The Right Ear

Note: All scripture references and word definitions are taken from the Blue Letter Bible. It's an awesome tool! Check it out.

When Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter responded with force, cutting off the right ear of one of those sent to arrest Jesus.

[Luk 22:50-51 CSB] 50 Then one of them struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus responded, "No more of this! " And touching his ear, he healed him.

[Jhn 18:10-11 CSB] 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 At that, Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me? "

There are some very interesting things about this incident. To most of us, Peter’s response is justified. He was defending the Son of God. Their purpose was to kill Him. Peter’s response was from fear, which sets off the fight-or-flight mode in all of us. Wouldn’t you think that was the right response?

Jesus didn’t think so! He told Peter to put his sword away and healed the man. Wow!

It is interesting to note that the man’s name, Malchus, means “Kingdom.” Even in this, Jesus demonstrates the nature of His Kingdom, the Kingdom of mercy, forgiveness, and healing. The ancients regarded the right ear as the most important ear. They believed the right ear was the ear by which we hear from God. It is associated with understanding and obedience. Modern science confirms this belief. Speech heard through the right ear reaches the language center of the brain in about 20 milliseconds, whereas speech heard through the left ear can take up to 300 milliseconds. It is much easier to absorb and react to information if it is heard with the right ear.

Another interesting note is that in the Torah, God instructed the Israelites to put blood on the right ear, right thumb, and the right big toe when anointing a new priest for service. This was to consecrate his hearing, his actions, and his path to the service of God. Therefore, in cutting off this man’s right ear, Peter was spiritually cutting off this man’s ability to be set apart for God.

In the face of death, Jesus demonstrates that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. (Ephesians 6:12). We are to fight in the spiritual realm, not the physical. However, much of the time, we don’t understand this. Our instinct is to fight in the flesh. Just look! Here is Peter. He’s been with Jesus for over three years, but he has no clue. He’s fighting in the flesh because that’s all he knows.

So often, we as Christians respond to our natural inclinations. We react in the natural to those who offend us instead of seeking God for His purpose and wisdom. When we do so, our fleshly reaction can and often does diminish the ability of the one who offended us to hear from God. Sometimes, we do need to speak up or act. Jesus called the Pharisees and Sadducees “white washed tombs,” and He drove the merchants who were cheating the people out of the temple with a whip. But other times, God has something else planned. Help us, Father, to seek Your purpose every time we are tempted to rail against those who offend us.

Have you been hurt by people in the church? Please forgive us! We are just people who often don’t understand. Jesus, however, wants to heal the ear that we have cut off so that you can hear the good news about His mercy.