Matthew 10:10 kjv

Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Matthew 10:10 nkjv

nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

Matthew 10:10 niv

no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.

Matthew 10:10 esv

no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.

Matthew 10:10 nlt

Don't carry a traveler's bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.

Matthew 10 verses

Matthew 10 10 Meaning

Matthew 10:10 instructs Jesus' disciples, commissioned to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven and heal, not to take provisions like a money bag, an extra tunic, extra sandals, or a staff for their journey. This command underscores their complete dependence on God for their needs and on the hospitality of those they serve. The verse concludes with the foundational principle that "a worker is worthy of his food," affirming that those who minister God's word deserve sustenance from those who benefit from their spiritual labor. This demonstrates the urgency and single-minded focus required for the mission, emphasizing reliance on divine provision and the reciprocal obligation of the hearers.

Matthew 10 10 Context

Matthew chapter 10 recounts Jesus commissioning the twelve disciples for a specific, immediate mission within Israel. He gives them authority to heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead, mirroring His own ministry. This dispatch is limited to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt 10:6) and serves as a prelude to His greater ministry and eventual global Great Commission. The instructions in verse 10 are part of a broader set of directives concerning their conduct, message, reliance on divine provision, and their expectations for welcome or rejection. Historically, itinerant teachers and rabbis often relied on hospitality for sustenance, but Jesus' prohibition against carrying specific items went further, emphasizing absolute dependence and the urgency of their task without worldly encumbrance. It established a counter-cultural model of ministry, valuing faith over foresight in a temporal sense.

Matthew 10 10 Word analysis

• nor bag (πήραν - pēran): This refers to a "beggar's bag" or a "traveler's provision bag." It signifies carrying supplies for the journey, implying a lack of dependence on immediate, divinely-provided hospitality. The prohibition emphasizes complete reliance on God and the willingness of recipients to support them.
• for your journey (ὁδόν - hodon): This specifies the context: their mission travels. The command is not about a general lifestyle but pertains directly to the evangelistic endeavor. It implies urgency and single-mindedness.
• nor two tunics (δύο χιτῶνας - duo chitōnas): A "tunic" (chiton) was a basic inner garment, worn close to the body. Possessing two tunics suggested preparedness for changing or a degree of comfort and self-provision. Jesus’ instruction emphasizes radical simplicity and not taking anything beyond immediate need, focusing solely on the mission.
• nor sandals (ὑποδήματα - hypodēmata): These are foot coverings. In this context, it often refers to not taking an extra pair of sandals. While Mark 6:9 indicates that apostles could wear sandals, Matthew's specific inclusion in the list of things not to acquire aligns with an overall theme of absolute dependence and detachment from excess, contrasting with preparing for the long haul.
• nor staffs (ῥάβδον - rhabdon): A staff could be used for support, protection, or even as a walking stick for the long road. Like sandals, Mark 6:8 allows a staff. Matthew's emphasis here on "nor staffs" likely reinforces the idea of not relying on personal means of defense or support, but entirely on God's protection and provision. It signifies radical vulnerability and trust.

• nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs: This grouping of prohibited items highlights a complete divestment from traditional means of security and comfort for travelers. It emphasizes the apostles' call to trust solely in God for provision and safety, and on the immediate hospitality of those who would receive the message. This was a clear sign of faith and the urgent, all-consuming nature of their mission, showing they were not merely selling a service but sharing a life-giving message requiring utter spiritual reliance.
• for a worker is worthy of his food (ἄξιος γὰρ ὁ ἐργάτης τῆς τροφῆς αὐτοῦ ἐστιν): This pivotal phrase serves as the rationale for the prohibitions.
  • "worker" (ergatēs): Denotes one who labors diligently, here specifically referring to those laboring in spiritual service. It elevates their work to a professional standard worthy of compensation.
  • "worthy" (axios): Signifies deservedness or merit. The disciples' service is seen as valuable work that inherently earns sustenance. This is a divine principle of justice for gospel ministry.
  • "his food" (tēs trophēs autou): Refers to necessary sustenance or provision. The focus is on basic needs, not luxury. It indicates that those receiving the spiritual blessing are obligated to provide for the physical needs of the messenger. This principle liberates the worker from the burden of self-provision and places the responsibility on the community that benefits from the Gospel. It grounds their dependency not in beggary, but in a rightful claim based on their work for the Kingdom.

Matthew 10 10 Bonus section

• Distinct Phase of Ministry: It's crucial to understand that the instructions in Matthew 10 are for a specific, limited mission to the Jews before Jesus' death and resurrection. These differ from later instructions for the worldwide "Great Commission" (Matt 28:18-20), where broader provision for longer journeys and a more diverse range of encounters would be necessary. Jesus' later instructions in Lk 22:35-36, telling disciples to carry money and bags, signify a change in context from a period of miraculous provision and relative acceptance to a time of persecution and normal human foresight in a more hostile environment after His crucifixion.
• Harmony of the Gospels: The slight variations in parallel accounts (Mk 6:8-9, Lk 9:3) regarding specific items (e.g., Mark allows a staff and sandals) are typically reconciled by understanding that Matthew emphasizes an absolute lack of material encumbrance or extra provisions. Matthew’s account underscores a profound faith that strips away all human aids to leave the missionaries fully reliant on divine power and the hospitality principle.
• Theological Foundation of Support: This verse forms one of the foundational biblical principles for vocational ministry support in the New Testament. It is not an invitation to idleness but an affirmation that intense, dedicated spiritual labor deserves sustenance, freeing the worker to focus entirely on their calling. This principle continues to shape the understanding of church support for pastors and missionaries.

Matthew 10 10 Commentary

Matthew 10:10 encapsulates Jesus' instruction to His newly commissioned apostles regarding their radical dependence during their specific, urgent mission to Israel. By forbidding them to carry material provisions like money bags, extra clothing, or even a staff for protection or support, Jesus stripped them of any self-reliance. This compelled them to trust God entirely for their needs and to depend on the hospitality of those to whom they preached the Gospel. The underlying principle, "for a worker is worthy of his food," reveals that this absolute dependence was not beggary but a divine arrangement: those who dedicate themselves to ministering God's spiritual truths are inherently entitled to material support from those who receive such truths. This not only provided for the disciples but also cultivated a sense of ownership and responsibility within the believing community, ensuring that the mission could progress unhindered by worldly concerns and underscoring the spiritual value of their work.