21/04/2024
A great example of the necessity of context:
Some use Luke 22:35-38 where Jesus says to "go buy swords" as encouragement for His followers to weaponize and why Christians should buy guns, in spite of His every other word and action being nonviolent.
Just look at the context.
This is right before He goes to the garden where He is arrested. He tells them two swords will be enough. Enough for what? They aren't going to fend off the many soldiers that came to arrest Jesus with two swords. When Peter does take a swing with one, Jesus immediately rebukes him and heals the man's ear. So CLEARLY He did want the swords so they could be wielded against those who came to arrest Him. And He explains right in the same passage why they needed them - so He could be counted "among the transgressors" in order to fulfill what was written about the Messiah. When the soldiers show up, they are looking for and expecting some radical rebel who wants to overthrow Caesar. The presence of swords, and especially Peter using it, gives them the reason they need to count Him among the transgressors and arrest Him.
And yet I continue to hear this scripture as support for Christians preparing to do great violence by arming themselves.
