VER. 39 42. ST. LUKE. 719
Or He herebyforetelstothem thattheywouldincurhunger
andthirst,whichHe impliesby the scrip,and sundrykinds
ofmisery,which He intendsby thesword.
CYRIL.Or else;When our Lord says,He who hath a
purse,lethim takeit,likewisea scrip,His discourseHe
addressedto His disciples,but in realityhe regardsevery
individualJew ; as ifHe says,If any Jew is richin re
sources,lethim collectthem togetherand fly. But ifany
oneoppressedwithextremepovertyapplieshimselftoreligion,
lethim alsosellhiscloakand buy a sword. For theterrible
attackof battleshallovertakethem, so thatnothingshall
sufficeto resistit. He next laysopen the causeof these
evils,namely,thatHe sufferedthepenaltydue tothewicked,
beingcrucifiedwiththieves.And when itshallhavecome at
lastto this,theword ofdispensationwillreceiveitsend. But
tothe persecutorsshallhappen allthathas been foretoldby
theProphets.Thesethingsthen God prophesiedconcerning
what shouldbefallthecountryof theJews,but thedisciples
understoodnot the depth ofHis words,thinkingthey had
need of swords againstthe coming attackof the traitor.
Whence itfollows; But theysaid,Lord, behold,hereare
two swords. CHRYS. And intruth,ifHe wishedthem touse
li11111:111aid,not a hundred swordswould have sufficed;but
ifHe willednot the assistanceof man, even two aresuper
fluous.THEOPHYL. Our Lord thenwas unwillingto blame
them as not understandingHim, but saying,It isenough,
He dismissedthem ; aswhen we areaddressinganyone,and
see thathe doesnot understandwhat issaid,we say,Well,
letus leavehim, lestwe troublehim. But some say,that
our Lord said,//isenough,ironically; as ifHe said,Since
therearetwo swords,theywillamply sufficeagainstsolarge
a multitudeas isabout to attackus. BEDE. Or the two
swords sufficefora testimonythatJesussufferedvoluntarily.
The one indeedwas toteachtheApostlesthepresumptionof
theircontendingfortheirLord,and His inherentvirtueof
healing; theothernevertakenoutofitssheath,toshewthat
they were not even permittedto do allthattheycouldfor
His defence.AMBROSE. Or,becausethelaw doesnotforbid
to returna blow,perhapsHe saystoPeter,as he isoffering
the two swords,// isenouyh,as thoughitwere lawfuluntil