Why did Jesus tell his disciples to carry swords?

[Nessa]

Rick's wife says that God told her that he should have TWO jobs - as one is not enough! What if He ever gave Rick that mandate with wives? TWO???!!!

Im sure there would be some advantages for his wife

[PaulSacramento]

He who lives by the sword...

[Philip]

Nessa: Im sure there would be some advantages for his wife

???!!!

[RickD]

Rick's wife says that God told her that he should have TWO jobs - as one is not enough! What if He ever gave Rick that mandate with wives? TWO???!!!

Im sure there would be some advantages for his wife

Of course there'd be advantages for my wife! Two wives mean double the sammiches, and 2 kitchens!

[Philip]

Of course there'd be advantages for my wife! Two wives mean double the sammiches, and 2 kitchens!

Doppler nagging!

[Nessa]

Rick's wife says that God told her that he should have TWO jobs - as one is not enough! What if He ever gave Rick that mandate with wives? TWO???!!!

Im sure there would be some advantages for his wife

Of course there'd be advantages for my wife! Two wives mean double the sammiches, and 2 kitchens!

I meant advantages for her..like a night off....

From making sammiches.
You'd be greedy and just want two sammiches instead of one

[theophilus]

Here is the first paragraph of the article linked to in the OP:

Given how Jesus responds to Peter’s use of the sword (he rebukes him), and given everything Jesus says about loving enemies, doing good to them, turning the other cheek, and so on, it’s clear that, whatever Jesus was up to in telling his followers to buy swords, he clearly didn’t intend for them to use them.

Jesus rebuked Peter for using his sword but that was because Peter was trying to prevent the crucifixion of Jesus, something which God had determined would take place. He told Peter to put his sword away, not to throw it away. The fact that he allowed Peter to keep his sword shows the possibility that there might be occasions when it would be right for him to use it.

Jesus commanded us to love our enemies and never take vengeance for wrongs done to us but he never prohibited us from defending ourselves. There are sometimes situations when a weapon is needed to defend someone else who is in danger. We are commanded to love others but if another person is being physically attacked it is possible that the only way to show love to that person is to kill the attacker.

Here is another possible explanation for Jesus' command:

https://clydeherrin.wordpress.com/2014/ ... her-cheek/

[Nessa]

Here is the first paragraph of the article linked to in the OP:

Given how Jesus responds to Peter’s use of the sword (he rebukes him), and given everything Jesus says about loving enemies, doing good to them, turning the other cheek, and so on, it’s clear that, whatever Jesus was up to in telling his followers to buy swords, he clearly didn’t intend for them to use them.

Jesus rebuked Peter for using his sword but that was because Peter was trying to prevent the crucifixion of Jesus, something which God had determined would take place. He told Peter to put his sword away, not to throw it away. The fact that he allowed Peter to keep his sword shows the possibility that there might be occasions when it would be right for him to use it.

Jesus commanded us to love our enemies and never take vengeance for wrongs done to us but he never prohibited us from defending ourselves. There are sometimes situations when a weapon is needed to defend someone else who is in danger. We are commanded to love others but if another person is being physically attacked it is possible that the only way to show love to that person is to kill the attacker.

Here is another possible explanation for Jesus' command:

https://clydeherrin.wordpress.com/2014/ ... her-cheek/

So show love to the victim only?

[B. W.]

Consider these verses...

Psa 82:3,4 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked

Isa 1:17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

Isa 1:23 Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. NKJV

When the oppressors behead, rape, murder, take advantage of the poor, defenseless, needy, fatherless, widow, etc... then we are to roll over and let them continue as an act of love that supposed to convert them?

Sorry, that is not rebuking the oppressors or in any way defending anyone. It is in fact the devil manipulating scriptures to have christians role over and accept his minions abuse, all in the name of love.

Love angered is a fearsome thing - when will folks discern the times Eccl 3:1-8?
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[RickD]

Jesus told his disciples to carry swords for protection.

Seems pretty obvious.

[melanie]

Jesus and the prophets spoke of the time to come.
It never included violence
Taking up of arms
Or a physical onslaught as being our shield against such but rather our Armour of God.
Our enemies fight in a spiritual warfare.
An art of hate, deception, coldness towards those that we view as the enemy.
The enemy Is hate.
The enemy is deception.
The enemy is indifference and coldness.
Christians have under and over estimated our adversary.
We will overcome with the love and light of Christ, shining through as a lantern to the lost and broken. He will strengthen His flock as He always has, with the lowly and the crap, and the misfits and the downtrodden and we will triumph not because we are great but because we trust in our King and we know just how much humility we need Him,
devoid of pride or righteousness.

[melanie]

Jesus told his disciples to carry swords for protection.

Seems pretty obvious.

Hmm pretty dubious assumption when the entirety of scripture is examined.
Pretty obvious when one doesn't take the gospel in its entirety.
We bang on about taking it in its entirety and not to cherry pick. Great theory when sincere and pretty self servicing otherwise.

[RickD]

Jesus told his disciples to carry swords for protection.

Seems pretty obvious.

Hmm pretty dubious assumption when the entirety of scripture is examined.
Pretty obvious when one doesn't take the gospel in its entirety.
We bang on about taking it in its entirety and not to cherry pick. Great theory when sincere and pretty self servicing otherwise.

Murder is wrong. Rape is wrong. If someone has an opportunity to stop someone from being murdered or raped, and doesn't do it, is that morally acceptable?

Or, in the context of owning a weapon for protection, if someone invades my home, and I don't protect my wife and child(ren), by any means necessary, then is that morally acceptable?

My conscience tells me that I protect my family. How that is against the gospel, I really don't know.

[Nessa]

Consider these verses...

Psa 82:3,4 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked

Isa 1:17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

Isa 1:23 Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. NKJV

When the oppressors behead, rape, murder, take advantage of the poor, defenseless, needy, fatherless, widow, etc... then we are to roll over and let them continue as an act of love that supposed to convert them?

Sorry, that is not rebuking the oppressors or in any way defending anyone. It is in fact the devil manipulating scriptures to have christians role over and accept his minions abuse, all in the name of love.

Love angered is a fearsome thing - when will folks discern the times Eccl 3:1-8?
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-
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bw - I am all for defending the helpless but Im all for loving my enemies too. theo - You need to make sure if you kill the enemy then it was really necessary...and that is according to what God thinks not just man.

[RickD]

It's interesting how this topic can be so emotional for some people.

Like I said before, I weighed the pros and cons of owning a gun, and for me personally at this time, I decided against it. But if sometime in the future, I change my mind, then my conscience would be clear.

And for me, it would not be because I don't trust God. I trust God. But people on the other hand...

I wonder if those who are using the argument that gun ownership shows a lack of trust in God, lock their doors at night.

Or do they just leave them unlocked, and trust God?

For the life of me, I can't understand how someone thinks that if I won't defend my family if their life is in danger, somehow shows a lack of love for the person(s) trying to injure or kill my family.

I'm sorry dear, sorry son, I must show my love to this thug trying to kill you and rape you, so I'm just going to let him proceed.

And somehow that's what the gospel says?

But I'll say this...

If a believer's conscience doesn't allow him to own a gun for self and family defense, then that's between them and God. But, I'd expect that those that disagree, would allow the same freedom of conscience, for those that have made up their mind that it's ok to have a gun for defense.

I think we need to look at matters like this, matters that don't have a clear-cut biblical answer, and leave them up to each believer, and his conscience.