In Luke 22 we find the Lord Jesus and His disciples at the Passover. Following the supper of the Passover, the Lord instituted the Lord's Supper, with Judas not present. It is at the table of the Lord that every heart is searched.
Christ had great things ahead for each disciple to do and had wondrous rewards for them in the next world. In order for them to carry out His plan, they must be prepared morally for their service and communion in His absence, because He was about to leave them and ascend on high.
Inner envying and murmuring, hidden in the heart until this time, were now manifested before Him. Strife broke out (the acting of the flesh and the desire for preeminence) but the Lord taught them that it is greater to serve than to sit at meat. He had given them this example in His own pathway.
Next, He told them that He valued their continuing with Him, and He appointed them a kingdom and twelve thrones, one for each of them to sit on. This is grace which precedes truth.
He addressed Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Peter answered, "Lord, I am ready to go with Thee, both into prison, and to death.”
Jesus said, "I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest Me. And He said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. Then said He unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.”
The purse suggests a capacity for daily necessities as to natural things as food and raiment, but much more the principles of the kingdom which we need, of which we should be conscious continually. Our supply is drawn from above where Christ is-"Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.”
The scrip suggests the inner man, the place where we keep the precious things of spiritual value which we carry within, besides the supply of the spirit of grace so necessary for one who serves in the kingdom of God. Constant communion and meditation preserve us.
David had a scrip in which he carried five smooth stones, and only David knew their value. The disciples already had a purse, and a scrip, not needed when Jesus was here, but when He was going to leave and be absent, the disciples were to take them.
While Jesus is absent our path takes on this character, with purse and scrip. Faith must act with wisdom and a realization of our responsibilities which rest entirely in an absent Christ. (1 Peter 3:2222Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. (1 Peter 3:22).) But a sword was something else. It must be bought.
The Jewish people were, as a nation, above the Gentiles, having the oracles of God. But in our day the godly Jew, just as all believers, is in a path of rejection because of Christ, and he has spiritual enemies. We need, therefore a spiritual weapon a sword.
In order to procure this weapon, we must sell our garment (worldly, religious reputation) and buy a sword. The following verses show how the transaction takes place. The Lord Himself saw to it that Peter sold his garment, otherwise he never would have sold it. To sell the garment may be painful and humbling, but the result, Oh how precious!
“And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And He said unto them, It is enough," meaning that the disciples did not understand. Without divine revelation and soul experience, man is without understanding.
They said, "Shall we smite with the sword?" Peter cut off an ear; the Lord healed it. Peter followed afar off. Peter sat down among them by the fire. A certain maid accused him. Oh how clever Satan is, but Peter was in good hands in spite of all.
Peter denied. Again Peter answered, "I am not." One hour elapsed so he might evaluate and judge himself, but to no avail. Another accused. Peter heard the cock crow. Is this the way that Peter sold his garment? Yes.
The Lord turned and looked on Peter; Peter went out and wept bitterly. Later, at the grave, he stooped down and beheld the linen clothes and departed, wondering. After the Lord had risen, He appeared unto Peter. Divine love broke his heart.
In Acts 2:2323Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23), Peter used his sword just recently purchased for the price of his garment. Now Peter had a sword. He had learned, "Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary.”
Across the will of nature
Lies the path of God.
Ter Steegen
One by one the disciples sold their garments to buy swords. With such a weapon each went forth in victory even to the gallows. Because of having swords, nearly all of the disciples were martyred.
Abraham carried a sword and won as the father of faith. Moses endured. David delivered the kingdom to his son. Solomon had no sword nor did the kings of Israel after the separation from Judah, but Judah's kings had swords for the most part. Rahab, Ruth, Gideon and others recorded in Heb. 11, as well as Ezra and Nehemiah carried swords and won. Saul, Balaam, Joab, and Absalom were without swords.
“The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." A sword is required to enter the kingdom. Satan stands in the way seeking to hinder the soul from taking the first step; habits and companions have a part in resisting our advance. We must do battle.
When a Christian young man refuses to enter the army, it usually is because he has a sword. So also a young person who refuses to marry an unbeliever is carrying a sword. The person who possesses a sword will battle on and discover the testimony that God has set up for this day. We begin by purifying our souls by faith in the blood of Christ. To be gathered by the Spirit unto the name of the Lord Jesus, the only name, is the present testimony that God recognizes. All other names are false.
To hide under tradition is to be carried about with every wind of doctrine. The enemy lies in wait to deceive, having invented a huge system of error through religious men. It is a system which appears palatable to the professing Christian, but if there were a sincere inquiry into the Word of God, no foundation could be found for gathering on any other basis than unto the name of the Lord Jesus. The true Church is not an organization but an organism composed of all believers.
I am not using a sword unless I comply with Scripture. This is quite humbling for the flesh, yet I must sell my garment and buy a sword. Only that which is found in the Holy Scriptures will be approved at the judgment seat of Christ. C. Lunden