What does our Lord mean by the two swords in Luke 22?
A viewer asks what our Lord means when he tells the apostles about swords in Luke 22.
Answer
This is different from the earlier time, in Luke 10, when he sends the disciples out two by two on their ministry and tells them not to take a sword, a purse, or extra clothing, because he wanted them to get whatever they needed, clothing, money, food, protection, from the people they went to, going in totally vulnerable so people could see they meant no harm. Now, however, he is going to the cross, and things are different, because Jesus is going into the house of his murderers. He had avoided Jerusalem for three and a half years, staying up in Galilee, but on the final trip he makes a beeline to Jerusalem, knowing that is where his murderers are and that he is going to allow them to murder him. These Pharisees and Sadducees are vicious, merciless people, and he tells his apostles, in effect, the opposite of before: take this sword, take that sword, bring a purse, make sure you have shoes and an extra coat, because it is going to be rough and I am not going to be here to protect you. He could call twelve legions of angels down, but then the plan of God would not be accomplished. So by telling them to carry the swords, he is warning them that it will not be the same.