When Jesus told Peter to put his sword away, did Jesus really mean get rid of it forever?

Question

This question is really about owning a gun for protecting yourself and others around you. So whether you're for or against guns, for or against the Second Amendment of the Bill Of Rights (part of the U.S. Constitution of course), a gun rights or gun control advocate, feel free to answer the question provided and explain your answer. Also, additional advice, feedback, and more or different answers are welcome.

Now to further explain my question, since the tragedies:

1.) at Virginia Tech (April 16, 2007)

2.) at the post-homecoming party in Crandon, Wisconsin (October 7, 2007)

3.) at the Westroads shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska (December 5, 2007)

4.) in Colorado (at the Youth With A Mission [YWAM] training center in Arvada and the New Life mega-church in Colorado Springs) (December 9, 2007)

5.) at the Lane Bryant clothing outlet in the Brookside Marketplace in the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park, Illinois (February 2, 2008)

6.) at Northern Illinois University (NIU) (February 14, 2008)

I've been seriously thinking about exercising my God-given right to defend myself and others from harm (a right reaffirmed by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution's Bill Of Rights). That is, purchasing a handgun for this purpose. I could be wrong, but the state that I live in (Maryland) has a lot of challenges when it comes to gun ownership. I'm a Roman Catholic Christian by the way (hence my reference to the 2nd Amendment as God-given). Based on passages from both the Old and New Testaments that pertain to defending oneself and others from harm (the ones that I've seen online), I found that there is nothing wrong with defending yourself and those around you if your life and their lives are threatened. One particular passage is the part where Jesus commands Peter, in verse 26:52 of the Book Of Matthew, to "Put thy sword back in its place. For he who lives by the sword will perish by the sword." Some people say that Peter using his sword to defend Jesus from being arrested was inappropriate because Peter would've prevented Jesus' mission to redeem us sinners from taking place (Jesus being lead to his crucifixion, dying on the cross, and resurrecting from death), hence, Peter being told to put his sword away. So now my question is when Jesus commanded Peter to put his sword back in its place (its sheath), did Jesus:

A.) really mean it (as in 'This is not the time to use your sword. There will be other times on when it's OK to use it)?

or

B.) really mean get rid of the sword forever (as in throwing it away or destroying it)?

Please explain why you pick A or B as your answer. And based on them, I can determine for myself whether I can proceed on exercising my aforementioned right (this includes knowing the gun laws, taking the training courses, learning how to handle the gun, learning to shoot well with it, knowing when to shoot and when not to, getting the permit, etc. while keeping in mind how this process costs a lot of money) or abandon it completely. If I got some details wrong in the above paragraph, by all means, let me know and correct me on them. And again, additional advice, feedback, and more or different answers are welcome. Thanks.

Answer 1

The Medieval Church interpreted that to refer only to bladed weapons and allowed warrior priests to carry maces.  The could also use slings while being forbidden bows.  By that standard you could use a gun since there is no cutting edge on the bullet.  What you choose to do is ultimately up to your own conscience.

Answer 2

A.

Jesus said, "Put up again thy sword into his place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." - Matthew 26:52

Jesus was telling Peter that if he let anger fuel his decision making into unnecessary violence, that unnecessary violence would eventually consume him unto death as well.  Jesus was not saying to never own a weapon, he was saying do not let the weapon control you in your thought making process.  There is a verse in the bible where Jesus actually told his followers that if they did not own a sword to go sell something to get the money to buy one.  

"...and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." - Luke 22:36

Jesus in aware that people must protect themselves, but we are to do it responsibly and if we are not responsible then we will pay the consequences.

Jesus is not anti-gun.  He is anti-needless, meaningless killing with any weapon.

We do not need to take every bodies' guns away, but everyone does need to be educated in gun safety and responsibility.  Those people that did those school shootings, could have just as easily drove a car through a crowded playground, or stabbed someone, or made a makeshift bomb and blew up a classroom or the whole building.  Guns didn't make them snap.  They snapped mentally way before they picked up that gun.

I hold society, media, and a lack of mental health education and awaredness responsible for those shootings.  When God is taken out of our schools what else can we expect to happen, but complete chaos.

Answer 3

Both A/B

He told Peter to put away the sword because Peter was blocking Jesus' destiny and that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.

Good question!

Answer 4

(Matthew 26:52) Then Jesus said to him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword.

(Luke 6:27-28) “But I say to YOU who are listening, Continue to love YOUR enemies, to do good to those hating YOU, 28 to bless those cursing YOU, to pray for those who are insulting YOU.

(John 18:36) Jesus answered: “My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.”

From these 3 scriptures, we can see that it mean't forever.

Hope this helps you. Have a great day!

Answer 5

My answer to your question is neither A or B, because it really seems like someone is trying to read into scripture what they want it to mean.  For all we know it could had meant just the your sword away, with not hidden or secret meaning.  When Jesus says "those who live by the sword die by the sword" is the phrase that should really be looked at.  It does ring true quite often in our world today, sword or gun, but does this apply to Christians or even people who are non-violent at all?  Hard to say without a lengthy essay, but I will say this, As Christians, we are to live by God's Word.

Now, personally I do feel that people should be able to own a gun if they want one, and I do believe that gun restriction laws are a very good thing to have, I do ower believe that some of the laws are a bit too restrictive in some states.  Bottom line is that no matter how restrictive one's gun control laws are, a criminal or someone with the intent to committ a violent crime with a gun isn't gonna let some law stop them from getting a gun.  There is also people saying that if more people had guns, then criminals would think twice before committing a crime, and though that might be so, it would also increase accident deaths due to misuse of guns, as well as various other incidents that could happen as well.

In the end, it is your own personal choice, and definatly if you choose to own a gun, learn how to be responsible with it, and own it legally.

Answer 6

Jesus meant that the age of the use of physical violence to illustrate the eternal danger of sin was over, because the gospel was about to be preached. It has nothing to do with possession of weapons as such.

Though in my opinion, Americans are gullible fools, in this respect as in many others.

.

Answer 7

A) There will be other times it will be OK.  Jesus was giving Peter some very good advice.  If Peter would have continued, the Temple guard would have killed him, he was far outnumbered.  Thus, "those who live by the sword will die by the sword."  Also, Peter was unjustified.  The guards were obeying their orders and did not think they were doing anything wrong in arresting a "public nuisance," so they were actually innocent and not coming to threaten, kill, or steal.  Jesus knew this, as well as knew His destiny.

Those who live by violence will die by violence, so what Jesus told Peter was both good advice and a warning.  Things could have been much worse for Peter had Jesus not healed the guard's ear.