APL,

If Jesus did not like swords, and did not want Peter to have one, why did He command the disciples to go buy one if they didn't have one?

You didn't say anything in your response to me about this command of Jesus--do you know why He gave it?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Green - read the whole segment, and read the sermon on the mount. Did Christ commend Peter for using the sword? Read the entire book of Acts. Where the disciples ever commanded to carry a weapon? Not once. Note verse 37, what was fulfilled? In verse 38, the disciples appear to take Christ literally (as you are) when they produce 2 swords. Jesus cuts the discussion off, "it is enough".

Green - what is THE sword of the Lord? A physical weapon of murder? Nope. Jesus rebuked Peter for using one! Here the sword of the Lord is defined. I suggest buying of of these and not a hunk of metal.

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

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.

I see. So you're trying to tell us that although Jesus told His disciples that even though they had been sent out without purses and without money, He changed His mind and told them that, now, whichever of them had a purse and money was supposed to take it; and if they didn't have a sword, they were supposed to sell their garment to buy one--that Jesus meant they were supposed to sell their (garment?) to buy the sword?

What am I supposed to sell?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

I see, so it is better to go around naked with a sword that clothed without one.

Green - Did you reread the sermon on the mount? What are we to do to our enemies? What did Christ do? Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Shall we then go out and kill our enemies? That is the way of all kingdoms of the earth. It is not the way of God's Kingdom. The battle which we have to fight--the greatest battle that was ever fought by man--is the surrender of self to the will of God, the yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love.

Not unless God commands you to do so. But when He commands it, you better not disobey, or even only partially comply, like Saul did.

David killed Goliath when prompted by the Holy Spirit to do so. When we are connected to God, we will know how to fight His battles, and not be caught up with fighting our own. When Jesus tells you to do something, do it--just be sure you have spent enough time with Him to recognize His voice, as Abraham so well demonstrated for us when God commanded him to kill his son Isaac.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Why do you ignore the testimony of Jesus?

No doubt there will come a time when we hear a voice to go and kill. Will we know who it belongs to?

APL,

Who is ignoring the testimony of Jesus? You are the one who made a sarcastic remark about His command to sell one's garment to buy a sword--instead of answering my question about what that command meant. Do you want to walk around naked, as you suggested, in answer to Jesus' command?

It is our privilege to learn of Jesus every day. If we are not walking with Him, we won't recognize His voice, though we may certainly think we are hearing Him. Self-deception is a sobering reality for many. Would Jesus use sarcasm? Should we? When we seek truth, do we try to force it into our own mold of thinking? Are we too proud to change our opinions, and therefore turn to mockery of the Word of God, by misapplication, sarcasm, and wit?

God's Word is not meant to be used the way many use it. It is meant to be taken in full and proper balance, comparing scripture with scripture, and it can only be rightly understood with the help of the Holy Spirit. Our own "intelligence" is no match for the Bible. We must never presume to know how it should be interpreted apart from a "thus saith the Lord" and the voice of His Spirit.

Please answer me regarding what the garment represents if the sword is but a symbol. I agree that the sword might be a symbol. But if it is, the garment must also be a symbol. What does it mean? Ask God to help you understand it. And what does it mean to "buy" the sword?

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Green - I have given you scripture what tells you what the sword of the Lord is, and it is not a hunk of metal. Again - why do you ignore the testimony of Jesus?

Speaking of straight answers Green, do you have one to that is on the topic of this thread? How Are We To Love the Soldiers of ISIS? Is killing them loving them? Is that your answer?

We can love the members of ISIS but we cannot love the goals of ISIS. However, most of us will never meet a member of ISIS face to face. So, our loving them does not benefit them. It doesn't influence them to change their goals. In the meantime, therefore, we owe a debt of gratitude to our military for working to stop ISIS from achieving their goals, namely, to kill us.

The US Military - is it a part of the kingdoms of the earth or the Kingdom or God? The former. Are the governments of Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia not ordained by God also?

Was Israel of old delivered from Egypt by force of arms? Nope, in contrast to that which Moses had hoped to do. Moses had to learn the truth over 40 years.

The Jewish nation in the time of Jesus hoped to be delivered from the Roman oppression by the force of arms. Did it work? Nope.

The Jews asked, what would become of their nation if he were satisfied to be without force of arms?

What would become of their nation if he were satisfied to be without force of arms? When and how would the glory and power, so long anticipated, bring the nations as subjects to the city of the Jews? Had not the priests taught that they were to bear rule over all the earth? and could it be possible that the great religious teachers were in error? The Lord had answered their query through Isaiah: "O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." {RH, July 6, 1911 par. 11}

His ways are not by use of force or arms.