What did Jesus mean in Luke 22:35-36?

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN BY HIS STATEMENT IN LUKE 22:35-36? 

By Ezekiel Kimosop

Luke 22:35-36 says "And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?”

So they said, “Nothing.”

36 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."

COMMENTARY

What did Jesus imply by his statement in Luke 22:36? Did He mean that God's divine providence ceased from that point and that the disciples should squarely fend for themselves?

In the first set of instructions given under the mission of the seventy recorded in Luke 10:1-12, Jesus gave explicit commands directing that the disciples were to "Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road" (Luke 10:4).

They were also required to seek the hospitality of the hosts that would welcome them into their homes and shake their sandles on those that rejected them.

There was clear urgency in accomplishing the mission. 

It is instructive that Jesus states in Luke 10:7 "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house."

It is significant that Jesus' primary area of missionary focus at this stage was largely limited to the Jews. Notice the similarity of this mission with the mission of the twelve disciples recorded in Matthew 10:5-26. 

So what changed in the context of the mission contemplated in Luke 22:35-36? 

Why does Jesus appear to change the rules of engagement at this point?

It is important to appreciate that the conversation in Luke 22 comes at the eve of Jesus' betrayal, arrest and eventual crucifixion. 

Jesus would shortly be leaving His disciples as His earthly ministry came to a close.

The next phase of the gospel effort would involve a hostile environment full of persecution and clampdown on the followers of Jesus who will be dispersed beyond Jerusalem. Jesus' personal presence would be dearly missed.

Jesus later appears to the disciples after His resurrection and just before His ascension and asks them to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until they are endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). This was important for adequate preparation for what would follow.

The ascension of Jesus is described in Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:9-11. 

CONCLUSION

We can conclude that Jesus was painting the real picture of the burden and cost of ministry in Luke 22:36. The disciples were required to adequately prepare for the challenging effort by wisely planning and taking necessary precautions. The ministry would require mobilization of resources on a vast scale.

This does not suggest that Jesus would abandon them or that God's provision will cease the moment He returned to the Father. He was simply revealing the difficult path ahead.

In Acts 2-12, the ministry exponentially grew even as persecution abounded. The disciples were dispersed from Jerusalem and this gave rise to new ministry opportunities, including the founding of the Gentile ministry by Paul and his associates.

There was a heavy price to pay for ministry. Apostle James was martyred by Herod (Acts 12:1-2); Peter was arrested and locked up but was later released under divine intervention (Acts 12:3-19); Herod suffers violent death under God's judgment (Acts 12:20-24). 

Paul and his associates suffer a series of persecutions including imprisonments, violence, floggings (cf. 2 Cor. 6:1-10, 11:22-33).

Paul was finally martyred. His premonition is captured in his statement in 2 Timothy 4:7-8. Bible scholars say that Paul was martyred by Nero in about AD 62 and that most of the apostles including Peter died for their faith.

Despite all the obstacles and challenges, the gospel  ministries rapidly grew and spread through the ages...

The rest is history...

I believe that Jesus was reminding the disciples that the journey ahead was not for the faint hearted. 

Those who choose to serve Christ must be prepared to carry their crosses in the many dimensions in which this is required of them. Serving God doesn't come cheap. It will cost us resources, time and a toll of other personal sacrifices for which we must prudently prepare. It is a war effort. Jesus didn't mince words on that.

Let me conclude with the words of Jesus in Luke 9:23-26: 

"...If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels." (NKJV).

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021