Former Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has claimed that Jesus supports the carrying of guns, and is a proponent of the Second Amendment, despite it being written over 1,500 years after His ministry on earth.
Palin, who is now a media figure and has books published under her name, took to Facebook to mock President Obama and to suggest that Jesus talked about carrying firearms just after the Last Supper.
She cited Luke 22, 36-38 in which Jesus gives His disciples a number of instructions as He is about to be arrested by the Roman authorities.
The Scripture says, "He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That's enough!" he replied."
Palin extrapolated from this that Jesus has a solid position on the gun control debate in the 21st Century. She said, "Jesus would fight for our Second Amendment... Shoot, even the Lord said to take up arms and defend yourself and protect the innocent... We're expected to take responsibility to defend ourselves and to protect the innocent, certainly not relying on fallible leaders to do it for us... Don't believe me? Look it up – Luke 22:36. Proof that Jesus is a proponent of carrying."
The Scripture is one that scholars and more recently bloggers have long debated. However, it's clear that there is no reference in the Gospels to Jesus carrying or using a weapon. In fact, in the Sermon on the Mount He says, "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."
