Luke 22:36 Meaning: Did Jesus Command Buying Swords?
Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a bag. Whoever has none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword.
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.
And he said unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet; and he that hath none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword.
Then said he to them, `But, now, he who is having a bag, let him take it up, and in like manner also a scrip; and he who is not having, let him sell his garment, and buy a sword,
He said therefore to them, But now he that has a purse let him take [it], in like manner also a scrip, and he that has none let him sell his garment and buy a sword;
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus tells his disciples to sell their cloaks and buy swords. Does he really mean violence? How this fits with his teaching and the rebuke of Peter.
Context
This verse comes near the end of the Last Supper. Jesus has just told Peter that he will deny him three times before the rooster crows. He reminds the disciples of their earlier mission, when he sent them out without purse, bag, or sandals and they lacked nothing. Then comes the shift: “But now.” They are entering a new season. Their own people will turn against them. In the next verse Jesus quotes Isaiah, saying he will be counted with transgressors. The disciples misunderstand. They show him two swords, and he replies, “That is enough,” closing the conversation. The tension is heavy. Everything is about to change.
Key Words
Two small words carry the turn of the verse: alla nun, “but now.” The word nun is a sharp marker of present time, not some distant future. Jesus is saying, right now, the rules are different. The verbs that follow are strong commands: pōlēsatō (sell) and agorasatō (buy). They are in the imperative mood, which sounds urgent. But what are they buying? The word machaira means a small dagger or knife, not a soldier’s broadsword. Several older commentators note that the phrase “he that hath none” may refer to lacking a purse or bag, not a sword. In other words, a penniless disciple should sell his outer cloak to buy a bag for provisions, not a weapon. This reading makes sense of the otherwise jarring command to arm themselves when the whole Gospel points away from violence.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most historic Christian interpreters have understood this verse as metaphorical. John Calvin says Jesus “does not call them to an outward conflict” but warns them of severe spiritual struggles. John Wesley agrees: “It is plain, this is not to be taken literally. It only means, This will be a time of extreme danger.” The Cambridge Bible calls it “a kind metaphorical method of expression.” Other readers, like some early modern commentators, suggest it simply meant preparing for practical dangers like bandits. The disciples themselves took it literally, producing swords, but Jesus’ response, “That is enough”, reads as a gentle dismissal. Across traditions, the consensus is that this is not a command to take up arms.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to read this verse as Jesus commanding his disciples to carry weapons for self-defense. In fact, within hours Peter uses a sword in the garden and Jesus rebukes him, telling him to put the sword away (Matthew 26:52). The verse in Luke is not about literal warfare. It is a vivid warning that their mission is now entering a time of hardship and rejection.
Main takeaway: Jesus warns his followers that the era of safe mission is over, but he does not call them to take up arms.
Questions People Ask
Did Jesus really want his disciples to buy swords?
Most Bible scholars through the centuries say no. The immediate context, Jesus rebuking Peter for using a sword, and his response to the two swords (“That is enough”) suggest he was speaking metaphorically. He was warning them about coming danger, not arming them for a fight.
Why does Jesus say to sell your cloak to buy a sword?
The cloak was a basic necessity. Selling it to buy a sword would be a drastic act. This extreme language shows how seriously Jesus wants them to understand the change: their former days of welcome and safety are gone. He is using shock to make a point about hardship.
How does this verse relate to Jesus teaching non-violence?
It seems to contradict it, but only on the surface. Jesus taught his followers to love enemies and turn the other cheek. This verse, read in context, does not overturn that. It is about spiritual readiness, not literal swords. The early church consistently understood the Christian life as non-violent.
What does ‘but now’ mean in Luke 22:36?
It marks a turning point. “But now” signals that the disciples’ situation is completely different from when Jesus sent them out earlier without provisions. They now face rejection and persecution. The phrase prepares them for the trials ahead, not for a physical battle.
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