Luke 10:4 kjv
Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
Luke 10:4 nkjv
Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
Luke 10:4 niv
Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
Luke 10:4 esv
Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.
Luke 10:4 nlt
Don't take any money with you, nor a traveler's bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to greet anyone on the road.
Luke 10 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 6:25-26 | "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life... Look at the birds..." | Trust God for daily needs; He provides for His creation. |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." | Prioritize God's kingdom; provisions follow. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | God is faithful to meet all needs. |
| Deut 8:3 | "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord..." | Dependence on God's word and provision, not just physical means. |
| Psa 37:25 | "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." | God's unfailing care for His people. |
| Matt 10:9-10 | "Acquire no gold or silver or copper... no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals..." | Similar instructions to the twelve disciples, but Mark includes wearing sandals. |
| Mark 6:8-9 | "...take nothing for their journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in their belts – but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics." | Partial parallel; explicitly allows wearing sandals (contrasting Luke). |
| Luke 22:35-36 | "When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?... But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack." | Shows the temporary nature of the Lk 10:4 command. |
| 1 Tim 6:8 | "But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." | Spirit of contentment with basic provisions. |
| Heb 13:5-6 | "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have... The Lord is my helper..." | Contentment and trust in God's help. |
| Luke 9:60 | "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." | Emphasis on urgency and prioritizing kingdom proclamation over earthly duties. |
| Luke 9:62 | "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." | Dedication and single-mindedness in mission. |
| 2 Tim 2:4 | "No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him." | Avoidance of worldly distractions in spiritual service. |
| Eccl 3:1 | "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:" | Implies certain priorities can override usual customs, like greetings. |
| Phil 3:13-14 | "...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal..." | Focused pursuit of the mission without distraction. |
| 1 Cor 7:29-31 | "From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none... and those who buy as though they had no possessions..." | Urgent living; detach from worldly concerns due to "present form of this world is passing away". |
| Rom 12:11 | "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." | Encourage diligence and urgency in service. |
| Heb 13:2 | "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." | Undergirds the expectation of hospitality that would sustain the disciples. |
| Rom 12:13 | "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." | Encouragement for believers to provide for one another, as the disciples would receive. |
| Matt 25:35-40 | "For I was hungry and you gave me food... Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." | The care shown to the disciples is a direct service to Christ. |
| 1 Tim 5:18 | "For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and 'The laborer deserves his wages.'" | Support for those engaged in ministry; those ministered to should provide. |
Luke 10 verses
Luke 10 4 Meaning
This verse instructs Jesus' disciples, sent out two by two, to divest themselves of common travel provisions: a moneybag for funds, a knapsack for food or supplies, and even a second pair of sandals. Additionally, they were not to engage in time-consuming traditional greetings along their journey. The instruction underscores an extreme reliance on God's immediate provision through the hospitality of others, highlights the urgent and unburdened nature of their mission, and demands singular focus without worldly distractions or customary delays.
Luke 10 4 Context
Luke chapter 10 begins with Jesus appointing seventy (or seventy-two) disciples, sending them out ahead of Him, two by two, to every town and place He was about to visit. This specific mission was one of immediate proclamation—preparing the way for Jesus' direct arrival and message of the kingdom of God. Unlike other broader instructions to the disciples, the directives in this verse, and the surrounding verses (Luke 10:2-12), are particular to this urgent and short-term evangelical outreach. The cultural context of travel in the ancient Near East typically involved carrying provisions for a journey, including money, a bag for necessities, and potentially extra sandals, given the rough terrain and extended walking. Additionally, greetings among acquaintances or strangers could be elaborate, formal, and lengthy affairs, often requiring a pause in travel. Jesus’ command to forego these typical preparations and social norms speaks to the exceptional nature and high priority of the task at hand.
Luke 10 4 Word analysis
- μηδὲ (mede): "neither, nor." Repeated thrice, it strongly emphasizes the prohibition against possessing any of the following items, underscoring total abstention and dependency.
- βαλάντιον (balantion): "moneybag, purse." A container for money. Prohibits self-funding the mission, forcing reliance on divine provision through others.
