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It can't eradicate the Sermon on the Mount if we're to take seriously the notion of Scripture being God's word.

Another time Jesus mentions swords is when he said he came not to bring peace, but a sword. Yet we must somehow interpret that in a way that's consistent with his saying "blessed are the peacemakers."

To Jesus, the sword represents the tool of spiritual warfare, of God bringing people from darkness into light and leaving their old ways behind -- not adapting their faith to the world, but adapting themselves to the faith.

If you have another way he means "sword" that's consistent with the SotM I'm all ears.

My basic point in all this is not that we should simply turn the other cheek to the Islamofascists. Jesus is setting out ideals, not things that we can achieve right now. The trouble lies when we forget what the goals are and revel in our earthliness and fleshiness.

If you have another way he means "sword" that's consistent with the SotM I'm all ears.

2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given for inspiration, for doctrine... So, if one believes that both the Sermon on the Mount means what it says, and Luke 22:38 ("So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough.") means whaat it says, too; then the answer is they are both right. Ours is to discover how they are both right. Indeed, Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount first, then later on, at the Last Supper, He gave the apostles His final instructions before He went to His betrayal by Judas. His instructions?

Luke 22:35-38

And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing." 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. For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end." So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."

Seems pretty plain to me. "Boys, earlier you didn't need to carry money or even shoes. Now, things are different. Take money with you. Get a sword. In fact, if you don't have a sword, sell your garment and buy one." If that isn't a call to self-defence, there isn't much more that would suffice as one.

So is this inconsistent with the Sermon on the Mount? Scholars have debated this, as for me, I go with Luke 22 means what Luke 22 says.