Does this mean that soldiers who are killed in battle justifyingly deserve that death ??
2007-03-29 19:14:00 · 18 answers · asked by burlingtony 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
you ask a fair question. I think a person who "lives by the sword" is not necessarily a soldier but anyone who uses violence to obtain their goals.
god bless
2007-03-29 19:50:54 · answer #1 · answered by happy pilgrim 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In that passage Jesus tells them to get some swords, they found two swords and Jesus says that it is enough. It is no wonder Peter wanted to use them. When Peter used it, He restrained Peter and the others.
What I think Jesus was trying to get across to His disciples was to be prepared to defend and to do right, but do not be anxious to fight and to live a life of war. His saying about the sword seems to match this concept.
So, to answer this question, in context, it has nothing to do with a soldier per se, it has to do with how His disciples are supposed to live. He used in His little sermon the knowledge that everyone had, that those who live their lives that way, will die that way. In other words, it was not a guarantee, but an observation.
Having said that, we are to be aware of the fact that we will be punished and judged according to how we live. Those who live by the sword will be judged. They had better be very sure that they used that sword to defend the innocent, the righteous, and so on.
A soldier in battle will be judged according to how and why he used that sword.
2007-03-30 02:43:08 · answer #2 · answered by Shawn D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to read the context of the whole chapter in Matthew 26. Jesus said this to peter because peter was putting the matters into his own hands. he was doing it for vigilantism. you can not put the law into your own hands that is why we have the government for. those soldiers who were killed in battle died for what their countries and for what they believe in. Any death whether in battle or from a disease is justifiable because everyone will die eventually. The way a person die on the other hand is not usually justifiable. However the reason the soldier died, their death will not be justified if the reason for the war was wrong. However, If the reason to go to a war was with right motives, then the death of the soldiers are justified and they died honorably for they died for what they believe in. I think the soldiers themselves would say that they fought a good fight and that they died with honor, defending their country, family, friends, neighbors, and freedom.
Saluting all the soldiers out there,
wasabi
2007-03-30 02:25:49 · answer #3 · answered by Wasabi 737 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
“Then said Jesus unto him, 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 His followers that He was allowing himself to be arrested to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures. He knew that He could save Himself; but He chose to save us instead.
2007-03-30 02:56:08 · answer #4 · answered by Sister Christian 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well it says those who LIVE by the sword... so i think it has to be an entire lifetime of living by a certain mind set/ phylosophy.
it might be literally translated as in, if you are a police oficer and u shoot criminals on duty regularly, chances are likely that you too will be shot one day. but it also goes deeper that just the literal translation
for example, if u are a cheating bastard, chances are one day someone will cheat you bigtime and ruin your life, financially, or emotionally, or however. i think it is something akin to the old saying of ' what goes around comes around'.
or if you are routinely dishonest and nasty minded in doing business wiht other people, one day someone will come along who will do the same thing to you, in other words ou will have met your match. so what wickedness you have done to others you too will receive from soemone else who is nasty minded just like u.
2007-03-30 02:23:43 · answer #5 · answered by shopsummor 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No.. you need a little context. He said that to his disciple Peter as he was being arrested. Peter attacked one of the men, injuring his ear.
He could have meant that.
A: Those who embrace a violent lifestyle will meet a bad end.
B: Specifically,Peter could be arrested and executed if he interferes.
Nowhere did Jesus preach against the military. Not even the Roman military who were occupying the Jerusalem.
2007-03-30 02:21:18 · answer #6 · answered by Ejohns1138 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, that means that the savages who are bred from birth to kill other humans by the sword by their mental case mother and fathers who believe that are fated to die by the sword. Army and such military guys are not bred to be killers, just protectors. They are in Gods highest praises unlike the savages who seek innocent blood at birth. BYE NOW. Oh, and Jesus is King.
2007-03-30 02:21:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Some soldiers but not all. It depends on what is in their heart. Jesus is saying that those who believe that the answer to violence is violence will surely die by violence. Its those that seek glory in battle that he is talking about........Most of those soldiers are merely in survival mode, a big difference.
2007-03-30 02:21:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is not to be translated laterally. what he means in those words are If you remain sinning and committing sins while still living and before your death, you will die without forgiveness of your sins and you can no longer go to Heaven for eternal life.
So while still living, ask forgiveness of your sins and of the sins you have committed. Return your belief to God and have faith in him while there is still time for you to repent.
When you will die, your flesh body will return to dust and you will be nothing, you will know nothing that you could no longer ask forgiveness of your sins.
jtm
2007-03-30 02:29:16 · answer #9 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No...and yes...it was a statement that we now know as "what goes around, comes around"...the "you reap what you sow" kind of thing. Death of soldiers has the same relevency as dealth of a neighbor...death is death by any means....honor has long gone the way of whale-bone corsets, especially in "wars" of today, though most of our guys & gals in our militaries truly believe that they are doing their part to serve their countries...it's called brainwashing.
2007-03-30 02:26:09 · answer #10 · answered by MsET 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