Scripture Daily

Context No. 3507 of 4322 · Luke

Context · Reflection

Luke 22:36-40: in context

36Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a bag. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 37For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ For that which concerns me is being fulfilled.” 38They said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” He said to them, “That is enough.” 39He came out and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him. 40When he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.”

On the night of his arrest, Jesus says a puzzling thing: let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. He is not calling for armed resistance, as he will show moments later when he heals the ear of the man Peter strikes and says, no more of this. Rather, he explains the point: I must be counted among the transgressors, for the Scripture about the Messiah being numbered with criminals is about to be fulfilled.

The swords are a sign of how his followers will now be treated, as outlaws, and of how the world is turning against them. When they produce two swords, his that is enough most likely means, enough of this misunderstanding. And then he names his real defense for the hour of trial: pray that you may not enter into temptation. The way through the coming darkness was never the sword but prayer. Against temptation and testing, the true weapon is not force but watchful, dependent prayer, which Jesus himself was about to model in Gethsemane.

When trial and temptation press in, do I reach for prayer as my real defense, as Jesus urged, rather than for the "swords" of my own devising?

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