John Calvin Commentary Matthew 10:9

"Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses;" — Matthew 10:9 (ASV)

Do not provide. As the embassy⁵⁷⁵ was of such a nature that Christ wished the disciples to traverse the whole of Judea within a few days, and immediately to return to him, he forbids them to carry luggage, by which this speed might be hindered. Some have ignorantly supposed that the rule laid down here for the ministers of the word, or for the apostles, is perpetual. We will soon encounter a few sentences that have a more extensive reference. But the present injunctions not to carry baggage must undoubtedly be restricted to that temporary commission of which I have already spoken. The whole of the prohibition of gold, silver, a scrip, and two coats, which is given by Matthew, must be read in immediate connection, as is evident from the other two Evangelists.

I have therefore chosen to translate υὴ κτήσησθε, do not provide: for our Lord simply intended to forbid them to take anything for the journey. They might have scrips, and shoes, and a change of coats, at home; but so that they might be better prepared for the journey, he orders them to leave everything that would be burdensome.

This is also the import of what Mark says, to be shod with sandals; there appears to be a contradiction regarding the staff, or stick; for, according to Mark, the staff is allowed, while according to Matthew and Luke it is forbidden. However, there is an ambiguity in the use of the Hebrew word שבט, (shebet); and the Evangelists, though they wrote in Greek, used the word ῥάβδος in various senses. Matthew and Luke mean by it a rod that would be burdensome to the person who carries it, while Mark means by it a walking-stick to support and relieve a traveler. It is evident that in making a journey it was customary to carry a staff; and therefore those words of Jacob, With my staff, I passed over this Jordan, (Genesis 32:10), by which he acknowledges that he came empty and without money into Syria.

⁵⁷⁵ “La commission et ambassade;” — “the commission and einbassy.”;” — “the commission and einbassy.”