Sometimes we stretch passages too far, turning the faith into something supercilious in the sight of the world. We read that “Whoever lives by the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52), and take that to mean one should never fight—even to protect himself. Is Jesus teaching pacifism? Is that your view of things?

Well, then, listen to another passage that ought to make you sit up and take notice. In Luke 22:36, Jesus told His disciples, “whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one.” That was why Peter had one in the Garden at Jesus’ arrest. Even though that was the wrong occasion on which to use it, on others it would not be.

You will notice that this was to be a part of the apostles’ equipment as they went forth preaching the Gospel. They were to take the sword of the Spirit as their principal weapon, but also a literal sword that hung by their side.

Why would Jesus make buying a sword an item so essential that if they didn’t have one, they should sell their very clothing to earn money to get one? There seems to be a strong emphasis upon doing so. Doubtless, they would need it as they traveled preaching the Gospel.

Certainly, Jesus isn’t recommending the furthering of the faith by physical force, as Romanism and Islam have over the years. Far from it. Violence isn’t to be a way of life as we saw in the first passage mentioned above (living by the sword). Rather, Jesus is indicating that they would travel in places where they would need protection. The roads were not safe. Remember the man who fell among thieves, was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. Jesus wanted to see nothing of the sort happen to His messengers. So he told them to arm themselves. It was right to defend themselves from attack.

When is the last time that you heard someone give a missionary message on this passage? Or, the first time. Well, get it clearly: it’s right for those who carry the message into a hostile world to defend themselves. And this passage makes that fact abundantly clear.