In Matthew 26:52, Jesus tells Peter, “Put your sword back in its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” While this speaks directly to violence, could the principle extend further?
What does it mean to “live by the sword” in our words, ambitions, or choices? Can we fall into spiritual danger by constantly living in a posture of conflict, control, or retaliation…even if it isn’t physical?
Would love to hear how you understand this verse. How does it apply today?
In virtually everything from Levitical law to the two commandments of Jesus we are called on to be holy and sanctified for his glory. When we “pick up a sword” by any measure we are lowering ourselves back down to the world’s level. example: my new cellmate HATES Everything about me. He threatens me daily, insults me, and spreads lies about me. If I used anger and entertained his desire to fight I would be picking up a sword and no longer different from him. Instead I offer him my food, coffee, and prayers. He rejects them all daily but at least I have not become his 7th victim. Either way I am the Lord’s son set apart for his work. My face is scarred but my reward waits.
Lifting a single verse out of its literary and historical context is methodologically unsound, a practice commonly termed proof-texting, and it ignores the fact that Scripture emerges from an ancient Near Eastern, Semitic world rather than a later Western framework of thought and interpretation.
26:47 And as He is still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the Twelve, came, and with him great a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Mat 26:48 And the one betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I shall kiss, it is He; seize Him.”
Mat 26:49 And having come up to Jesus immediately, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed Him.
Mat 26:50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, for what are you come?” Then having approached, they laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.
Mat 26:51 And behold, one of those with Jesus, having stretched out the hand, drew his sword, and having struck the servant of the high priest, cut off his ear.
Mat 26:52 Then Jesus says to him, “Return your sword into its place; for all those having taken the sword, will perish by the sword.
Mat 26:53 Or do you think that I am not able to call upon My Father, and He will furnish to Me presently more than twelve legions of angels?
Mat 26:54 How then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
Mat 26:55 In that hour, Jesus said to the crowds, “Did you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to capture Me? Every day in the temple I was sitting, teaching, and you did not seize Me.
Mat 26:56 And all this is come to pass, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then the disciples all, having forsaken Him, fled.
J.
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” Luke 6:35
“To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Romans 12:20
He hates you because he hates God, and you are of God. Does he believe God abandoned him? Does he feel God punished him in some way? Or perhaps He is just part of the world with no desire to hear about God? We may never know. But keep treating him as the Word says, who knows, God could very well turn his heart.
Peter
You are a living picture of Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
What helps you choose the path of peace every day instead?
Logically, live by the sword, die by the sword makes sense in the natural. Living by the sword suggests someone who’s constantly warring and likely will die the same way. Someone who’s a alcoholic will likely die of cirrhosis. Anything that you life is made up of will likely also be your demise. It’s the good and the bad. Look at the apostles. There life was all about Jesus and they were murdered because of it.
I think there’s more to it though than just the natural explanation. Peter was at a crossroads. He was a spontaneous and reckless sort of man, quick to speak up and sure of himself. This whole scenario would have been surprising and frightening. When they came to arrest Jesus, his instinctive reaction was to fight back. Jesus draws attention to that. It’s almost like He’s saying, “Is that what you want to do? Don’t you know that if you go down that road, that road will kill you?” Jesus heals the damage and that’s the end of Peter’s fighting.