The J were not to despise their rights as subjects and citizens, hut to use them in their own defence, as St. Paul did before Lysias, and Festus, and at Philippi.
The general purport of the verse appears to be a caution against the indolent and fanatical notion that diligence in the use of means is "carnal/* and an unlawful dependence on an arm of flesh. To my own mind the whole verse supplies an un- answerable argument against the strange notions maintained by some in the present day, who tell us that making provision for our families is wrong, — and insuring our lives is wrong, — and collecting money for religious societies is wrong, — and studying for the work of the ministrv is wrong, — and taking part in civil government is wrong, — ^and supporting police, standing armies, and courts of law is wrong. I respect the conscientiousness of those who maintain these opinions. But I am utterly unable to reconcile them with our Lord's language in this place.
{A purge... scrip, ..sieord.] I regard all these three expressions as proverbial and symbolical. They contain a general lesson for the guidance of the Ghiu'ch of Christ, until the Lord comes again. We are not to neglect human instrumentality, in doing Christ's work, or to expect Christ's blessing if we do not dili- gently use all lawful means within our reach.
[He that hath no sword. ..buy one."] This expression is un- doubtedly a difficult one.
1. Some think that our I^ord meant literally that the dis- ciples were to get a sword, in order that the scene in the garden when Peter struck Malchus, and the miraculous healing of Malobus's ear, might take place. This explanation is eminently bald, tame, and unsatisfactory.
2. Some think, with Olshausen, that the sword which our Lord means is the " sword of the Spirit," the word of God. This explanation seems far-fetched. Moreover we surely cannot sup- pose that the disciples had never used this " sword of the Spirit,'" before this time.
3. The most satisfactory interpretation is that which regards the whole verse as proverbial and symbolical. The words " purse, scrip, and sword," are not to be pressed too closely. They are parabolic expressions, indicating that a time was drawing near when all human means, of which the " purse," the " scrip," and the " sword" are emblems, must be diligently used by the apostles. In Eomans xiii. 4, Suicer shows that "the sword" is evidently an emblematic expression.
This view is ably stated by Theophylact in his commentary on the passage.
Stella calls attention to the remarkable parallel between the condition of the apostles, before and after our Lord's ascension, and the condition of Israel before and after they entered Canaan.