We begin our reading this week with Jesus and His disciples in the upper room where they had just finished eating the Passover Meal. Jesus is giving His last instructions before He will be arrested, put on trial before Pontus Pilate, Herod Antipas, and crucified. After telling Peter that he would betray Him that very night, He gives them instructions about how His crucifixion will change the way they go about their ministry. This passage is found only in Luke’s Gospel.`
Luke 22:35–38 (CSB)
35He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Not a thing,” they said.
36Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one.
37For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: And he was counted among the lawless. Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”
38“Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.” “That is enough!” he told them.
What a change they can expect in their acceptance as they take the Gospel to all parts of the world. When they went out before they didn’t have to take any provisions and they made it fine, compare Lk 9:3ff and Lk 10:4 ff. Now they are told they must take their own provisions and a sword. If they don’t have a sword, they should sell their robe to buy one. Selling the robe that kept them warm at night to purchase a sword was drastic indeed. What are we to make of this?
It might be time to check out what we can find out from a Study Bible. Recall from the Blog for week 16 that Guthrie recommends in alphabetical order the CSB Study Bible, the ESV Study Bible, the NIV Study Bible, and the NLT Study Bible. The ESB Study Bible has far more information on these verses than the others. It gives two understandings of the sword passage as follows: “Many interpreters take this to be a metaphorical statement commanding the disciples to be armed spiritually to fight spiritual foes (cf. Eph. 6:10–17)…. Others take this as a command to have a literal sword for self-defense and protection from robbers.”1 The ESV Study Bible also gives Scriptural arguments for each view. The CSB Study Bible also includes both views, it reads in part “the apostles must prepare to take care of their own needs (money-bag, traveling bag) and protect themselves physically (a sword)…. Jesus’s call for a sword was likely only figurative, but the apostles responded that they had two swords among them.”2 The NLT Study Bible only mentions one view it reads; “a sword: Jesus was probably not telling his followers to take up arms, but speaking metaphorically (see note on 22:38)—they must prepare themselves for a violent crisis.”3 The NIV Study Bible explains; “buy one. An extreme figure of speech (hyperbole) used to warn them of the perilous times about to come.”4 If you want to read the arguments for the two positions the Church Library has a copy of the ESV Study Bible.
Interestingly Josephus gives information about the Jewish party of the Essenes and writes; “For which reason they carry nothing with them when they travel into remote parts, though still they take their weapons with them, for fear of thieves.”5
1Crossway Bibles. 2008. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
2Luter, A. Boyd. 2017. “Luke.” In CSB Study Bible: Notes, edited by Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax, 1653. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
3New Living Translation Study Bible. 2008. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
4Barker, Kenneth L., ed. 2020. NIV Study Bible. Fully Revised Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
5Josephus, Flavius, and William Whiston. 1987. The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson. J.W. 2.8.4 §124
Luke 22:35–38 (CSB)
35He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Not a thing,” they said.
36Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one.
37For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: And he was counted among the lawless. Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”
38“Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.” “That is enough!” he told them.
What a change they can expect in their acceptance as they take the Gospel to all parts of the world. When they went out before they didn’t have to take any provisions and they made it fine, compare Lk 9:3ff and Lk 10:4 ff. Now they are told they must take their own provisions and a sword. If they don’t have a sword, they should sell their robe to buy one. Selling the robe that kept them warm at night to purchase a sword was drastic indeed. What are we to make of this?
It might be time to check out what we can find out from a Study Bible. Recall from the Blog for week 16 that Guthrie recommends in alphabetical order the CSB Study Bible, the ESV Study Bible, the NIV Study Bible, and the NLT Study Bible. The ESB Study Bible has far more information on these verses than the others. It gives two understandings of the sword passage as follows: “Many interpreters take this to be a metaphorical statement commanding the disciples to be armed spiritually to fight spiritual foes (cf. Eph. 6:10–17)…. Others take this as a command to have a literal sword for self-defense and protection from robbers.”1 The ESV Study Bible also gives Scriptural arguments for each view. The CSB Study Bible also includes both views, it reads in part “the apostles must prepare to take care of their own needs (money-bag, traveling bag) and protect themselves physically (a sword)…. Jesus’s call for a sword was likely only figurative, but the apostles responded that they had two swords among them.”2 The NLT Study Bible only mentions one view it reads; “a sword: Jesus was probably not telling his followers to take up arms, but speaking metaphorically (see note on 22:38)—they must prepare themselves for a violent crisis.”3 The NIV Study Bible explains; “buy one. An extreme figure of speech (hyperbole) used to warn them of the perilous times about to come.”4 If you want to read the arguments for the two positions the Church Library has a copy of the ESV Study Bible.
Interestingly Josephus gives information about the Jewish party of the Essenes and writes; “For which reason they carry nothing with them when they travel into remote parts, though still they take their weapons with them, for fear of thieves.”5
1Crossway Bibles. 2008. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
2Luter, A. Boyd. 2017. “Luke.” In CSB Study Bible: Notes, edited by Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax, 1653. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
3New Living Translation Study Bible. 2008. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
4Barker, Kenneth L., ed. 2020. NIV Study Bible. Fully Revised Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
5Josephus, Flavius, and William Whiston. 1987. The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson. J.W. 2.8.4 §124
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