Luke 22 36

Luke 22:36 kjv

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.

Luke 22:36 nkjv

Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.

Luke 22:36 niv

He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.

Luke 22:36 esv

He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.

Luke 22:36 nlt

"But now," he said, "take your money and a traveler's bag. And if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one!

Luke 22 verses

Luke 22 36 Meaning

Luke 22:36 signifies a pivotal shift in Jesus' instructions to His disciples, moving from a period of relatively easy divine provision during their previous missions (where they lacked nothing) to a forthcoming era of increased opposition, self-reliance, and direct confrontation with a hostile world. Jesus instructs them to now actively secure basic provisions (purse, scrip) and even defense (sword), foreshadowing the hardships and persecution they will face after His departure. This emphasizes preparation for spiritual and practical challenges, marking an end to the protected, initial phase of their ministry.

Luke 22 36 Context

Luke 22:36 is spoken by Jesus during the Last Supper, on the night before His crucifixion. It follows His declaration that He will soon be "poured out" and His communion with the disciples (Lk 22:19-20). Importantly, it comes after a retrospective conversation where Jesus reminds them of their earlier missions when they were sent out without purse, scrip, or sandals, yet lacked nothing (Lk 22:35). The "But now" in verse 36 signifies an immediate and dramatic change in their circumstances and the nature of their future ministry. This instruction is directly followed by Peter's boast and Jesus' warning about Satan's desire to sift him (Lk 22:31-34), and culminates in Jesus being arrested shortly thereafter in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Peter indeed attempts to use a sword (Lk 22:49-51). The shift from divine, carefree provision to a need for self-preparation highlights the imminent persecution and the dawning of a new, more confrontational era for His followers.

Luke 22 36 Word analysis

• Then said he unto them: A transitional phrase marking a new declaration from Jesus to His disciples.

• But now, (ἀλλὰ νῦν, alla nyn): A stark contrast. It points to a radical change from the previous condition or command. The previous phase of their ministry was characterized by supernatural provision; the "now" ushers in a new reality of impending danger and hardship, requiring a different approach.

• he that hath a purse (βαλάντιον, ballantion): Refers to a money bag or wallet. The instruction is to bring resources for sustenance, implying that self-provision will become necessary, unlike previous missions where divine provision was paramount and visible.

• let him take it: An active command, indicating responsibility for their own basic needs and resources.

• and likewise his scrip (πήρα, pēra): A small bag or knapsack for carrying provisions (food, personal items) during travel. Often used by travelers or beggars. This reiterates the need for self-provision of necessities.

• and he that hath no sword (μάχαιραν, machairan): Refers to a literal short sword or dagger. This is a shocking and deeply debated instruction, contrasting sharply with Jesus' general teaching of non-violence. It signals imminent danger and the need for preparedness, though its interpretation remains complex (literal preparedness vs. metaphorical spiritual readiness).

• let him sell his garment (ἱμάτιον, himation): Refers to an outer cloak or tunic, a vital piece of clothing and often a basic asset. The command to sell such an essential item to acquire a sword underscores the extreme urgency and perceived importance of possessing a "sword" in the coming times, even at great personal cost.

• and buy one: A direct instruction to acquire a sword.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip": This segment marks the transition to practical preparedness for daily needs. It shifts the disciples' expectation from absolute dependence on divine miracles for daily sustenance to a pragmatic readiness for difficult times where they would need to actively secure resources. This reflects the reality that after Jesus' physical departure, they would operate more independently in a hostile world.
  • "and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one": This segment highlights the anticipated severity of the coming challenges. The command to acquire a "sword" at the expense of an essential garment signifies a radical urgency and the stark reality of facing dangerous opposition. While literally two swords were produced by the disciples, and Jesus then immediately stopped Peter from using one in Gethsemane (Luke 22:49-51; Matt 26:52), the "sword" symbolically represents the need for active readiness and spiritual resolve against hostility, rather than necessarily engaging in physical violence for the Kingdom. It emphasizes the need for 'defence' in a broad sense, either against literal harm or against the spiritual forces and arguments they would face as His witnesses.

Luke 22 36 Bonus section

The seemingly contradictory instruction concerning the "sword" in Luke 22:36, followed immediately by Jesus rebuking Peter for using it (Lk 22:49-51; Matt 26:52), is crucial for its interpretation. It emphasizes that while readiness for confrontation and self-preservation might be necessary in a fallen world, the means of the Kingdom's advance are not violent or carnal. Jesus permits the possession of swords perhaps to highlight the reality of the coming danger and to provoke a thought process among the disciples, or as a physical object to transition into a symbolic teaching. His command effectively ends the prior period of naive innocence for His followers. They were moving from a season of privileged provision to one demanding shrewdness, self-reliance, and awareness of spiritual battle, symbolized by the items mentioned. The subsequent "It is enough" (Luke 22:38), when disciples present two swords, is often seen by scholars as Jesus shutting down their literal interpretation, implying they had missed the deeper, metaphorical significance or that the actual number of swords was irrelevant to His deeper point about the spiritual conflict ahead.

Luke 22 36 Commentary

Luke 22:36 marks a critical turning point in Jesus' final instructions to His disciples, profoundly shifting their outlook from naive trust in universal hospitality to realistic preparation for persecution. The phrase "But now" forcefully contrasts their past privileged mission—where they traveled without provisions and lacked nothing due to divine provision—with a grim future. This future, post-Christ's arrest and ascension, would be characterized by open hostility, material needs, and a different kind of ministry where they would encounter opposition not experienced when Jesus was physically with them.

The command to acquire a "purse" and "scrip" highlights the cessation of their uniquely sheltered, almost Edenic, existence during their ministry alongside Jesus. They would no longer expect spontaneous divine provision for every immediate need but would need to prudently prepare for their own sustenance and travel. The instruction regarding the "sword," selling even one's essential "garment" to procure it, is the most jarring. While the disciples interpret this literally and produce two swords, and Jesus dismissively says "It is enough" (which many interpret as "that's enough talk about it" rather than literal sufficiency), His immediate rebuke of Peter's violent action in Gethsemane makes it clear that actual physical combat is not the method for advancing the Kingdom.

Instead, the "sword" is highly symbolic. It could represent: 1) A call to readiness for defense against external danger, as they would be "lambs among wolves" (Mt 10:16), now without the unique protective aura of Jesus' physical presence. 2) More deeply, it represents the spiritual weapon (Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12) needed for the "sword of the Spirit," the Word of God, as they would engage in spiritual warfare and proclaim a challenging truth in a hostile world. It denotes a necessary readiness for conflict, a willingness to face the world on its terms, while ultimately not fighting it with carnal weapons (2 Cor 10:4). The essence is preparedness for opposition and persecution, whether physical, social, or spiritual, as the Kingdom advances. This readiness prepares them for tribulation, just as Jesus would soon be "numbered with the transgressors" (Lk 22:37), anticipating the persecution they too would face.