Mat 10:10-15 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 10. Neither scrip . That is, knapsack . It was made of skin or coarse cloth, to carry provisions in. It was commonly hung around the neck. As they were to be provided for on their way, it was unnecessary to provide a store of provisions. Neither two coats . . Neither shoes . The original is the word commonly rendered sandals . . Mark says, in recording this discourse, " but be shod with sandals ." Between this and Matthew there is an apparent contradiction; but there is really no difference. According to Matthew, Jesus does not forbid their wearing the sandals, which they probably had on, but only forbids their supplying themselves with more , or with superfluous ones. Instead of making provision for their feet when their present shoes were worn out, they were to trust to Providence to be supplied, and go as they were. And the meaning of the two evangelists may be thus expressed: "Do not procure anything more for your journey than you have on. Go as you are, shod with sandals, without making any preparation." Nor yet staves . In the margin, in all the ancient versions, and in the common Greek text, it is in the singular number, nor yet A STAFF . But Mark says that they might have a staff : "Jesus commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only . To many this would appear to be a contradiction. Yet the spirit of the instruction, the main thing that the writer aims at, is the same. That was, that they were to go just as they were, to trust to Providence, and not to spend any time in making preparation for their journey. Some of them, probably, when he addressed them had staves, and some had not. To those who had he did not say that they should throw them away, as the instructions he was giving might seem to require, but suffered them to take them, (Mark.) To those who had not, he said they should not spend time in procuring them, (Matthew,) but all go just as they were. The workman is worthy of his meat . This implies that they were to expect proper supply for their wants from those who were benefited. They were not to make bargain and sale of the power of working miracles, but they were to expect competent support from preaching the gospel; and that not merely as a gift, but because they were worthy of it, and had a right to it. (2) "staves" "staff" (b) "for the workman"

Matthew 10:10-15

Verse 10. Neither scrip. That is, knapsack. It was made of skin or coarse cloth, to carry provisions in. It was commonly hung around the neck. As they were to be provided for on their way, it was unnecessary to provide a store of provisions.

Neither two coats. Mt 5:40.

Neither shoes. The original is the word commonly rendered sandals. Mt 3:11.

Mark says, in recording this discourse, "but be shod with sandals." Between this and Matthew there is an apparent contradiction; but there is really no difference. According to Matthew, Jesus does not forbid their wearing the sandals, which they probably had on, but only forbids their supplying themselves with more, or with superfluous ones. Instead of making provision for their feet when their present shoes were worn out, they were to trust to Providence to be supplied, and go as they were. And the meaning of the two evangelists may be thus expressed: "Do not procure anything more for your journey than you have on. Go as you are, shod with sandals, without making any preparation."

Nor yet staves. In the margin, in all the ancient versions, and in the common Greek text, it is in the singular number, nor yet A STAFF. But Mark says that they might have a staff: "Jesus commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only. To many this would appear to be a contradiction. Yet the spirit of the instruction, the main thing that the writer aims at, is the same. That was, that they were to go just as they were, to trust to Providence, and not to spend any time in making preparation for their journey. Some of them, probably, when he addressed them had staves, and some had not. To those who had he did not say that they should throw them away, as the instructions he was giving might seem to require, but suffered them to take them, (Mark.) To those who had not, he said they should not spend time in procuring them, (Matthew,) but all go just as they were.

The workman is worthy of his meat. This implies that they were to expect proper supply for their wants from those who were benefited. They were not to make bargain and sale of the power of working miracles, but they were to expect competent support from preaching the gospel; and that not merely as a gift, but because they were worthy of it, and had a right to it.

(2) "staves" "staff" (b) "for the workman" Lk 10:7 Verse 11. Who in it is worthy. That is, who fix it sustains a fair character will be able and disposed to show you hospitality, and will treat you kindly. This shows that they were not suddenly and needlessly to throw themselves in the way of insult or want.

And there abide. There remain; as Luke adds, "Go not from house to house." They were to content themselves with one house; not to wander about in the manner of vagrants and mendicants; not to appear to be men of idleness, and fond of change; not to seem dissatisfied with the hospitality of the people; but to show that they had regular, important business; to show that they valued their time, were disposed to give themselves to labour, prayer, and meditation; and to be intent only on the business for which he had sent them. If ministers of the gospel are useful, it will be by not spending their time in idle chitchat, and wandering about as if they had nothing to do; but in an honest and laborious improvement of every moment in study, prayer, preaching, and religious visiting their people. Verse 12. And when ye come into an house, salute it. The word house, here, evidently means family, as it does in the following verse. See also Mt 12:25, Jn 4:53, "And himself believed and his whole house." The apostles were directed to salute the family, to show them the customary tokens of respect, and to treat them with civility. Religion never requires or permits its friends to outrage the common rules of social intercourse. It demands of them to exhibit to all the customary and proper tokens of respect, according to their age and station, 1Pet 2:12-25, 3:8-11, Php 4:8. For the mode of salutation, Lk 10:4, Lk 10:5. Verse 13. If the house be worthy. That is, if the family be worthy, or be willing to receive you as my disciples.

Let your peace come upon it. That is, let the peace or happiness which you seek, or for which you pray, in saluting it, Lu 10:5 come upon it; or seek their peace and happiness by prayer, instruction, by remaining with them, and imparting to them the blessings of the gospel.

But if it be not worthy, etc. If the family be unwilling to receive you; if they show themselves unfriendly to you and your message, let your peace return to you. This is a Hebrew mode of saying that your peace should not come upon it, Ps 35:13. It is a mode of speaking derived from bestowing a gift. If people were willing to receive it, they derived the benefit from it; if not, then of course the present came back, or remained in the hand of the giver. So Christ figuratively speaks of the peace which their labour would confer. If received kindly and hospitably by the people, they would confer on them most valuable blessings. If rejected and persecuted, the blessings which they sought for others would come upon themselves. They would reap the benefit of being cast out and persecuted for their Master's sake, Mt 5:10.

(c) "return to you" Ps 35:13 Verse 14. Shake off the dust of your feet. The Jews taught uniformly that the dust of the Gentiles was impure, and was to be shaken off. To shake off the dust from the feet, therefore, was a significant act, denoting that they regarded them as impure, profane, and heathenish, and unworthy of their instruction, and that they declined all further connexion with them. It is recorded that this was actually done by some of the apostles. See Acts 13:51, 18:6.

(d) "shake off the dust" Neh 5:13, Acts 13:51, 18:6 Verse 15. It shall be more tolerable for Sodom, etc. The cities here mentioned, together with Admah and Zeboim, were destroyed by fire and brimstone, or by a volcanic eruption, on account of their great wickedness. They occupied the place afterwards covered by the Dead Sea, bounding Palestine on the south-east, Gen 19:24,25. Christ said that their punishment will be more tolerable--that is, more easily borne--than that of the people who reject his gospel, The reason is, that they were not favoured with so much light and instruction. See Mt 11:23,24, Lk 12:47,48. Sodom and Gomorrah are often referred to as signal instances of Divine vengeance, and as sure proofs that the wicked shall not go unpunished. 2Pet 2:6, Jude 1:7

(e) "shall be more tolerable" Mt 11:22,24