COMPARING JESUS AND MUHAMMAD!!!
Glory be to God who makes it possible for us to witness another day. I've explained Luke 19:27 and Matthew 10:34 in previous posts, and no one could refute the esplanations. This means our Muslims friends are having a better understanding of the Bible, contrary to what they were taught. Yesterday, I proved the fact that Jesus NEVER intended that His disciples make use of sword in Luke 22:37 and I stopped at the promise of explaining what the word ''sword'' in Luke 22:37 means. This, I'll do now. God bless you as you flow along!
The word used for sword in this verse is ''machaira'' in Greek and it has several meanings as can be seen in its various New Testament usage:
1. Literally, it means a large knife for killing and cutting up
2. Figuratively, it is a symbol of violent death (Romans 8:35), of hostility (Matthew 10:34), of the power of life and death (Romans 13:4).
3. Metaphorically, it is used for the penetrating power of words spoken by God (Ephesians 6:17).
This implies that the context determines the meaning of a word and not vice versa. I said yesterday that Jesus used the word ''sword'' metaphorically. He told His disciples that now they'd rely on this ''sword'' as they continue their mission! Yet, Jesus forbade the use of sword by Peter and NEVER used a sword Himself. Also, Jesus silenced His disciples when they claimed to have two swords; He told them ''Enough!'' For the scriptures to be fulfilled, Jesus had to die and thus there's no point in getting a knife to kill, contrariwise to the fulfilmwnr of scriptures.
The point Jesus was making was this: ''You are now moving into a whole new situation. If they arrest Me, they will one day arrest you. If they treat me like a common criminal (Isa. 53:12), they will do the same to you; so, be prepared!''
During their ministry with Jesus, the disciples has been sent out with special authority, and they were treated with respect and appreciation (Luke 9 and 10). At that time, Jesus was still a very popular rabbi, and the authorities were not able to attack His disciples. But now ''His hour had come'' and the situation would change radically. Today, God's people are aliens in enemi territory, and we must use our faith and sanctified common sense as we serve the Lord. This is a good warning to zealous people who foolishly get themselves in tight situations and then expect God to perform miracles for them.
The disciples' words ''Here are two swords!'' mush have grieved Jesus, for they indicated that the disciples had missed the meaning of His words. Did they think that He needed their protection or that He would now overthrow Rome and establish the kingdom?
''It is enough'' means ''Don't say anything more about the matter'' (Deut. 3:26) and not that these two swords are enough to fight the arresters. Jesus' kingdom does not advance by means of men's swords (John 18: 36-37) and that is why it is selfishness that results in religious wars (no thanks to the Crusaders; they failed to imitate Jesus)!
Jesus' kingsom advances by the power of God's truth, the Word of God that is sharper than any human sword (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12). Every Christian used this sword as seen in the Acts of the Apostles and we also saw how Apostle Paul used the ''sword'' of human government, in addition to the spiritual ''sword'' (the Word of God) to protect himself and the Gospel (Rom. 13; Acts 16: 35-40; 21: 37-40; 25:11).
As much as we can, Christians also must employ these swords (Scriptures and Government/Law) to protect ourselves as we, like the earliest disciples and Christians of later generations, engage in carrying out the Great Commission given by our Lord and God, Jesus. Do not hesitate to do the work of an evangelist, preaching the Word in season and out of season. God bless you all!
To be continued..............
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