Thank you for the interpretative question, “What is the modern interpretation of “Sell your garment and buy a sword” in the scripture Luke 22:36-38?”
As one reads Luke 22:36–38, if an interpreter fails to take into account the historical setting of a statement, then that historical statement is distorted and interpreted to justify one’s own viewpoint.
Modern interpretation can include the following viewpoints:
A. Followers of Jesus are to go on religious crusades.
B. Followers of Jesus are to purchase guns for self-defense.
C. Followers of Jesus are to purchase guns and overthrow the civil government.
D. Followers of Jesus can’t be conscientious objector.
E. Jesus approves of killing innocent people!
F. Jesus approves of force conversion or pay he ultimate price.
One can even interprete Patrick Henry’s statement of “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” as to “Give Me Liberty and Give Them Death”! One has to be careful not to misquote or misinterpret one’s words to mean something other than the author’s intended meaning.
As it relates to the Biblical text, II Peter 1 says this, “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
SUMMARY: There can be many applications to a Biblical text, but there can be only one interpretation of the text.
For more perspectives: