Matthew 10:9 kjv

Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

Matthew 10:9 nkjv

Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,

Matthew 10:9 niv

"Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts?

Matthew 10:9 esv

Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts,

Matthew 10:9 nlt

"Don't take any money in your money belts ? no gold, silver, or even copper coins.

Matthew 10 verses

Matthew 10 9 Meaning

This instruction from Jesus to His twelve disciples, upon commissioning them, commands them not to procure or carry any monetary provisions—gold, silver, or copper/bronze coins—in their money belts for their specific mission trip. It emphasizes absolute reliance on God's providence and the hospitality of those they minister to, signifying an urgent mission that prioritizes divine trust over worldly preparation and self-sufficiency.

Matthew 10 9 Context

Matthew 10 details Jesus' commissioning of the twelve apostles for their first significant mission trip. This chapter, often called the "Missionary Discourse," sets guidelines for their immediate ministry. Jesus grants them authority to cast out demons and heal diseases (Mt 10:1), and specifically instructs them to go "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Mt 10:6), not to Gentiles or Samaritans yet. The instructions regarding provision in verse 9 (and following verses) are given within this highly specific, immediate, and limited mission to the Jewish people, intended to convey the urgency of the kingdom message and cultivate radical dependence on God's provision and the hospitality of believing recipients.

Matthew 10 9 Word analysis

• Provide: The Greek verb κτήσασθε (ktēsasthai) is an aorist middle imperative, meaning "to acquire," "procure," or "get for yourselves." This implies not merely "do not carry," but a prohibition against proactively accumulating or planning for financial reserves. It denotes a call to active reliance on divine and human provision for daily needs, rather than self-prepared security.
• neither gold, nor silver, nor brass: The Greek words are χρυσὸν (chryson - gold), ἄργυρον (argyron - silver), and χαλκὸν (chalkon - copper, bronze, or other base metals used for coinage). This covers all forms of currency, from the most valuable (gold) to the least (brass/copper). The comprehensive nature signifies a complete absence of monetary provision, emphasizing absolute trust in God over any worldly financial security for the mission.
• in your purses: The Greek εἰς τὰς ζώνας (eis tas zōnas) literally translates to "into the belts." In the ancient world, belts (ζώνας) commonly functioned as money belts or served as places where small bags of coins or other valuables were tied or tucked. This specifies that the prohibition is against carrying personal funds intended for their travel expenses or subsistence.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass": This categorical rejection of personal financial provisions underscores the complete dependence Jesus demands from His disciples for this mission. It conveys that their livelihood will derive entirely from God's provision through the recipients of their ministry, rather than their own stored wealth. This illustrates a Kingdom value where trust in divine sustenance far outweighs self-sufficiency or material security.
• "in your purses": This phrase specifically directs that the prohibited money should not be carried or stored as personal funds for the journey. It forces the disciples to rely on immediate, real-time divine and human provision through the hospitality of those they minister to. This not only deepens their own faith but also outwardly demonstrates to those they meet their profound trust in God's daily care.

Matthew 10 9 Bonus section

• The radical nature of these instructions highlighted the exceptional spiritual authority with which the disciples were operating, signifying that they were messengers of God, not ordinary travelers or merchants.
• The absence of money facilitated rapid travel; without baggage and financial transactions, they could move swiftly from place to place, fitting the urgent "Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" message (Mt 10:7).
• This directive functioned as a test of faith, both for the disciples themselves to step out in reliance, and for the communities they visited to show their alignment with the Kingdom message through their hospitality.
• The command aligns with the concept of spiritual versus material wealth. By forbidding material gain as preparation, Jesus prioritized the eternal message and spiritual dependence.
• In the ancient world, hospitality was not merely kindness but a profound cultural and religious obligation, especially for travelers and those who shared good news. Jesus' instruction tapped into this established social norm, expecting the disciples to be received and cared for by those open to the Kingdom message.

Matthew 10 9 Commentary

Matthew 10:9 gives a foundational, yet temporary, command to Jesus' disciples during their inaugural mission trip to Israel. It compels them to embark without any pre-arranged monetary provisions, symbolizing an utter dependence on God and the hospitality of the Jewish people they would minister to. This instruction wasn't a blanket rule for all ministry, as demonstrated by Jesus' later instructions in Luke 22:35-36 where different provisions are implied. For this initial phase, however, it served several critical purposes: it impressed upon the disciples the urgency and immediacy of their task, disassociating them from itinerant charlatans who often demanded payment, fostering a deep and experiential reliance on God's provision, and instructing the nascent church on the principle of supporting those who labor for the gospel. This radical simplicity allowed the disciples to focus solely on proclaiming the Kingdom message, assured that God would meet their needs through the hands of faithful listeners, validating both their message and their complete faith in their divine commission.