Perishing by the Sword - Matthew 26:52

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus found His disciples, “Peter, James and John” asleep while He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, and after allowing them to continue sleeping for a while He said, “Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that does betray me.” Matthew continued, “And while he yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, why are you come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. 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”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse fifty-two of his book, Matthew wrote how Jesus said, “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” where we read:

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again your sword into his place:

for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

The verse reads, “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again you sword into his place.” Matthew began words, “then said Jesus” which means “at that time and moment Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto him” or “to Peter”, “put up again your sword” which means “sheathe your curved or straight sword for cutting or thrusting” “into his place” which means “into the sword's scabbard or sheath”. Matthew shared how Jesus told Peter to “put” his “sword” back into it's “sheath or protective covering”.

The verse continues, “for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matthew added the words, “for all” or “because, since and on account that each, every, the whole and everyone of” “they that take the sword” or “the people who lay hold on, take possession of and appropriate the curved or straight sword for cutting or thrusting” “shall perish” which means “will destroy, abolish, render useless and put an end to ruin” “with the sword” or “by the curved or straight sword for cutting or thrusting”. Matthew shared how Jesus said every person who “takes up a sword” will be “destroyed and put to ruin” by the “sword” as well.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus corrected Peter's action to defend Him against His captors. He corrected Peter by reminding Him that those who choose to use a “weapon” to attack their foes may be killed by that very weapon. God's desire is to “save” every person from their “sins”, and that is a “spiritual” work that is only accomplished in the “spirit”. Jesus deliberately went with those who “captured” Him because He was going to defeat His “enemy” through spiritual means. Those who are wise will submit their lives and commit their defense to the all knowing and wise God who sent His Son Jesus to fight the “spiritual battle” that they might inherit “everlasting life” with Him.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus asked Peter if he didn't know that He could pray and His Father would give Him, “more than twelve legions of angels?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.