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Luke 22

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

And he 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 hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath 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.

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest 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?

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

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.

Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

What does Luke 22:36 mean?

Explanation

Luke 22:36 is a verse that has elicited considerable debate among scholars and theologians due to its apparent endorsement of self-defense, which seems to contrast with Jesus’ other teachings on non-violence.

In this verse, Jesus instructs his disciples to procure a sword if they do not already own one, even if it means selling their cloak to do so. The statement follows discussions about the changes that will come as Jesus' ministry concludes and as he foretells his betrayal and crucifixion.

On a literal level, Jesus appears to be advising his disciples to prepare for an uncertain future by making practical provisions, including arms.

However, deeper interpretations suggest that Jesus may be using the language metaphorically to emphasize the severity and seriousness of the challenges they will face, where 'purchasing a sword' stands for preparing for spiritual or ideological conflict.

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Historical Context

Luke 22:36 is part of the narrative concerning the Last Supper and Jesus' final instructions to His disciples before His arrest and crucifixion.

Historically, this would be around the time of Passover in the first century AD, a period of heightened tension in Jerusalem when Roman authorities were particularly wary of civil unrest.

The disciples are being prepared for Jesus' departure and the subsequent challenges to their faith and mission.

Swords were symbols of defense and conflict and could be seen as indicators of impending strife.

Theological Insights

This verse has been the subject of diverse theological interpretations.

One view holds that Jesus acknowledges the reality of self-defense in a fallen world.

Another perspective interprets the ‘sword’ non-literally, as a metaphor for spiritual readiness and the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

The contradictory nature of this verse with Christ’s earlier teachings ("turn the other cheek" in Matthew 5:39) also leads some theologians to explore the idea that Jesus was preparing his disciples for the harshness of opposition without advocating actual violence.

Practical Applications

In a contemporary setting, Luke 22:36 might be seen as a call to be practically and spiritually prepared for challenges.

While not necessarily advocating for armed defense, it encourages believers to be realistic about facing the hardships of life while remaining faithful to Christian principles.

It suggests that preparation and prudence are compatible with, rather than contradictory to, faith.

Cross-References

Ephesians 6:12-17, especially verse 17: "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Matthew 26:52: “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.”
Matthew 5:39: "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Language Study

The key term "sword" in this verse comes from the Greek word "μάχαιρα" (machaira), which refers to a short sword or a large knife, commonly used for close combat.

It's noteworthy that Jesus specifies that those who do not have a sword should sell their garment, indicating the gravity of the situation; the garment (himátion) refers to an outer cloak that was an essential part of a person's attire, thus emphasizing the sword's importance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, the possession of a weapon often symbolized readiness for conflict or self-defense.

In the Greco-Roman world, a sword could be a sign of a free person and confer certain rights or responsibilities.

In the Jewish tradition, the Zealots, a militant group, believed in armed resistance against Rome.

The instruction of Jesus diverges from both of these contexts, hinting at an unconventional approach to the concept of self-defense and resistance.

Scientific Perspectives

Intersecting this verse with modern scientific understandings is not straightforward since it is a directive with spiritual and symbolic implications rather than a statement on the natural world.

However, psychological studies on preparation and readiness could be seen as analogous to the broader interpretation of being prepared for adversity, emphasizing proactive rather than reactive strategies in coping mechanisms.

Commentaries

Expert commentary on Luke 22:36 varies widely.

Some commentaries, such as the Matthew Henry Commentary, suggest that Jesus was speaking allegorically to indicate the gravity and spiritual combat of the times ahead.

Meanwhile, the Expositor's Bible Commentary mentions the historical context of the verse, highlighting the disciples’ literal misunderstanding of Jesus' metaphorical instruction, which is evidenced when they mention having two swords later in the same chapter (Luke 22:38), and Jesus ends the conversation without giving further instructions.

This implies that Jesus was not endorsing physical violence but rather preparing them for the spiritual battles they would face.

Luke 22

Luke 22

What does Luke 22:36 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 22:36 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?