http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj0IpDUu--wMat 10:34
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.One might ask, "So what happened to the Prince of Peace business?"
Let's investigate the nature of the sword:
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:Again that sword:
Rev 2:16
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Hbr 4:12
For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Rev 19:15
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Sometimes a Muslim will say "hey not so fast, what about this sword", hoping against hope that somehow Jesus wasn't THE EXACT OPPOSITE of Mohammed and his imperialistic pillage, plunder and murder. Indeed sura 8 is named AL-ANFAL (SPOILS OF WAR, BOOTY)
They cite this passage:
Luk 22:36
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take [it], and likewise [his] scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. 38 And they said, Lord, behold, here [are] two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Is it reasonable to presume that two swords would be sufficient to plunder a caravan, or go on a bloody imperialistic rampage like Mohammed? Of course not. Then why the request?
The bible, Old Testament and New is full of lessons. Sometimes hidden in parables, and sometimes more apparent. This section would seem to be more apparent when we see how the swords were used. Some verses later as the guards came to haul Jesus off to His Crucifixion we read:
Luke 22:49
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.Why would Jesus heal one of the very men who came to haul Him off? The answer is apparent to Christians:
Mat 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.We can see Jesus requested the swords for a real-time exercise in how to love an enemy.
I would appreciate it if anybody would let me know if they can find anything that Jesus did that was more violent than His overturning the tables of the moneychangers in the temple.
