metaphor of admonition and preparedness, not a sanction for violence and retaliation, and certainly not a sanction to spread the gospel by violence. If Jesus were a Zealot, ‘sword’ might conceivably be taken literally, but nothing in his ministry or teaching identifies him with this militant movement. A literal understanding of ‘sword’ would render the majority of Jesus’ teaching in chap. 6 null and void, including his testimony to being a servant leader immediately prior to this (vv. 26–27). Had Jesus intended the Twelve to take up real swords, would he have reprimanded the disciples for calling down fire on Samaria (9:54–55) or for resorting to swords (“No more of this!” v. 51) when he was arrested?” 7 Joel Green in his commentary says, “In v 38, then, the apostles manifest their dullness when they suppose that Jesus opposes his own extensive and emphatic teaching by encouraging them actually to possess (or to purchase) weaponry.” 8 These are just a few examples of many that claim that Jesus wasn’t literally telling his disciples to buy weapons.9 10

Handgun

That’s Enough!

After Jesus states that he must fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah the story continues:

The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”
“That’s enough!” Jesus replied.
Luke 22:38

Although there is some debate on what Jesus means by “That’s enough!”, the majority of Biblical scholars think Jesus means “That’s enough of this conversation!” and is meant as a rebuke.11 This somewhat enigmatic phrase cannot mean the disciples should be content with two weapons.12 If Jesus seriously intended armed resistance, two swords would be pitifully insufficient.13 “That is enough” means “Enough talk of swords!”—drop the subject, dismiss the matter.’14

So what then did Jesus mean when he said: “buy a sword”? New Testament scholar I. Howard Marshall said that the command to buy a sword is “a call to be ready for hardship and self-sacrifice.”15 Darrell Bock of Dallas Seminary said the command to buy a sword symbolically “points to readiness and self-sufficiency, not revenge.”16 And the popular commentator William Hendriksen put it bluntly: “The term sword must be interpreted figuratively.”17 So when Jesus tells them to buy a sword, he is speaking figuratively about imminent persecution.18  According to this interpretation, when the disciples eagerly reveal that they already have two swords, they misunderstand Jesus’s figurative language (this isn’t the first time).

No More of This!

So the majority of theologians fall into two camps of interpretation: that Jesus was either speaking figuratively and his disciples misunderstood or that only two swords for 13 men were enough to be “numbered with the transgressors” in order to fulfill Isaiah’s prophesy. But what does Jesus have to say on the matter? Thankfully Luke isn’t finished with his story.

Just hours later that day, Jesus and his disciples are in the garden of Gethsemane surrounded by temple guards. Peter, with a sword in hand, asks Jesus, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” Before Jesus could answer he “struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear” (v50). Jesus then says, “No more of this!” (v51), clearly indicating that he never intended for his disciples to rely on the swords they brought.19 Immediately after the prophecy had been fulfilled Jesus condemned the use of the sword.

Jesus warns Peter (and us all) that “all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52), a further repudiation of justified violence. After having rebuked the disciples’ typical worldly response to aggression, Jesus then modeled the way he would have disciples respond to aggression, by healing this guard’s ear (v51). You see, Peter cut off the ear of a soldier because he feared his enemies were derailing his plans for justice. But, Jesus healed the ear of the soldier because he knew his plan for justice included the healing of his enemies. According to Jesus, his disciples are to serve, bless, and pray for enemies, not afflict them.

Clearly, when read in context, we see that Jesus didn’t intend his disciples to use weapons.

Christians with Weapons?

The request to buy weapons, whether literal or figurative, was for specific people (the disciples) at a specific time (Christ’s arrest). It was to fulfill the prophecy of looking like sinners. Either two were enough, or the disciples completely misunderstood Jesus. Either way, the disciples weren’t allowed to use them. It is important to note that for the first 300 years of Christianity, no one interpreted Luke 22 to mean that Christians should arm themselves. Instead, all extant writings indicate that, for followers of Jesus, owning weapons was forbidden.

While Luke 22:36 is often used as justification for self-defense with weapons, this clearly is not what Luke intended to be communicated when he wrote this verse. Out of the top ten most respected commentators on Luke, only one took the self-defense view. There is little—if any—support from the text that Jesus all of a sudden advocates for violence in self-defense.

It is significant that when Jesus later appeared before Pilate and was asked if he was the king of the Jews, Jesus responded that his Kingdom was not of this world, and he pointed to the fact that his followers were not fighting as proof of this fact (John 18:36). Instead of using weapons, Jesus tells his followers to love their enemy, “not take revenge”, “never repay evil for evil”, “feed their enemies”, and “live at peace with everyone”. (Matthew 5:9, 11, 21-22, 38-39, 43-46; 10:22-23, 28; 16:24-25; Mark 10:19; Luke 6:27-28, 46; John 13:34-35; 18:36) The New Testament highlights Jesus’s nonviolent response to violence as a pattern to follow more than any other aspect of his ministry. (Romans 12:17-21, 14:17-19; Ephesians 2:14-18, 5:1-2, 6:12; Hebrews 12:14; James 3:17-4:1; 1 Peter 2:18-24, 3:8-17; 1 Corinthians 4:6, 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 5:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:7; Colossians 2:6).

