Die by the Sword.
Matthew 26:47-52 tells the story of the all-familiar betrayal of Jesus. Judas’ kiss is widely known by Christians and non-Christians alike. Jesus is praying in the garden of Gethsemane when Judas arrives with a large crowd. Judas betrays Jesus with that famous kiss and the men come forward to arrest Jesus. At once, one of Jesus’ companions (who we find out is Peter in John 18:10) takes out his sword and strikes the servant of the high priest on the ear. Rebuking him, Jesus says, “put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”
There is nothing seemingly difficult about understanding this quote from Jesus. Violence is never condoned. Already in Genesis 9:6 God says to Noah, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” In Exodus 21:12 God also says, “Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death.” The fifth commandment also clearly states, “You shall not murder.” In Luther’s explanation of the fifth commandment, he quotes Matthew 26:52. As Luther states, “God forbids us to take the life of another person” (Small Catechism 52.A.).
If you live by the sword you will die by the sword. Death by the sword seems to be a bad thing…right? Now, I want to bring your mind from a physical, metal sword to a different kind of sword—a sword that is sharper than any other sword. Ephesians 6:17 names this sword: “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Hebrews 4:12 shows us just how sharp this sword is: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” For the sake of space I’m limiting the references.
What kind of sword is this? This sword is the word of God—the very word of God that kills and makes alive. Suddenly, “die by the sword,” can take on a whole new meaning. Indeed it is the word of God that kills us. At our baptism, this sword kills our sinful nature. This is the foolishness of God: he makes alive by putting to death by the sword. We have been given new life: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:21).
Jesus is the Word. We are given a new life because of his death on the cross. It is through his death that we are made alive: “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:8). Jesus has died in our place! He conquered death for us.
We have been put to the sword. We are dead to sin and made alive in Christ Jesus! The word of God has killed us and made us alive. Now we live by the sword—the sword of the Spirit, that is, the very word of God. We live “as those who have been brought from death to life” (Romans 6:13). We will gladly “die by the sword.”
Only Because of Jesus,
Vicar Jake
