Matthieu 26:52

52 Alors Jésus lui dit: Remets ton épée dans le fourreau; car tous ceux qui prendront l'épée périront par l'épée.

Matthieu 26:52 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 26:52

Then said Jesus unto him
That is, unto Peter,

put up again thy sword into its place,
or sheath. This Christ said not only to rebuke Peter for his rashness, but to soften the minds of the multitude, who must be enraged at such an action; and which was still more effectually done by his healing the man's ear: and indeed, had it not been for these words, and this action of Christ's; and more especially had it not been owing to the powerful influence Christ had over the spirits of these men, in all probability Peter, and the rest of the apostles, had been all destroyed at once.

For all they that take the sword, shall perish with the sword.
This is not to be understood of magistrates who bear not the sword in vain, are ministers of God for good, and revengers of evil works; but of private persons that use the sword, and that not in self-defence, but for private revenge; or engage in a quarrel, to which they are not called; and such generally perish, as Peter must have done, had it not been for the interposition of almighty power. Though this seems to be spoken not so much of Peter, and of the danger he exposed himself to, by taking and using the sword, and so to deter him from it, but rather of these his enemies: and as an argument to make and keep Peter easy and quiet, and exercise patience, since, in a little time, God would avenge himself of them; and that the Jews, who now made use of the sword of the Roman soldiers, would perish by the sword of the Romans, as in a few years after the whole nation did.

Matthieu 26:52 In-Context

50 Mais Jésus lui dit: Mon ami, pour quel sujet es-tu ici? Alors ils s'approchèrent, et jetèrent les mains sur Jésus, et le saisirent.

51 Et voici, un de ceux qui étaient avec Jésus, portant la main à l'épée, la tira et en frappa un serviteur du souverain sacrificateur, et lui emporta l'oreille.

52 Alors Jésus lui dit: Remets ton épée dans le fourreau; car tous ceux qui prendront l'épée périront par l'épée.

53 Penses-tu que je ne puisse pas maintenant prier mon Père, qui me donnerait plus de douze légions d'anges?

54 Comment donc s'accompliraient les Écritures qui disent qu'il en doit être ainsi?