Tag: contradiction

Two Swords and One Cup: What Jesus Meant When He Told the Disciples to Buy a Sword

Brent Pollard

In my daily Bible readings, I have always been intrigued by Luke 22.36. Jesus tells His followers who lack a sword to sell their coats to buy one. When they take inventory, Luke notes that they have two swords, which Jesus declares sufficient (Luke 22.38). When Judas appears, the disciples ask if it is time to use the sword (Luke 22.49). Peter responds by cutting off Malchus’ ear (Luke 22.50; John 18.10). Yet, despite telling the disciples to own a sword, Jesus immediately rebukes Peter and warns him that those who live by the sword die by the sword (Matthew 26.52). What, then, are we to make of Jesus’ counsel for the disciples to buy a sword?

Why Jesus Told His Disciples to Buy a Sword (Luke 22.35–38)

Note Jesus’ words closely. He first summons a memory: “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” (Luke 22.35). They answered in a single word: nothing. Then the Lord reverses the terms: “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one” (Luke 22.36). The sentence drops like a stone into still water, and the ripples have not stopped since.

Watch what Jesus does next. He refuses to leave the Twelve guessing. Instead, He supplies the reason in the same breath: “For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS’” (Luke 22.37). Isaiah drafted the scene seven centuries earlier (Isaiah 53.12). The Suffering Servant would be counted among criminals, and blades in a midnight olive grove handed the arresting party the impression the prophecy demanded. The sword was not tactics. The sword was testimony. Rome saw an insurrectionist and reached for nails. Heaven saw the Lamb.

Two Swords Are Enough: Sufficient for a Sign, Useless for a War

The disciples, gloriously literal, take inventory: “Lord, look, here are two swords.” Jesus answers, “It is enough” (Luke 22.38). Enough for what? Not for a campaign. Two blades against a temple detachment armed with swords and clubs (Matthew 26.47) is not a battle plan; it is arithmetic that insults the word. The term means sufficient for the purpose, and the purpose was prophetic, not military. A signature occupies an inch of paper and settles an entire estate. Two swords occupied one dark garden and settled an ancient oracle. Christ needed exactly as much steel as the sign required, and not one blade more. The money belt and knapsack carry the same honesty: the season He had welcomed had closed, and He said so in advance (John 16.4).

Peter’s Sword and the Cup Christ Refused to Set Down

Torchlight moves through the trees. Judas arrives with a kiss, and the disciples ask, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” (Luke 22.49). Peter, who never in his life waited for an answer, swings first. Malchus loses an ear (John 18.10). As my father likes to point out, Peter wasn’t only aiming for an ear. Peter’s swing exposes his intention.

Jesus immediately rebukes Peter. “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword” (Matthew 26.52). Matthew preserves the principle; John preserves the purpose: “the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18.11). Luke records the mercy: “Stop! No more of this,” and He touched the man’s ear and healed him (Luke 22.51). The final miracle before Calvary repaired damage inflicted by a disciple defending Christ.

Peter’s failure was not cowardice. Cowards keep the blade sheathed. His courage simply ran the wrong direction, and misdirected courage wrecks more than fear ever does. Earlier Jesus had prayed, “yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26.39). Peter, steel shining, answered that prayer with a flat no. Affection that resists the revealed will of God is idolatry wearing love’s coat, and it always leaves someone bleeding.

No Contradiction: Possession Versus Presumption

Compare the two sayings directly, and the difference becomes clear. Jesus never commanded, “Destroy the sword.” He commanded, “Put your sword back into its place.” The weapon possessed a place; Peter’s hand in that hour was not it. Luke 22.36 permits possession — chiefly for the fulfillment of Scripture, secondarily for the ordinary hazards of a hostile road. Matthew 26.52 forbids a use: the violent obstruction of God’s redemptive will. The verses never collide, because they never occupy the same ground.

“All those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword” is a proverb of judgment, not a footnote about weaponry. Since Genesis 9.6, God has guarded human life as His own image; men who make violence their vocation are ground beneath the millstone they quarried. Christ refuses to have His kingdom defended by steel: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting” (John 18.36). Jesus names the reason His men are not swinging. Not incapacity. Allegiance.

Sheathe the Sword: Faithful Christian Living in a Hostile World

We still carry swords, forged of speech and silence and the timing of a strategically placed truth: the reply that ends the argument and the friendship together, the grudge polished until it gleams. Every one of us knows a Malchus, and most of us swung before we asked the Lord anything.

God armed His church, but He stocked the armory Himself: “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Corinthians 10.4). One blade only hangs in the Christian’s kit, and it is not ours to sharpen — “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6.17). Grace hands us that sword and then trains the hand: “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2.11–12). Unmerited favor never leaves a man where it found him. It pardons, then it disciplines, and the disciplined man discovers that obedience is where the joy was hiding all along. Our Lord proved it first. He “for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12.2), drinking the cup Peter tried to knock from His hand — gladly, because He saw us at the bottom of it. Every restraint He exercised in that garden purchased something for you (1 Peter 2.23).

Peter learned. Fifty days later he stood in Jerusalem and struck harder than steel ever struck: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2.38). Three thousand fell that day, pierced to the heart (Acts 2.37) — not by a blade, but by a word — and they rose alive. The fisherman who maimed the high priest’s servant never drew that sword again.

