Mat 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
Swords and staves; What are staves?
Staves; definitions from Strong's Concordance:
1) wood
a) that which is made of wood
a1) as a beam from which any one is suspended, a gibbet, a cross
a2) a log or timber with holes in which the feet, hands, neck of prisoners were inserted and fastened with thongs
a3) a fetter, or shackle for the feet
a4) a cudgel, stick, staff
2) a tree
I would assume that they came with shackles, to lead Jesus away a prisoner .It also could have been clubs or spears. Right here we see him taking upon himself our sins and bondage's. His purpose in coming was to set the captives free and to loose the bonds of sin and slavery to evil. Earlier he spoke of his work for us.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
He was taken captive to free us, he took our sins upon himself for our salvation. He came to break the power of satan over our lives. By trusting in him, we receive his power to overcome this world and to enter heaven.
Another verse in Matthew speaks of taking staves on a journey.
Mat 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Mat 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
These were probably walking sticks which are also used for protection. I like to carry a walking stick to keep overly aggressive animals away.
There are other staves which were poles that fit in the rings of the Holy Ark of the Covenant. They were used to transport the Ark. They were made of Acacia wood overlaid with gold.
Exo 25:15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.
Did you notice another definition used for staves?
A beam from which any one is suspended, a gibbet, a cross.
Jesus, after a mock trial, was severely beaten and whipped and nailed to a cross to bleed and to die for our sins. He was raised from death on the third day.
Staves: shackles, poles overlaid with gold, a cross. These staves were used to transport and to hold in place the Holiest of Holies. Jesus, Emmanuel, the very presence of God with us.
(Jesus)...Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Swords and staves for the master; power and grace for those who believe in him. Thank you Lord Jesus for being our substitute. We were guilty, but you came to take our place so that we could freely come to God through your holy sacrifice. You took our sins and curses upon yourself so that we may be the adopted children of God.
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