Luke 22:38 - They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” He said to them, “That is enough.”
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What does "Luke 22:38" mean?
The verse Luke 22:38, "They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” He said to them, “That is enough,” is one of the most debated and interpreted passages in the New Testament. Here's a breakdown of the common interpretations and the context surrounding it:
Understanding the Context
The Setting: This conversation takes place during the Last Supper, just before Jesus is arrested. He is preparing his disciples for the events to come, including his betrayal, suffering, and death.
Jesus' Previous Instruction (Luke 22:35-37): Jesus had instructed his disciples to prepare for a hostile environment after his departure. He told them to sell their cloaks and buy swords if necessary, suggesting they would face a period of persecution and hardship where they would need to fend for themselves. This created a sense of urgency and impending danger.
Interpretations
1. Literal Interpretation (Self-Defense):
This view suggests that Jesus' initial instruction was meant to be taken literally. The disciples, in response to his call to prepare, show him the two swords they have.
The "Enough" Problem: The difficulty with this interpretation is Jesus' seemingly odd response, "That is enough." Two swords would hardly be sufficient for defending a group of twelve against armed opponents. Some argue that Jesus meant "Enough of this talk" (see #3).
2. Symbolic Interpretation (The Inadequacy of Violence):
This is a very common interpretation. Jesus is using the disciples' literal response to make a point about the futility and inadequacy of physical force in fulfilling God's plan.
Jesus will rebuke Peter later: This view is supported by Jesus rebuking Peter when he later uses a sword to cut off the ear of the high priest's servant in an attempt to defend Jesus (Luke 22:49-51). This act directly contradicts a permission for self-defense and highlights Jesus' rejection of violence.
Spiritual Warfare: The "swords" could symbolize the spiritual battle that the disciples would face. Two swords could represent the Old and New Testaments, symbolizing the "sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17). Jesus then declares that the swords are enough, as they have the word of God to fight against spiritual forces.
3. A Rebuke/Enough of this!
Some scholars suggest that the phrase "That is enough" (Greek: hikanon estin) is not an affirmation that two swords are sufficient for defense, but rather a rebuke or an expression of exasperation.
Idiomatic Expression: "That is enough" could be an idiomatic way of saying, "Stop talking about this now," or "That's the end of the matter." Jesus might be trying to shift the disciples' focus away from physical defense and toward the deeper spiritual realities of his mission. He knew they were misunderstanding his earlier instruction.
The Most Likely Interpretation
Given the context of Jesus' teachings and actions, the symbolic interpretation combined with the rebuke interpretation seems the most plausible. Jesus was likely not advocating for armed resistance. His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). His mission was one of sacrificial love and redemption, not violent revolution.
His words "That is enough" were not meant to endorse the idea that two swords were adequate for defense.
Instead, he used their literal interpretation to illustrate the inadequacy of violence and to redirect their attention to the spiritual realities of his mission.
The subsequent event where Peter cuts off the servant's ear and Jesus heals the servant reinforces this view.
In conclusion, Luke 22:38 is a complex verse that invites careful interpretation. It serves as a reminder that Jesus' teachings often challenge our assumptions about power, violence, and the nature of God's kingdom.
Luke 22:38 - They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” He said to them, “That is enough.”
What does "Luke 22:38" mean?
The verse Luke 22:38, "They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” He said to them, “That is enough,” is one of the most debated and interpreted passages in the New Testament. Here's a breakdown of the common interpretations and the context surrounding it:
Understanding the Context
The Setting: This conversation takes place during the Last Supper, just before Jesus is arrested. He is preparing his disciples for the events to come, including his betrayal, suffering, and death.
Jesus' Previous Instruction (Luke 22:35-37): Jesus had instructed his disciples to prepare for a hostile environment after his departure. He told them to sell their cloaks and buy swords if necessary, suggesting they would face a period of persecution and hardship where they would need to fend for themselves. This created a sense of urgency and impending danger.
Interpretations
1. Literal Interpretation (Self-Defense):
This view suggests that Jesus' initial instruction was meant to be taken literally. The disciples, in response to his call to prepare, show him the two swords they have.
The "Enough" Problem: The difficulty with this interpretation is Jesus' seemingly odd response, "That is enough." Two swords would hardly be sufficient for defending a group of twelve against armed opponents. Some argue that Jesus meant "Enough of this talk" (see #3).
2. Symbolic Interpretation (The Inadequacy of Violence):
This is a very common interpretation. Jesus is using the disciples' literal response to make a point about the futility and inadequacy of physical force in fulfilling God's plan.
Jesus will rebuke Peter later: This view is supported by Jesus rebuking Peter when he later uses a sword to cut off the ear of the high priest's servant in an attempt to defend Jesus (Luke 22:49-51). This act directly contradicts a permission for self-defense and highlights Jesus' rejection of violence.
Spiritual Warfare: The "swords" could symbolize the spiritual battle that the disciples would face. Two swords could represent the Old and New Testaments, symbolizing the "sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17). Jesus then declares that the swords are enough, as they have the word of God to fight against spiritual forces.
3. A Rebuke/Enough of this!
Some scholars suggest that the phrase "That is enough" (Greek: hikanon estin) is not an affirmation that two swords are sufficient for defense, but rather a rebuke or an expression of exasperation.
Idiomatic Expression: "That is enough" could be an idiomatic way of saying, "Stop talking about this now," or "That's the end of the matter." Jesus might be trying to shift the disciples' focus away from physical defense and toward the deeper spiritual realities of his mission. He knew they were misunderstanding his earlier instruction.
The Most Likely Interpretation
Given the context of Jesus' teachings and actions, the symbolic interpretation combined with the rebuke interpretation seems the most plausible. Jesus was likely not advocating for armed resistance. His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). His mission was one of sacrificial love and redemption, not violent revolution.
His words "That is enough" were not meant to endorse the idea that two swords were adequate for defense.
Instead, he used their literal interpretation to illustrate the inadequacy of violence and to redirect their attention to the spiritual realities of his mission.
The subsequent event where Peter cuts off the servant's ear and Jesus heals the servant reinforces this view.
In conclusion, Luke 22:38 is a complex verse that invites careful interpretation. It serves as a reminder that Jesus' teachings often challenge our assumptions about power, violence, and the nature of God's kingdom.