Luke 22:36-40
Luke 22:36 (KJB)
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.
Now Jesus contrasts their missionary journey then with the present. Up until
this time, the disciples had lived pretty peaceful lives even though there were
times of verbal confrontation. Now the situation has changed. They needed to
prepare for the reality that they were going to receive the same type of
treatment that Jesus received. They will face the same type of hostility and
anger of the false religionists. This will cause some of them to lose their
lives. Now they must take all the provisions they need and all the precautions
must also be taken to fulfill their ministry. Here Jesus even tells them that
they need to buy a sword which would not have been used to force someone to
receive the Gospel but would be used for fighting animals which may attack while
they are on the road or while they are sleeping.
Luke 22:37 (KJB)
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me,
And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have
an end.
Here Jesus is telling them that what was written about Him in the Scriptures had
yet to be accomplished. However, the time for that accomplishment is rapidly
drawing near. (Isa 53:12 KJV) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the
great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out
his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the
sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. What Jesus has in
view is His crucifixion where He will be crucified with two malefactors as
prophesied in Isaiah 53:12. The end of Jesus’ earthly ministry was at hand. He
was to be crucified to pay for the sins of the Elect and then He was to be
raised from the dead the third day, and then in forty days He was to ascend back
to Heaven. The end of the earthly ministry of Jesus had a determined end and
that was on ascension day. Then ten days after that the ministry of the apostles
would be in full swing on Pentecost.
Luke 22:38 (KJB)
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is
enough.
Then the disciples had shown Jesus the only two swords they had among all of
them. Actually, under Roman law it was illegal to own any type of weapons, yet
Jesus supersedes man’s law and tells the disciples to buy swords for themselves.
Jesus closes out the conversation because at this time He could not get into
another teaching session with them since they did not seem to understand that
they each should have a sword.
Luke 22:39 (KJB)
And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his
disciples also followed him.
Then when they had completed the Passover meal and all the teachings, they now
left Jerusalem and headed for the Mount of Olives. It was His custom to go to
the Mount of Olives and it was there that Judas would tell the chief priests
where to arrest Jesus. Judas knew the custom of Jesus and knew that this would
be the best place to arrest Him. Luke is the only Gospel that mentions the fact
that it was the custom of Jesus to go to the Mount of Olives.
Luke 22:40 (KJB)
And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into
temptation.
Then when they arrived at the Mount of Olives, Jesus tells them the reason they
are there and that is for prayer. Jesus had a custom of prayer and He wanted the
disciples to adopt a steady prayer time also. (Mat 26:41 KJV) Watch and
pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak. Matthew tells us that this admonition was after the first time Jesus prayed and
came back and saw His disciples asleep. It is not just staying awake but it goes
much deeper than that. To watch is to pray and those that pray are watching.
Especially when one prays to be kept from temptation, they will now be watching
to see if they will be snared with something that is sinful and because they
prayed about it, then they will be astute enough to know what to look for. Jesus
knows that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak and that is because the
spirit does not tire in any way but the flesh needs to rest after being active
for so many hours. The reason we must pray that we do not enter temptation, is
because the world may offer many different avenues for us to go down so we will
not accomplish the will of God. Even if the Lord tells us how we are to do
something, the world may want us to do it another way which will not accomplish
the results God wants. So the believer must be careful that they are not
diverted and that is what Satan wanted all along that Jesus use His powers in a
wrong way during His earthly ministry.