Luke 22:49
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Roman law forbade Jews from carrying weapons without permission, making the disciples' possession of swords significant. The Garden of Gethsemane was a private property where Jesus often retreated (John 18:2), but this night it became an ambush site. The arrest party included Temple guards (Luke 22:52) and possibly Roman soldiers (John 18:3 mentions a 'band'). First-century Jewish messianic expectations centered on military liberation from Rome, explaining the disciples' violent instinct. They expected the Messiah to overthrow oppressors, not submit to them.
Questions for Reflection
- How do the disciples' swords reveal the gap between their understanding and Jesus' mission?
- When do Christians today confuse political/military power with the advancement of God's kingdom?
- What does Jesus' rebuke of violence teach about the nature of spiritual warfare?
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Analysis & Commentary
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? The disciples' response to imminent danger reveals misunderstanding of Jesus' kingdom. The question ei pataxomen en machaira (εἰ πατάξομεν ἐν μακαίρᾳ, 'shall we strike with sword?') expects a negative answer grammatically, yet betrays their continued expectation of military messianism. Despite Jesus' explicit teaching that 'all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword' (Matthew 26:52), they instinctively resort to violence. John 18:10 identifies Peter as the one who later strikes.
This moment crystallizes the tension between Christ's spiritual kingdom and human political expectations. The disciples had two swords (v. 38), which Jesus called 'enough'—not for battle but to fulfill Scripture (Isaiah 53:12, 'numbered with transgressors'). Their readiness to fight contrasts with Jesus' readiness to suffer. The phrase to mellō (τὸ μέλλω, 'what would follow') indicates they perceived the danger but not its divine purpose.