Jesus had come to Jerusalem. The religious authorities were trying to find a way to arrest him. He was being watched at every turn, being questioned with intent to corner, and generally hounded by those who wished to get rid of him. In that context of this tension, Jesus ate his last Passover meal with his disciples. He explained his coming death and gave them the bread and the wine as a way to remember what was yet to come. Judas had gone to set up his arrest. The disciples had argued over who was the greatest. Jesus predicted that Peter would deny him not once but three times.
Following this, Jesus than began one more conversation with them. “’When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?’ ‘Nothing,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.’ The disciples said, ‘See, Lord, here are two swords.’ ‘That is enough,’ he replied.” Luke22:34-38
I wonder why this Jesus who has taught them to love their enemies now tells them to sell their cloak to get a sword if they did not have one. And more confusing, why did he then say that two were enough? And why did they need provisions now? Was God no longer able to care for them as he did in the past?
Jesus begins by reminding them how they were welcomed into people’s home as they went out earlier in their ministry. They were provided for by friendly strangers. But now, things have changed. They are in Jerusalem. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” Matthew 23:37 Here they will not find friends who will care for their needs. They must carry their provisions. It is not that God could not have cared for them. God used a Raven to feed Elijah. (I Kings 17) But for this time, in this place, Jesus is telling them to be prepared.
To understand the sword statements, we need to look first at the full context of Jesus' teachings. Jesus at no time in his teachings to this point has ever taught the disciples violence. In fact, he has told them to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. Has he now changed? Is he now telling them to be ready to kill their enemies? I don’t think so.
We also can look ahead to what happened when Peter pulled out the sword and used it to cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus ordered, “No more of that!” and healed the servant. Luke 22:51. This does not appear like an instruction to use the swords for violence – even for self-defense.
So why would Jesus ask them to get swords when there wasn’t even time to do so and then say two would be enough? Looking at what he says immediately after telling them to get swords may give us a clue. “It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me.” Luke 22:37 I wonder if having swords present made it easier for the arrest to occur. If there had not been even one sword there, how could they have accused Jesus of leading an uprising? I believe that Jesus was very, very aware of what was happening. He knew it was now time. “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” Luke 9:51 Jesus knew the prophecy – that he would be numbered with the transgressors. Having swords present was part of the fulfillment of the prophecy.
Jesus suggested that the disciples sell their cloaks to get swords. Cloaks were very important for travelers. It was their warmth at night. A traveler would not easily give up their cloak. Why then would Jesus suggest such a thing, especially if they were not going to use the swords to defend themselves? Since there wasn’t enough time to do this, the intention may have been to help them understand the urgency of the moment.
Just as quickly as he tells them to get swords, Jesus tells them that two is enough. Had he intended for them to use them to defend themselves, it seems he would have made sure they each had one or maybe two. Two would not be enough to defend themselves or carry out an attack on the Romans. But two would be enough to fulfill the prophecy. Yes, two are enough.
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