Luke 22 38

Luke 22:38 kjv

And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

Luke 22:38 nkjv

So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."

Luke 22:38 niv

The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That's enough!" he replied.

Luke 22:38 esv

And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough."

Luke 22:38 nlt

"Look, Lord," they replied, "we have two swords among us." "That's enough," he said.

Luke 22 verses

Luke 22 38 Meaning

Luke 22:38 records the disciples' misunderstanding of Jesus' instruction regarding a sword and Jesus' enigmatic response, "It is enough." This verse, situated on the night of Jesus' betrayal, highlights the stark contrast between the disciples' carnal understanding of the Messiah's kingdom and Jesus' spiritual reality of suffering and self-sacrifice. His reply "It is enough" indicates an end to a conversation where His deeper meaning was being missed, signaling that the two swords, whether symbolic or literal, were sufficient only for demonstrating their lack of comprehension or for the immediate catalyst of the coming events, not for actual physical defense.

Luke 22 38 Context

Luke 22:38 is part of the Farewell Discourse of Jesus to His disciples during the Last Supper, immediately before His betrayal and arrest. Following the institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus gives final instructions and warnings. Crucially, verses 36-37 set the stage: Jesus speaks of a drastic change in their ministry, saying that now, one who has a purse should take it, and "he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." He immediately adds that this is to fulfill the prophecy that "He was numbered with the transgressors" (Isa 53:12). The disciples' literalistic response in verse 38 — displaying two physical swords — highlights their ongoing failure to grasp the spiritual nature of Jesus' kingdom and His impending suffering. This short exchange sets up the dramatic scene in Gethsemane where Peter attempts to use a sword, demonstrating the immediate misapplication of Jesus' words.

Luke 22 38 Word analysis

• And they said: Refers to the disciples, a collective response, showing their unified but misguided understanding.
• Lord (Greek: Kyrios - Κύριε): A title of respect and authority, showing they still recognized Jesus' Lordship, even as they misunderstood His specific instructions.
• behold (Greek: idou - ἰδοὺ): An interjection used to draw attention, signaling their eagerness and readiness to demonstrate their possession of swords.
• here are (Greek: hōde - ὧδε + eisin - εἰσιν): "Here are" emphasizes the immediate availability and tangible presence of the swords.
• two swords (Greek: duo machairai - δύο μάχαιραι):
  • Duo: "Two" – a remarkably small and utterly inadequate number for any meaningful armed defense for twelve (or eleven) men. This scarcity itself points away from a literal military intention.
  • Machairai: "Swords," specifically referring to a short sword, dagger, or a knife used for self-defense or sacrifice. It was not a broad military weapon. The fact that they already possessed two before Jesus' instruction to "buy one" (Lk 22:36) suggests either prior readiness for self-defense or perhaps they brought what they had.
• And he said unto them: Jesus' response to their literal display.
• It is enough (Greek: hikanon estin - ἱκανόν ἐστιν): This phrase is deeply debated and holds several layers of meaning:
  • Hikanon: Means "sufficient," "adequate," or "enough."
  • Interpretation 1 (Cease discussion): The most common scholarly view. Jesus cuts short the conversation because further explanation would be futile or premature. Their spiritual blindness prevented them from grasping His true meaning, and the time for direct teaching on this point was over; events were about to unfold that would demonstrate it more powerfully than words (e.g., Peter's sword act, Jesus' healing of Malchus, His submission to arrest). "Enough of this kind of talk/misunderstanding."
  • Interpretation 2 (Sufficient for symbolic purpose): The two swords were sufficient not for battle, but perhaps as a prop to allow the fulfillment of Jesus being "numbered with the transgressors" (Lk 22:37) – as people going about with weapons might be considered outlaws. Or it could be that having two was enough to prompt Peter's later action which then gave Jesus the opportunity to explicitly demonstrate His true kingdom.
  • Interpretation 3 (Sufficient but ironic): An ironic affirmation that two swords were indeed "enough" given the spiritual nature of His mission (they would be entirely useless for His true purpose). This implies Jesus wasn't genuinely pleased or thinking they were truly adequate for defense.
  • Significance: Jesus never approved of or endorsed a physical defense. His "It is enough" must be read in light of the subsequent events where He explicitly rebukes Peter for using a sword (Lk 22:49-51; Jn 18:11), and declares His kingdom is "not of this world" (Jn 18:36). The statement puts an end to a useless carnal interpretation.

Luke 22 38 Bonus section

The incident of the "two swords" and "It is enough" beautifully foreshadows Peter's actions in Gethsemane where he attempts to defend Jesus with a physical sword (Lk 22:49-51). This provides an immediate, practical demonstration of the disciples' misinterpretation and Jesus' true intent, which was to submit to the Father's will and endure suffering for the salvation of mankind, not to lead an armed rebellion. The inadequacy of "two swords" against a contingent sent to arrest Jesus underscores the futility of human efforts compared to God's divine plan. It also highlights the persistent difficulty the disciples had in fully grasping the suffering servant motif of Isaiah 53, preferring instead the conquering king image.

Luke 22 38 Commentary

Luke 22:38 is a poignant snapshot of the ongoing chasm between Jesus' spiritual mission and His disciples' carnal expectations. In the face of His impending arrest, Jesus prepares His followers by stating they would face times of hardship, symbolised by needing "purse," "bag," and even a "sword" (Lk 22:36). This metaphorical language, often interpreted as readiness for spiritual battle or the difficult road ahead without Him, was instantly misunderstood by the disciples who literalized it into a display of physical weapons.

Their presentation of "two swords" as their compliance reveals a deep spiritual blindness. Jesus' enigmatic response, "It is enough" (or "That is enough!"), is a clear verbal cue to end a futile discussion. It was not an affirmation that two swords were sufficient for a physical fight, which would be absurd in light of His divine power or the legion of angels He could summon (Matt 26:53). Rather, it was a profound declaration that no more needed to be said on the matter, as their current understanding prevented true comprehension. The disciples were stuck in an earthly, nationalistic view of the Messiah's kingdom, one that involved overthrowing Roman oppression with force. Jesus' kingdom, however, was about sacrificial love, suffering, and spiritual transformation, not carnal warfare. The subsequent events of Gethsemane and Peter's rash act with a sword, followed by Jesus' explicit command to "put your sword away," vividly illustrated the true meaning: His kingdom would not be defended or advanced by physical means, but through His voluntary suffering and the power of the Spirit.

This verse thus serves as a powerful reminder that relying on physical strength or earthly methods to advance God's spiritual kingdom is a misunderstanding of Christ's nature and mission. It highlights the importance of discerning the spiritual truth behind Jesus' teachings, even when they seem counter-intuitive.