Luke 22:50
And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
And one of them
This phrase refers to one of Jesus' disciples. In the broader context of the Gospels, this individual is identified as Peter (John 18:10). The impulsive nature of Peter is well-documented throughout the New Testament, showcasing his fervent, albeit sometimes misguided, loyalty to Jesus. This moment is a testament to the human tendency to react with violence when faced with fear or perceived injustice, contrasting with Jesus' teachings of peace and forgiveness.

struck
The Greek word used here is "πάταξεν" (pataxen), which means to strike or hit. This action is significant as it represents a physical manifestation of the spiritual battle taking place. The act of striking is a common human response to threat, yet it stands in stark contrast to the spiritual weapons of prayer and faith that Jesus advocates. This moment serves as a reminder of the tension between human instinct and divine instruction.

the servant of the high priest
The servant, identified in John 18:10 as Malchus, represents the religious authority of the time. The high priest was a significant figure in Jewish society, responsible for maintaining religious order and tradition. The servant's presence at Jesus' arrest highlights the involvement of religious leaders in the events leading to the crucifixion. This incident underscores the conflict between Jesus' revolutionary message and the established religious order.

cutting off
The phrase "cutting off" is translated from the Greek "ἀφεῖλεν" (apheilen), meaning to take away or remove. This violent act of removal symbolizes the broader theme of separation and division that sin causes between humanity and God. It also foreshadows the ultimate act of reconciliation that Jesus would accomplish through His death and resurrection, healing the divide between God and man.

his right ear
The detail of the "right ear" is significant. In biblical symbolism, the right side often represents power and authority. The ear is a symbol of hearing and obedience. By cutting off the right ear, Peter inadvertently attacks the servant's ability to hear and respond to authority. This act can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual deafness that prevents individuals from hearing and understanding God's word. Jesus' subsequent healing of the ear (Luke 22:51) illustrates His power to restore and redeem, emphasizing His mission to heal both physical and spiritual brokenness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
Central figure in the Gospels, the Son of God, who is about to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.

2. The Disciples
Followers of Jesus, present with Him during His arrest. One of them acts impulsively in this verse.

3. The Servant of the High Priest
The individual who is struck by one of Jesus' disciples, identified in other Gospels as Malchus.

4. The High Priest
The religious leader of the Jewish people, whose servant is injured. The high priest at this time was Caiaphas.

5. The Garden of Gethsemane
The location where Jesus is praying and where His arrest takes place.
Teaching Points
Impulsiveness vs. Obedience
The disciple's impulsive action contrasts with Jesus' teaching on peace and non-violence. Believers are called to respond with obedience to Christ's teachings, even in moments of crisis.

Jesus' Authority and Compassion
Despite the chaos, Jesus demonstrates His authority and compassion by healing the servant's ear (as recorded in other Gospels). This act underscores His mission of reconciliation and healing.

The Futility of Violence
Jesus' rebuke of the disciple's violent act highlights the futility of using force to achieve spiritual goals. Christians are reminded to rely on God's power and wisdom rather than human strength.

Trust in God's Plan
Jesus' calm demeanor in the face of arrest reflects His trust in God's sovereign plan. Believers are encouraged to trust God, even when circumstances seem dire.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the impulsive action of the disciple reveal about human nature, and how can we guard against similar reactions in our own lives?

2. How does Jesus' response to the violence in this passage inform our understanding of His mission and character?

3. In what ways can we apply Jesus' teaching on non-violence and peace in our daily interactions and conflicts?

4. How does the healing of the servant's ear (as recorded in other Gospels) demonstrate Jesus' authority and compassion, and what does this teach us about His priorities?

5. Reflect on a situation where you need to trust in God's plan despite difficult circumstances. How can the example of Jesus in this passage encourage you?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 26:51-52
Provides a parallel account of the incident, emphasizing Jesus' command to put away the sword.

John 18:10-11
Identifies Peter as the disciple who struck the servant and records Jesus' rebuke and healing of the servant.

Isaiah 53:7
Reflects on the suffering servant who does not retaliate, paralleling Jesus' response to His arrest.

