Day 5: Thursday, March 26

Matthew 26:47-57. And while He was yet speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a crowd of many, with swords and wooden rods, from the chief priests and elders of the people. And he who betrayed Him, gave them a sign, saying, Whomever I shall kiss, is He; take hold of Him. And straightway coming to Jesus, he said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, Fellow, why art thou here? Then coming, they put their hands on Jesus, and took hold of Him.

And, behold, one of them with Jesus, stretching out the hand, withdrew his sword, and smiting the servant of the chief priest, took off his ear. Then says Jesus to him, Return thy sword into its place, for all they who take the sword, shall perish by the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now implore my Father, and He will cause to assist Me more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that so it ought to be?

In that same hour Jesus said to the crowd, Are you come out as against a robber with swords and wooden rods to take Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you did not take hold of Me. But all this came to pass, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples, leaving Him, fled. And they who took hold of Jesus, led Him away to Caiaphas the chief priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

Apocalypse Explained 131:17. That “sword” signifies falsity destroying truth is manifest in David:

The sons of man are set on fire; their teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword (Ps. 57:4).

Behold, they belch out with their mouth, swords are in their lips (Ps. 59:7).

Workers of iniquity sharpen their tongues like a sword; they hurl their arrow with a bitter word (Ps. 64:3).

From this it is clear what is signified by the Lord’s words to Peter:

All they that take the sword shall perish by the sword (Matt. 26:51-52);

namely, that those who believe falsities will perish by falsities.

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