Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
Simon Peter was probably not in the habit of carrying a sword, but the disciples had two of them with them (Luke 22:38) , one of which he had and drew and used. Peter had recently declared that he would die for Jesus (John 13:37) and here he displays incredible zeal and courage in the face of overwhelming odds. But Peter’s zeal is misplaced. Again he is not perceiving the spiritual, but operating totally out of the physical much as he did in (Matt 16:23). He is also overstepping his bounds by doing what his Commander has not given him the authority or the orders to do and in fact ran counter to previous orders given to him by Jesus (Matt 5:39). Calvin wisely advises us thus: “Warned by such a striking example (the pun is, I am sure, unintended), let us learn to moderate our zeal. And as the wantonness of our flesh ever itches to dare more than God commands, let us learn that our zeal will turn out badly whenever we dare to undertake anything beyond God’s Word.”
Luke 22:38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied.
John 13:37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Matthew 5:39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
There was danger to Peter in his rash act as comes out later (John 18:26), but Peter had died long before John wrote his Gospel as had Lazarus of whom John could also safely write (12:9-11) without fear of retribution. John could name the servant of the high priest because he knew the household and their relatives (John 18:16, 18:26). With his name here given, this fact could be verified by any interested party.
John 18:26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?”
John 12:9-11 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
John 18:16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
John 18:26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?”
Peter, being a fisherman, was probably not the best of swordsmen and struck out wildly at one of the leaders of the group, hoping to kill him by cutting off his head. But Peter missed and only got an ear. Malchus was not just “a” servant of the high priest, but “the” servant of the high priest and probably the Jewish leader of the group. Interestingly, and at the risk of reading too much into this, many Jewish passages refer to the slitting of an ear as being a means of disqualifying a man from the priestly office. This would have been potentially insulting and embarrassing to his master, the high priest. However, Jesus, in another incredible display of His heart, touched the ear of Malchus, His enemy,and healed it (Luke 22:51), even in the light of what Malchus had come to do! The love Jesus showed for this self-proclaimed enemy of His shows us the love and compassion He has for all the lost in the world. Jesus is in the process of going to the cross to die for men just like Malchus.
Luke 22:51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
In healing the ear of Malchus, Jesus also eliminated most of the charge against Peter for his actions. Even while being arrested Jesus is caring for His flock. What do you think He is doing right now for you?