1 Peter 2:23
Encourages believers to follow Jesus' example of not retaliating when wronged.
GethsemaneR.M. Edgar Luke 22:39-53
Christ Betrayed by JudasD. Moore, M. A.Luke 22:47-53
Jesus the RestorerJ. Vaughan, M. A.Luke 22:47-53
The BetrayalC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 22:47-53
The Traitor's KissHomiletic ReviewLuke 22:47-53
The Treason of JudasJ. Flavel.Luke 22:47-53
Treachery to ChristB. Beddome, M. A.Luke 22:47-53
Christianity and ViolenceW. Clarkson Luke 22:47-52, 63
People
Jesus, John, Judas, Peter, Simon
Places
Gethsemane, Jerusalem
Topics
Blow, Bondman, Chief, Cut, Cutting, Ear, Priest, Priest's, Servant, Slave, Smote, Struck
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 22:50

     8282   intolerance

Luke 22:47-53

     5537   sleeplessness

Luke 22:49-51

     5147   deafness

Luke 22:50-51

     5571   surgery
     5975   violence
     8786   opposition, to sin and evil

Library
February 2 Morning
Oh that thou wouldest keep me from evil.--I CHR. 4:10. Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.--The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. The Lord shall preserve thee from
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 28. "Not My Will, but Thine" (Luke xxii. 42).
"Not my will, but Thine" (Luke xxii. 42). He who once suffered in Gethsemane will be our strength and our victory, too. We may fear, we may also sink, but let us not be dismayed, and we shall yet praise Him, and look back from a finished course, and say, "Not one word hath failed of all that the Lord hath spoken." But in order to do this, we must, like Him, meet the conflict, not with a defiant, but with a submissive spirit. He had to say, "Not My will, but Thine be done"; but in saying it, He gained
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

A Great Fall and a Great Recovery
'But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.' --Luke xxii. 32. Our Lord has just been speaking words of large and cordial praise of the steadfastness with which His friends had continued with Him in His temptations, and it is the very contrast between that continuance and the prevision of the cowardly desertion of the Apostle which occasioned the abrupt transition to this solemn appeal to him, which indicates how the forecast pained Christ's
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Cross the victory and Defeat of Darkness
'This is your hour, and the power of darkness.' --Luke xxii. 53. The darkness was the right time for so dark a deed. The surface meaning of these pathetic and far-reaching words of our Lord's in the garden to His captors is to point the correspondence between the season and the act. As He has just said, 'He had been daily with them in the Temple,' but in the blaze of the noontide they laid no hands upon Him. They found a congenial hour in the midnight. But the words go a great deal deeper than allusive
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ's Look
'And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.' --Luke xxii. 61. All four Evangelists tell the story of Peter's threefold denial and swift repentance, but we owe the knowledge of this look of Christ's to Luke only. The other Evangelists connect the sudden change in the denier with his hearing the cock crow only, but according to Luke there were two causes co-operating to bring about that sudden repentance, for, he says, 'Immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned and looked
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Lonely Christ
'Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations'--LUKE xxii 28. We wonder at the disciples when we read of the unseemly strife for precedence which jars on the tender solemnities of the Last Supper. We think them strangely unsympathetic and selfish; and so they were. But do not let us be too hard on them, nor forget that there was a very natural reason for the close connection which is found in the gospels between our Lord's announcements of His sufferings and this eager dispute as to
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Parting Promises and Warnings
'And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25. And He said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as He
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Christ's Ideal of a Monarch
'And He said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.'--LUKE xxii. 25-26. [Footnote: Preached on the occasion of the death of Queen Victoria.] There have been sovereigns of England whose death was a relief. There have been others who were mourned with a certain tepid and decorous
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Gethsemane
'And He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him. 40. And when He was at the place, He said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42. Saying, Father, If Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Thine, be done. 43. And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44. And, being in an agony, He
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

In the High Priest's Palace
'Then took they Him, and led Him, and brought Him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. 55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 56. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with Him. 57. And he denied Him, saying, Woman, I know Him not. 58. And, after a little while, another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Lord's Supper
'Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8. And He sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9. And they said unto Him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10. And He said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Duty of Constant Communion J. W.
"Do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19. It is no wonder that men who have no fear of God should never think of doing this. But it is strange that it should be neglected by any that do fear God, and desire to save their souls; And yet nothing is more common. One reason why many neglect it is, they are so much afraid of "eating and drinking unworthily," that they never think how much greater the danger is when they do not eat or drink it at all. That I may do what I can to bring these well-meaning
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Gethsemane
"And all the unknown joys he gives, Were bought with agonies unknown." Since it would not be possible for any believer, however experienced, to know for himself all that our Lord endured in the place of the olivepress, when he was crushed beneath the upper and the nether mill-stone of mental suffering and hellish malice, it is clearly far beyond the preacher's capacity to set it forth to you. Jesus himself must give you access to the wonders of Gethsemane: as for me, I can but invite you to enter
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 9: 1863

