Morning Bible Study: Luke 22:21-38

21 "But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. 

22 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

23 So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it.

The Dispute over Greatness
24 Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. 

25 But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ 

26 It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. 

27 For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 

28 You are those who stood by me in my trials. 

29 I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, 

30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. 

32 But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 “Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

34 “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”

Be Ready for Trouble
35 He also said to them, “When I sent you out without money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Not a thing,” they said.

36 Then he said to them, “But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a traveling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. 

37 For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: 

And he was counted among the lawless. [Is 53:12] Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.”

38 “Lord,” they said, “look, here are two swords.”

“That is enough!” he told them.

Commentary
(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, 1706 -- www.christianity.com)

"How unbecoming is the worldly ambition of being the greatest, to the character of a follower of Jesus, who took upon him the form of a servant, and humbled himself to the death of the cross! In the way to eternal happiness, we must expect to be assaulted and sifted by Satan. If he cannot destroy, he will try to disgrace or distress us. Nothing more certainly forebodes a fall, in a professed follower of Christ, than self-confidence, with disregard to warnings, and contempt of danger. Unless we watch and pray always, we may be drawn in the course of the day into those sins which we were in the morning most resolved against. If believers were left to themselves, they would fall; but they are kept by the power of God, and the prayer of Christ. 

Our Lord gave notice of a very great change of circumstances now approaching. The disciples must not expect that their friends would be kind to them as they had been. Therefore, he that has a purse, let him take it, for he may need it. They must now expect that their enemies would be more fierce than they had been, and they would need weapons. At the time the apostles understood Christ to mean real weapons, but he spake only of the weapons of the spiritual warfare. The sword of the Spirit is the sword with which the disciples of Christ must furnish themselves."