What Does It Mean to "Live by the Sword, Die by the Sword"?
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As you study language, inevitably there will be quotes or sayings that become very well known. One of them is contained in the question we are looking at today. What does “live by the sword, die by the sword” mean? What is interesting is we often quote it as being directly from the Bible. If you want to be technical, that exact phrase does not appear in the Bible. Here is the actual verse.
“’Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword’” (Matthew 26:52).
Every other translation says something very similar. Even so, it does not change the truth found in this verse which we want to consider. To live by something represents a code of conduct that shapes and guides your actions. Therefore, a person who is living by the sword is making life decisions around this thing called a sword.
What Is the Context of Matthew 26?
Let’s look at the complete chapter in Matthew 26 and consider everything that is happening.
Jesus is nearing the end of his life and ministry here on earth. He has been anointed with very expensive perfume. Judas has agreed to betray him, and Jesus sits with his disciples for what we now call the Last Supper. During this supper Jesus tells his disciples they will all fall away and desert him tonight. I know we often focus on Peter, but all the disciples deserted Jesus that night.
He then proceeds to go to the garden of Gethsemane to pray because he knew the hour of his death was at hand. After he had finished praying, Judas arrives with a large crowd armed with swords and clubs. Judas greets Jesus with a kiss and these men step forward to arrest him. At this point Peter grabs a sword and proceeds to cut off the ear of one of the servants of the high priest. John’s gospel tells us it was Peter who drew the sword, and gives us the name of the servant whose ear was cutoff, which is Malchus.
It is at this moment Jesus makes this statement, that is only recorded in Matthew, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” By the way, Luke’s gospel tells us Jesus healed Malchus’ ear before they took him captive.
What Does This Verse Mean?
A closer examination of this verse might help us bring some clarity to what Jesus was saying with these words. Allow me to present you with two different ways to look at this verse.
1. Jesus was addressing Peter directly.
As we saw, Jesus was about to be arrested and Peter was the one who drew the sword. Remember at the Last Supper Jesus told his disciples they were all going to fall away. The one who was the most vocal on that night was Peter, even though the Bible tells us they all said the same thing.
“But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same” (Matthew 26:35).
When Peter saw the guards approaching, he could have been attempting to make good on the words he had said by trying to defend Jesus. If this is true, then these words become words of wisdom and Jesus was protecting Peter’s life. These words become a warning to Peter: if you continue down this road using the sword, you will eventually die by it.
2. Jesus was speaking of the way of redemption.
Immediately after telling this to Peter, what Jesus says next can speak volumes to what this verse means.
“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:53-54).
In the moment, Peter and the disciples were thinking of a temporary rescue from Jesus being captured. While they were thinking about now, Jesus was thinking about an eternal redemption and the Scriptures being fulfilled. Jesus knew that salvation would not come by sword but by surrender. No amount of fighting would have brought about our redemption, so drawing the sword was interfering with the plan of God.
What Does It Mean to Live by the Sword?
The heart of the matter comes down to what it means to live by the sword. I believe in this case we can find the answer in Peter’s response to what was happening. Peter clearly responded without thinking. He was one man with a sword going up against a crowd with clubs and swords. He was impulsive and was not considering the potential consequences of his actions.
While living by the sword can speak to the actions, it can also refer to the thinking that leads up to the actions. This speaks to how we respond and react today. For a moment consider these questions:
Are you impulsive?
Are you easily angered?
Do you often make decisions without considering the consequences?
While the sword can represent a person who reacts violently or aggressively, it can also represent someone who reacts impulsively and recklessly. The person who acts before they think will often face consequences they never considered. In essence they are living by the sword and dying by the sword at the same time.
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared” (Proverbs 22:24-25).
A Sword We Don’t often Talk About
While Jesus was talking about a physical sword, I want to briefly address a sword we often overlook which can easily damage ourselves and others. Consider this verse in Proverbs:
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18).
Just as violent responses or quick-tempered anger have consequences, so do reckless words. They can kill friendships, relationships, families, business deals, and the list goes on and on. While I don’t think Jesus was specifically talking about the tongue here, it is worth noting the level of damage we can cause with the sword we carry around with us everywhere we go, which is our tongue.
Is Jesus Anti-Violence of Any Kind?
A conversation about the phrase “live by the sword die by the sword” is not complete if we don’t speak about violence. Is Jesus saying he is against violence of any kind?
To address this, I want to speak on an individual level. Yes, nations and armies fight wars that can be violent, but I want to address how we respond to each other on an individual basis. In these scenarios, it is critical that we understand how to interpret this. For starters, according to Merriam-Webster the definition of violence is the use of physical force to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy. Clearly as believers this is not how we should behave. Obviously if you are in a position of self-defense, then violence may be appropriate to save yourself. The key here is intent.
Those who are violent have an intention to injure, abuse, or cause damage. This should never be our response to others. Whether by words or deeds, any actions that are used to damage or destroy someone else are not appropriate in the life of a follower of Christ.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).
How Will You Live?
The synopsis of understanding this phrase is this – how will you choose to live? If you choose to be impulsive, reckless with your words, not paying attention to your thoughts and actions, and not considering the consequences of the things you do, then you are living by the sword. This type of behavior may not lead to immediate death (though it could) but it will produce potential ramifications that go beyond what you have considered. This is why we all need more of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life. When his character is formed in you and shapes who you become, then he will help you overcome the reckless desire to live by the sword. This is the best way to live.
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