Discusion on “Two Swords” – Literal or Figurative?

With regard to the comment in the July Testimony, I submit the following for your consideration.

You say that Jesus did not mean that his words should be taken literally. I feel that he did intend his words to be taken literally. Jesus was empowered with the Spirit, and was able to see into the future. He knew that he would be roughly handled by the soldiers and by the mob before his crucifixion, and he wanted to teach his disciples a powerful lesson about “taking the sword.” As none of his disciples carried a sword, it was essential to have one to hand, so when they said, “Here are two swords,” Jesus replied, “Enough, enough.”

Jesus knew that Peter would slash with he sword, and that he himself would be able o give strength to his earlier teaching in the sermon on the Mount about fighting, and aid to Peter, “Put up again thy sword into is place, for all they that take the sword hall perish with the sword.”

Some may object to this reasoning about our Lord’s foreknowledge of local events, but there were other occasions when Jesus could see ahead. For example, he sent his disciples to prepare the Passover, and told them the type of man they would meet, and what his reply would be. Again, Jesus sent his disciples for the colt, and told them what to say to those who would ask what they were doing. And Jesus knew beforehand that Peter would fail to live up to his boasting (see Luke 22:31, 32).

These are but a few of the instances when Jesus could see ahead, and it may be that the case of calling for a sword was another such instance.

REPLY

If we rightly interpret our correspondent, he suggests that Jesus merely wanted a sword for an object lesson. Were that so, then it seems to us that the “power of the Spirit” would have told Jesus that there were two swords already available, and so Jesus would have had no need at all to command his disciples to buy swords.

We suggest that the explanation of the command lies elsewhere, and the one feasible interpretation is that literal swords would shortly be necessary for the disciples’ self-defence or that a non-literal interpretation is called for.

We have already expressed our own preference for the latter type of interpretation, but if any one-of our readers favors the idea that literal swords would become necessary for the disciples’ own protection, we shall be very pleased to bear from him.