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NASB | Ephesians 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. [Is 59:17] |
Bible Question: I am trying to understand why Jesus told his disciples what is cited in Luke: 22: 35-36, referring to the sword. |
Bible Answer: Hi Oswaldo, Your verses are in the middle of a passage dealing with Peter's denial of Jesus. Luke 22:31,32, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." May I offer you the writing of William Barclay from the Daily Study Bible Series. Here is his second point about this denial passage: "(ii)Peter was well warned. Jesus warned him both directly and indirectly. Verses 33 to 38 with their talk of swords is a strange passage. But what they mean is this--Jesus was saying, "All the time so far you have had me with you. In a very short time you are going to be cast upon your own resources. What are you going to do about it? The danger in a very short time is not that you will possess nothing; but that you will have to fight for your very existence." This is not an incitement to armed force. It was simply a vivid eastern way of telling the disciples that their very lives were at stake. No one could say that the seriousness and danger of the situation, and his own liability to collapse were not presented to Peter." [End of quote] But if our struggle isn't against flesh and blood but against the schemes of the devil, then I like to contrast Ephesians 6:10ff. Ephesians 6:16, "...in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvaiton, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverence and petition for all the saints,..." We need to do our best in every way to protect the saints, encourage them, and strengthen them just as Peter was encouraged to do. From the heart, Ray |