What does Luke 22:50 mean?
Temple guards and servants, accompanied and sent by the chief priests and elders, have come to the Mount of Olives in the middle of the night to arrest Jesus (Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:52; John 18:3). Judas has brought them and identified Jesus by kissing Him: a mark of honor from a student to a teacher, which Jesus notes is not appropriate. The soldiers and servants grab Jesus. One of the disciples asks, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" (Luke 22:47–49). Peter doesn't wait for an answer; he just swings (John 18:10).When Jesus updated His instructions for what the disciples should take as they traveled, He told them to buy a sword (Luke 22:35–38). Luke is the only gospel writer to record this. That mention echoes a narrative principle called "Chekhov's gun." Chekhov, a playwright, said that if you point out some unique item early in the story, such as a gun or a sword, it must be used later in the plot.
Jesus immediately tells Peter to put his sword away, saying, "For all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). When Jesus told Peter to stay up and pray that he would not fall into temptation (Luke 22:40), it may be this moment He had in mind.
Earlier, Jesus justified the sword by saying, "For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'" (Luke 22:37). When the servant is maimed, witnesses can say that Jesus' intent is violence. Jesus saves Peter by healing Malchus's ear (Luke 22:51; John 18:10). But knowing Jesus' follower used a sword may give the religious leaders more confidence when they claim Jesus is setting Himself up as king against Caesar (Luke 23:2; John 19:12).
Even after this, Peter will have the courage to follow John to the high priest's house. He will even warm himself by the fire with members of this mob. But he cannot admit to following Jesus. He has just attacked one of their own (John 18:25–27). If they recognize him, he may, indeed, die by the sword.
