Matthew 26:52

Then Jesus says to him, “Return your sword into its place, for all those who have taken a sword will die by a sword.”

Before an imminent physical threat, any responsible person would provide for physical protection for himself and those close to him, and so Jesus quite properly commanded His disciples to provide a sword for their self-defense (Luke 22:36). But there’s more to this story. Shortly thereafter, at the time of His arrest, Jesus actually used the presence of that very sword to show His disciples that His arrest was, in fact, NOT a suitable place, time, and circumstance for using that sword (Matthew 26:52). If His kingdom were of this world, then His servants would fight. But His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36; compare John 6:15; 18:11; 2 Corinthians 10:4).

At the time of Jesus’ arrest, self-defense against life-threatening physical assault was NOT the prevailing concern of Jesus. Rather, His prevailing concern was the establishment of His Kingdom. We commonly paraphrase Matthew 26:52 by saying “He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.” This paraphrase actually brings out the proper sense of Jesus’ remark. Jesus’ kingdom is not an outward material kingdom like the kingdoms of this world (Luke 17:20-21). Hence, His kingdom neither comes into being nor sustains its existence ‘by the sword’ or by any other material means (John 6:15; 18:36; Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 4:20). If it did, then His kingdom would also be susceptible to being overthrown by the sword. Because Jesus’ kingdom is not established by outward force or power, neither can outward force or power be the means to overthrow it. What the world never made, the world can never break.

Jesus here applies this simple wisdom principle: a building is no more secure than its foundation (Matthew 7:24-27). The solid rock foundation of Christ’s kingdom is the inner revelation to the regenerate heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:16-18). His kingdom is built by the sword of the Spirit, not by the sword of man, so no sword of man can ever destroy His kingdom.

This same wisdom principle may be applied to the recent US Supreme Court decision – Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 2022.

Some want to believe that a previous US Supreme Court decision – Roe v. Wade, 1973 – granted or recognized a woman’s right to terminate a pre-born child’s most fundamental right to continued existence – life itself, but that now another Supreme Court decision – Dobbs, 2022 – took this right way from all women.

Well, if it was truly in the court’s jurisdiction and power to grant it, then it is just as truly within the court’s jurisdiction and power to take it away. He who lives by the court, dies by the court.

However, a different way to look at this is to recognize that no court has such jurisdiction and power over fundamental, self-evident, inalienable, God-given rights. No court can either grant or take away one’s fundamental right to life – except, of course, as God may Himself prescribe. It can recognize such rights, it can make decisions along lines which protect such rights, but it has no jurisdiction or power to either create or nullify such rights.

But the ‘Dobbs’ decision doesn’t actually go there. It only states that the Constitution does not grant the US Supreme Court jurisdiction over the matter (consequently nullifying ‘Roe’), and clearly states that “it is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” In other words, it (correctly) passes the matter down to the individual state legislatures. But of course, as regards one’s fundamental right to life, no legislature can either grant or take away, it can only recognize and protect.

Some think this could also be done by federal legislation under the Fourteenth Amendment which says that no state shall deny any person life without due process of law. Since the pre-born child is indeed a living person, the child is therefore guaranteed due process under the Fourteenth Amendment. Congress may therefore pass and enact legislation which ensures that states do not deny them life without due process.

Before God, it is the primary duty and task of the state and federal courts, legislatures, executives, and administrators to protect life. Therefore they must recognize and protect the right of the pre-born child to life. They can have no jurisdiction or authority to do otherwise.

“The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which the Constitution is founded.” – President James Madison

“The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.” – President George Washington

Psalm 118:8-9

{It is} better to seek refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man. {It is} better to seek refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. [Compare Psalm 146:3.]

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47 of the Best Signs From the First Post-Roe March for Life

https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/01/20/best-signs-first-post-roe-march-life/