Put up again thy sword into his place
Matthew 26:50-54
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. 52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
When Jesus was being arrested, one of Jesus’ disciples drew his sword thinking he was going to defend, or protect, Jesus from being taken away. The disciple used his sword against a servant of the high priest cutting off his ear.
Jesus replied to his disciples, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?”
Jesus was prepared to die for the salvation of mankind through the plan of God. Jesus was the Son of God, God in the flesh, who had at his disposal unlimited supernatural power, yet he humbles himself before man and God and submits to his arrest.
Jesus before he is arrested prayed to God and was exceedingly full of sorrow in his soul, even to the death.
Read what Jesus prayed,
Matthew 26:38-39
Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
The Scriptures say he prayed this twice.
Matthew 26:42
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Jesus submitted to his Father’s will. He was arrested and fully aware that he was going to be judged and die unjustly a horrific death hours later for God and for the sins of the world.
But Jesus left us in this brief story a lesson for his believers, those in Christ:
“Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”
It is not for those in Christ to do battle with carnal weapons of war.
Our weapons are the Word of God and the Holy Ghost with the Power of Almighty God.
Christ’s apostles taught this same doctrine.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2nd Corinthians 10:2-5
But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Ephesians 6:10-18
¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Our Armor and our weapons are Spiritual of the Holy Spirit of God. We are Spiritual warriors for Jesus the Christ and God and his will.
Our war is against Satan, the prince of this world, and no sword, gun, bomb, or weapon of mankind can fight against evil works of the kingdom of darkness of Satan.
Only Spiritual weapons can defeat a Spiritual enemy. Therefore, we suit up with the armor which God has given us and weapons of war that God has placed in our hands.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
This is the only fight those in Christ should wage.
Christians should not engage with weapons that are carnal.
Christians should not engage with swords, guns, bombs, or any man-made weapon of man.
Thus, Christians should not enlist in carnal warfare, the military or such armed services nor engage in armed conflict---even in actions of defense.
Jesus led by example of how Christians are to fight the good fight.
Zechariah 4:6
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of YHWH unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith YHWH of hosts.
Zerubbabel was clearly a type of shadow of Christ in the Old Testament Prophet’s writings.
Jesus fought his enemy, Satan, with God’s Spirit.
Jesus fought all his battles before he died on the cross with the Word of God.
Jesus submitted to God’s will.
Those in Jesus the Christ are to:
—fight with God’s Holy Spirit.
—fight our battles with the Word of God.
—submit to the will of God found in the Word of God.
1st John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
As for the man, who in unbelief, does not listen to God, nor possesses the Spirit of God, nor submits to God’s will, he will undoubtedly use other means to fight his ungodly wars and bloody warfare.
Jesus taught man to turn the other cheek, resist not evil, to love their enemies, bless and not curse, pray for their enemies, but many have not listened to Jesus or his words.
Matthew 5:38-48
¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Jesus said:
Matthew 7:24-27
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
As Jesus said with the Wisdom of God, "all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”
The Word of God says that vengeance belongs to God.
Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Hebrews 10:30
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Jesus told his disciples in the parable of the talents:
Luke 19:27
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Jesus through the Holy Ghost is speaking to his children now, particularly those who may have taken up the carnal weapons of the flesh: submit to your God and, “Put up again thy sword into his place.”
As Jesus said often, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”