So take your inventory. Whatever hangs at your side, hand it back to the Lord who defines its place. Trust the Father who wrote the script from Isaiah forward and has never missed a line. Sheathe the sword. Drink the cup. Follow the Christ who conquered the world by refusing to fight it on the world’s terms — and then go tell somebody why.

SATAN ENTICED DAVID TO… COUNT?

The first time we read the name “Satan” in the Bible, it’s under very strange circumstances. Ready?

Here’s the passage: 

“Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.”

Dale Pollard

The first time we read the name “Satan” in the Bible, it’s under very strange circumstances. Ready?

Here’s the passage: 

“Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.” 

(I Chronicles 21:1, NIV)

Alright, so Satan decides to pick a fight with God’s man. So  how does he do it this time? Well, he incites (or entices) David to take a census of Israel— of course. You might be thoroughly confused at this point but just wait, you’ll want to throw something breakable in a second. 

So Satan takes his shot at David and apparently the most devious plan he could come up with was, “Operation Headcount.” There must be more to it than that. Surely. 

Make it Make Census

A census in the ancient world—especially in Israel—was not just a headcount. It carried spiritual, political, and economic weight. 

It typically involved counting all the men and for at least a few practical reasons. A ruler could use the census to determine the size of his army, or make sure proper tax revenue was collected, or get an idea of how capable his labor force was. Oh, and for Israel, it better be done right. 

Exodus 30:12 warns that a census must be accompanied by a ransom/offering, or else a plague would come upon the people:

“Then each one must give a ransom for his life to the LORD… so that no plague may come on them when you number them.”

So maybe now’s a good time to address an alleged contradiction. 

Our original passage in question (I Chron. 21:1) is already interpreted in a few ways, especially when compared to its parallel account in 2 Samuel 24:1, which says:

“Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, ‘Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.’”

Did you catch that too? Seems like Samuel contradicts the Chronicler by saying that God was really the one who enticed David into counting folks, not Satan. So which is it— and did you throw something yet? 

It Was Satan….. Probably 

No matter how you slice it, Satan is the one doing the enticing and here’s how we can be sure. 

First, let’s start by contrasting the similarities between this case and Job’s situation. God allowed Satan to test Job— but He remained sovereign. God was clearly in control while Satan had to ask His permission before making Jobs life so miserable. God let the devil torment his most faithful servant, but with strict conditions (Job 1.8,12). 

Secondly, it’s possible that “Satan” in 1 Chronicles 21:1 should really be translated “adversary.” Now, this next part isn’t typed with any real certainty, it’s only a personal observation (by the author). 

Remember the account of Balaam and his donkey? It’s worth reading again, even if you’re familiar with it. Just before the conversation between a man and his animal takes place we read: 

“God’s anger was kindled because he [Balaam] went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary” (Numbers 22:22). 

The word adversary is the exact same word that’s translated as Satan in 1 Chronicles 21:1. However, it was the angel of the Lord that stood as an adversary. The language is strikingly similar in both passages. Take a peek, but this time side by side…by side: 

1 Chronicles 21:1 

“Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.” 

Numbers 22:22

“God’s anger was kindled because Balaam went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary”

2 Samuel 24:1

“…the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

How satisfying is that? Instead of a contradiction you see consistency; inspired perfection on full display. 

So What Happened To David? 

Well, he messed up. A lesser known misstep on David’s part, too. God sent a plague as a consequence—exactly as Exodus 30 had warned. As tragic as that was, again the consistency is amazing. There was a thousand years or so between Exodus and Chronicles but God still remembered exactly what He had told Moses.

After the census, David felt guilt immediately (2 Sam. 24:10) and repented. As anybody after God’s heart would do. 

Test His Truth

Tuesday Column: Dale Mail

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Dale Pollard

(now the pulpit minister of the Tompkinsville church of Christ, Tompkinsville, KY)

   With countless opinions and information out there, God is just another “option” and the Bible is just “good advice to follow.” Dave Mustaine summed up how many people feel when he said, “The Bible and several other self help or enlightenment books cite the Seven Deadly Sins. They are: pride, greed, lust, envy, wrath, sloth, and gluttony. That pretty much covers everything that we do, that is sinful… or fun for that matter.”

Is the Bible just an ancient “self-help” book that tells us not to do anything fun? Questioning God is not something new. Even Epicurus said, “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then He is not omnipotent. Is He able, but not willing? Then He is malevolent. Is He both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is He neither able nor willing? Then why call Him God?” I truly believe that you can understand who God is just based on scripture. When He gave that book to man, He gave us a piece of Himself.

God wants a relationship with us (I Peter 5:6-7). This is why He has purposefully informed us about Himself. People need God whether they know it or not. I’d encourage you, as an individual,  to put the Bible on trial. Put the accuracy of its pages to the test. It has withstood hundreds of years of accusations and doubt. Often we are able to grow in our faith and belief as a result of seeking and searching. As His church, we have a responsibility to proclaim the excellence of our creator. We do it by our love for others, exposing the evidence of His existence, and introducing Jesus every opportunity we have.