A.T. Robertson Commentary Mark 6:8

"and he charged them that they should take nothing for [their] journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet, now money in their purse;" — Mark 6:8 (ASV)

Save a staff only (ε μη ραβδον μονον). Every traveller and pilgrim carried his staff. Bruce thinks that Mark has here preserved the meaning of Jesus more clearly than Mt 10:10 (nor staff) and Lu 9:3 (neither staff). This discrepancy has given trouble to commentators. Grotius suggests no second staff for Matthew and Luke. Swete considers that Matthew and Luke report "an early exaggeration of the sternness of the command." "Without even a staff is the ne plus ultra of austere simplicity, and self-denial. Men who carry out the spirit of these precepts will not labour in vain" (Bruce).