But what if someone breaks into your house? Well, that’s another question. (read more here)

Footnotes

  1. “Jesus connects swords with fulfilling Scripture—they play the role of outlaws.” Raymond Pickett et al., “Jesus and the Christian Gospels,” in The New Testament, ed. Margaret Aymer, Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, and David A. Sánchez, Fortress Commentary on the Bible (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2014), 257.
  2. “This is intended only to show that the times would be very perilous, so that no man would think himself safe if he had not a sword by his side. But the sword of the Spirit is the sword which the disciples of Christ must furnish themselves with.” Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (Unabridged), Accordance electronic ed. (Altamonte Springs: OakTree Software, 2004), paragraph 34246.
  3. “Jesus calls for a temporary and symbolic act—two are sufficient (v. 38)—so he may be charged as a revolutionary and hence “reckoned among transgressors” in accordance with Isaiah 53:12.” Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Lk 22:36–38.
  4. “Their words, “Here are two swords!” must have grieved the Lord, for they indicated that the disciples had missed the meaning of His words. Did they think that He needed their protection or that He would now overthrow Rome and establish the kingdom? “It is enough!” means “Don’t say anything more about the matter” (Deut. 3:26). His kingdom does not advance by means of men’s swords (John 18:36–37) but by the power of God’s truth, the Word of God that is sharper than any human sword (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12).” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 267.
  5. “Nor is it likely that Jesus is contemplating armed resistance in the manner of the Zealots.” I. Howard Marshall, The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1978), 825.
  6. William Klassen, Love of Enemies: The Way of Peace (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984), 99.
  7. James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Luke, ed. D. A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2015), 640.
  8. Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 775.
  9. “V 36 is heavily ironical. Jesus knew that from now on he and his followers would face opposition and even death. The disciples misunderstood him and produced weapons. That is enough, said Jesus, to end a conversation which they had failed to understand. The way of Jesus, as they should have known, was not the way of the sword but the way of love.” I. Howard Marshall, “Luke,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1016.
  10. “The ‘sword’ is best understood in some metaphorical sense as indicating being spiritually armed and prepared for battle against the spiritual foes [cf. Eph 6:10–18].” Allison A. Trites, William J. Larkin, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 12: The Gospel of Luke and Acts (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2006), 291.
  11. J. Weiss, 513f.; Klostermann, 214f.; Manson, Sayings, 342; Hahn, 168
  12. “The NIV translation, That is enough, is misleading in that it could convey the sense that Jesus felt that the two swords showed to him by the disciples were examples of what he had actually been talking about. Had Jesus actually advocated armed combat two swords could scarcely have been “enough”. Moreover, had Jesus’ remark been one of approval, then we might have expected his reply to be in the plural, “They are enough.” On the contrary, Jesus’ answer must be seen as a word of frustration whereby he cut the conversation short. Jesus may have intended his comment to be tinged with a bit of sarcasm.” Craig A. Evans, Luke, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1990), 322.
  13. Although the use of ἱκανός could be Lucan, the phrase has a Semitic equivalent (cf. Dt. 3:26; also Gn. 45:28; Ex. 9:28; 1 Ki. 19:4; 1 Ch. 21:15; Hahn, 168 n. 9; Manson, Sayings, 342; the arguments of K. H. Rengstorf, TDNT III, 295f., to the contrary are not convincing).
  14. “As in: ‘Enough of this kind of talk!’ He dismisses a subject in which the disciples were so hopelessly astray.” Leon Morris, Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 3, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 329.
  15. I. Howard Marshall, The Gospel of Luke (NIGTC) (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1978), 825.
  16. Darrell L. Bock, Luke 9: 51– 24: 53 (ECNT) (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1996), 747.
  17. William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary: Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1978), 976.
  18. Jesus’ words on acquiring a sword (v. 36) should not be interpreted literally; they are a sign of the conflict and opposition which the disciples will face. Indeed, Jesus himself will be considered to be a criminal (cf. 23:32–33), fulfilling Isaiah 53:12. The disciples mistakenly interpret Jesus’ words on swords literally. Jesus rebukes their incomprehension (cf. 22:49–51) by saying, “That is enough” (v. 38).” Thomas R. Schreiner, “Luke,” in Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, vol. 3, Baker reference library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995), 836.
  19. “It was truly shameful and stupid ignorance, that the disciples, after having been so often informed about bearing the cross, imagine that they must fight with swords of iron.” John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries (Complete), trans. John King, Accordance electronic ed. (Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1847), paragraph 71192.