The Betrayal
Without further preface, let us advance to the subject of our Lord's betrayal. First, concentrate your thoughts upon Jesus, the betrayed one; and when ye have lingered awhile there, solemnly gaze into the villanous countenance of Judas, the betrayer--he may prove a beacon to warn us against the sin which gendereth apostacy. I. LET US TARRY AWHILE, AND SEE OUR LORD UNGRATEFULLY AND DASTARDLY BETRAYED. It is appointed that he must die, but how shall he fall into the hands of his adversaries? Shall
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 9: 1863

5Th Day. Restraining Grace.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not."--LUKE xxii. 31, 32. Restraining Grace. What a scene does this unfold! Satan tempting--Jesus praying! Satan sifting--Jesus pleading! "The strong man assailing"--"the stronger than the strong" beating him back! Believer? here is the past history and present secret of thy safety in the midst of temptation. An interceding Saviour was at thy side, saying
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Peter's Repentance
"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly" (Luke 22:61, 62). That was the turning-point in the history of Peter. Christ had said to him: "Thou canst not follow me now" (John 13:36). Peter was not in a fit state to follow Christ, because he had not been brought to an end of himself; he did not know himself, and he therefore could not follow
Andrew Murray—Absolute Surrender

Carnal or Spiritual?
"And Peter went out and wept bitterly." -- Luke 22:62. These words indicate the turning point in the life of Peter, --a crisis. There is often a question about the life of holiness. Do you grow into it? Or do you come into it by a crisis suddenly? Peter has been growing for three years under the training of Christ, but he had grown terribly downward, for the end of his growing was, he denied Jesus. And then there came a crisis. After the crisis he was a changed man, and then he began to grow aright.
Andrew Murray—The Deeper Christian Life

Penitence
"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter . . . .and Peter went out, and wept bitterly."--LUKE xxii. 61, 62. EVERY man at some time in his life has fallen. Many have fallen many times; few, few times. And the more a man knows his life and watches its critical flow from day to day, the larger seems to grow the number of these falls, and the oftener reaches out to God his penitential prayer, "Turn yet again, O Lord!" We have all shuddered before this as we read the tale of Peter's guilt. Many a time
Henry Drummond—The Ideal Life

The Last Supper
189. On Thursday Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem for the last time. Knowing the temper of the leaders, and the danger of arrest at any time, Jesus was particularly eager to eat the Passover with his disciples (Luke xxii. 15), and he sent two of them--Luke names them as Peter and John--to prepare for the supper. In a way which would give no information to such a one as Judas, he directed them carefully how to find the house where a friend would provide them the upper room that was needed
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

The Sinner Seriously Urged and Entreated to Accept of Salvation in this Way.
1. Since many who have been impressed with these things suffer the impression to wear off.--2. Strongly as the ease speaks for itself, sinners are to be entreated to accept this salvation.--3. Accordingly the reader is entreated--by the majesty and mercy of God.--4. By the dying love of our Lord Jesus Christ.--5. By the regard due to our fellow-creatures.--6. By the worth of his own immortal soul.--7. The matter is solemnly left with the reader, as before God. The sinner yielding to these entreaties,
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Twenty-Sixth Lesson. I have Prayed for Thee;'
I have prayed for thee;' Or, Christ the Intercessor. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.'--Luke xxii. 32. I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you.'--John xvi. 26. He ever liveth to make intercession.'--Heb. vii. 25. ALL growth in the spiritual life is connected with the clearer insight into what Jesus is to us. The more I realize that Christ must be all to me and in me, that all in Christ is indeed for me, the more I learn to live the real life of faith, which,
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

Otho, Bishop of Bamberg.
As a new Christian revival distinguished the close of the eleventh century, missionaries were then sent forth from the reinvigorated Church. We will sketch a portrait of one of these, to whom Pomerania owes its Christianity. It was Otho, bishop of Bamberg, who had already in his pastoral office distinguished himself by his fidelity and his self-sacrificing love. He gladly imposed abstinences on self, in order to be able to give more to the poor. All that was presented to him by princes and nobles
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

General Introduction
In this volume we have sought to present the view taken by Thomas Aquinas of the moral and spiritual world in which we live, and of the conditions of man's self-realization which are consequent upon it. The final end of man lies in God, through whom alone he is and lives, and by whose help alone he can attain his end. The teaching of Aquinas concerning the moral and spiritual order stands in sharp contrast to all views, ancient or modern, which cannot do justice to the difference between the divine
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

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