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Luke 9:3 and Luke 22:36 seem to form an inclusio. In chapter nine, Jesus instructs the Twelve, “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.” But in chapter 22, he tells them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
What is being conveyed by this? It is strange that Jesus tells them to buy swords, but that two is enough. And just a couple verses later in 22:49-51 he has them put them away their swords. Why did Jesus have them buy swords then?
Troy Day
This raises fascinating questions about the apparent contradiction between Jesus’s earlier instructions in Luke 9:3 (take nothing for the journey) and Luke 22:36 (buy a sword). Most biblical scholars interpret this through the lens of changing circumstances – the initial mission was temporary and local, while Luke 22 reflects the permanent post-resurrection reality. The sword metaphor likely represents spiritual preparation and self-sufficiency rather than literal violence, especially given Jesus’s rebuke in Luke 22:51. This tension illuminates the nuanced nature of discipleship across different contexts. @followers @john mushenhouse @phillip williams @kyle williams