- πήραν (peran): "knapsack, bag, traveler's bag." A large pouch or basket used to carry provisions like food. Prohibits self-provisioning, promoting trust in the hospitality of those they evangelize.
- ὑποδήματα (hypodēmata): "sandals, shoes." While Matt 10:9 and Mark 6:9 indicate taking sandals (Mark specifically "wear sandals"), Luke 10:4 forbids them. This difference is a point of scholarly discussion, but Luke's inclusion likely implies not taking extra sandals or focusing on light, unburdened travel, suggesting an extreme level of non-reliance on personal comfort or backup supplies. It emphasizes haste and reliance on miraculous preservation or provision for feet.
- βαστάζετε (bastazete): "carry, take up, bear." An imperative command in the present tense, implying "do not continue carrying" or "do not start carrying" these items.
- μηδένα (medena): "no one, nobody." Absolute prohibition.
- κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν (kata tēn hodon): "along the way, on the road." Specifies the location where this abstention from greeting applies, highlighting immediate travel for mission.
- ἀσπάσησθε (aspasēsthe): "greet, salute, welcome." In the context of ancient Near Eastern travel, greetings were often elaborate, involving extensive social formalities, deep bows, multiple questions, and can consume considerable time. This prohibition speaks to the urgency of the mission, overriding social customs for kingdom priorities.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Carry neither moneybag, nor knapsack, nor sandals": This trio of forbidden items symbolizes complete liberation from worldly anxieties concerning material provision and personal security. It enforces a radical dependency on God and on the people they are ministering to, teaching faith through vulnerability. It is a powerful illustration of seeking God's kingdom first, without distraction of earthly preparedness.
- "and greet no one on the way": This phrase underlines the urgent, focused, and unhindered nature of their mission. In a culture where lengthy, elaborate greetings were customary, Jesus commands haste, signifying that the task of proclaiming the Kingdom supersedes even common courtesies when time is of the essence. It is not about being rude, but about unwavering dedication to the gospel.
Luke 10 4 Bonus section
The differences in the instructions regarding "sandals" across the synoptic gospels (Matt 10:9 and Mark 6:8-9 allowing/wearing sandals, while Luke 10:4 forbidding them) can be interpreted in several ways. One common understanding is that Luke means "do not acquire or pack extra sandals for the journey," focusing on not making over-preparations rather than walking barefoot. Given the rugged terrain and potential for long distances, walking completely barefoot would be exceptionally harsh and hinder progress. The key intent is not comfort, but reliance and speed. Furthermore, the number of disciples being seventy (Luke's unique contribution vs. the twelve in Matthew and Mark) signifies a broader, more intense, and widespread preliminary evangelistic campaign before Jesus’ own arrival in each locality, possibly explaining the more stringent urgency here. This specific prohibition on elaborate greetings also reveals Jesus' emphasis on kingdom business transcending typical cultural niceties, prioritizing proclamation and urgency.
Luke 10 4 Commentary
Luke 10:4 sets forth highly specific, urgent instructions for the seventy (or seventy-two) disciples Jesus dispatched before Him. This was not a permanent lifestyle dictate, as indicated by later instructions in Luke 22:35-36, but a command for a particular mission of short duration and extreme spiritual significance. The denial of personal provisions—money, bag, and extra sandals—symbolizes an absolute trust in divine provision and the hospitality of the hearers. It underscores the truth that God would provide for His servants directly through the people receiving their message. The command to forgo elaborate greetings on the road reinforces the extreme urgency of the message ("the harvest is plentiful") and prioritizes the immediacy of the Kingdom over all social conventions. It fosters single-minded focus, teaching the disciples that their attention must be wholly given to the task of evangelism without worldly encumbrances or delays. It required radical faith, stepping out in complete vulnerability, embodying their message of reliance on God's kingdom.
- Practical Usage Examples:
- Prioritizing Mission: A believer facing a time-sensitive ministry opportunity might need to set aside personal comforts or usual routines for the sake of the gospel, understanding some commands are contextual.
- Trust in God's Provision: Facing a call to ministry that seems to lack financial or resource backing, this verse encourages full reliance on God to supply all needs through unexpected means.
- Urgency in Witness: It challenges believers to share the gospel with urgency, without being deterred by distractions or time-consuming personal interests.