Sayings

"Live by the sword, die by the sword" is a proverb in the form of a parallel phrase, derived from the Gospel of Matthew 26:52: expressed poetically in the Authorised version as "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”

According the Eugene Peterson’s Paraphrase the idiom is placed in the context of more teaching by Jesus just as he is being arrested. “Jesus said, “Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords. Don’t you realise that I am able right now to call to my Father, and twelve companies—more, if I want them—of fighting angels would be here, battle-ready? But if I did that, how would the Scriptures come true that say this is the way it has to be?”

Jesus is not interested in an armed conflict in this moment. According to Luke, Christ immediately heals the servant's ear (Luke 22:51). Jesus rebukes Peter for trying to use violence to stop what is meant by God to happen in this moment. 

Some have pointed to Jesus' words here as a reason to never take up arms in conflict. That is reading too much into this event. He does not tell Peter to throw the sword away, but to put it back into its sheath. We know from John's account that Jesus told his arresters to let His disciples go (John 18:8). In that context, Jesus seems likely to mean that He does not wish for Peter to die by the sword tonight in a foolish attempt to save Him. Christ, Himself, does not need to be protected by an earthly sword (John 18:36). 

Jesus will go on to say that He does not need to be defended from what is happening because, ultimately, this is the reason He has come. Remember that earlier Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

I wonder, If it was a criminal offence to be a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me? Would they identify me by these traits: merciful, poor in spirit, pure in heart, lover of peace, persecuted for the sake of righteousness?

Lord, lighten the loads of your peacemakers.  Be their light to brighten the darkness.  Offer them glimpses of hope. Help them be kind to themselves.  Show them the way of peace when it is hard to identify. Grant them peace within themselves.  Keep them safe. May their work and their spirit be contagious. Amen