When I sent you without purse and scrip and shoes, did you want anything?
και ειπεν αυτοις οτε απεστειλα υμας ατερ βαλαντιου και πηρας και υποδηματων μη τινος υστερησατε οι δε ειπον ουθενος
11 Church Fathers comment on this verse
To prevent them from believing He was abandoning them due to their frailty, and to encourage them to take initiative, He brings to their attention previous experiences, asking, "When I sent you out without a bag, did you lack anything?" His intention is to confirm His sovereignty by highlighting that He had previously provided for their needs and that He remains with them now without any sudden departure.
At the outset of His message, the Lord instructed the disciples to go forth into the villages and towns without taking any superfluous items, and even advised them against bringing essential belongings. He wanted them to depend solely on Him, recognizing His divine authority. In His compassion for their vulnerability, He ensured that everything they required would be provided for them abundantly, even in their unpreparedness.
The revered Moses instilled in the Israelites a profound reverence for God, declaring: ‘It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, for our God is a consuming fire.’ Another holy prophet proclaimed of Him, ‘His wrath consumes princes, and the rocks are melted by Him.’ Additionally, the esteemed David notes in the Psalms, ‘Thou must be feared, and who shall rise up before Thee in the time of Thy wrath?’ For what strength of man, or any created being, can withstand the indomitable might of the Almighty? Yet, His anger does not descend upon the faithful, for God commits no injustice, but rather upon those burdened with extensive and intolerable sins, whose evil is boundless.
An example of this can be seen in the experiences of the Jewish people after the Resurrection of Christ and His ascension into heaven. God the Father sent His Son to them, inviting them to partake in a grace that surpasses the law and all knowledge of blessings: He sent Him to liberate them from guilt and cleanse them from sin; to lead them into sonship, glory, honor, and communion with the Holy Spirit; into eternal life, everlasting glory, and the heavenly kingdom. However, instead of embracing this grace, honoring Him who came to their aid with heartfelt praise, and joyfully accepting the gift of faith, they chose to resist Him. They disregarded Him, rebuffed His divine signs, and, after committing atrocious acts, ultimately crucified Him. Thus, they were destined to endure the consequences that the holy prophets had previously foretold. One stated: ‘God will alienate them because they have not listened to Him, and they will be wanderers among the nations.’ Again it is said, ‘Because Jerusalem is forsaken, and Judah has fallen, and their tongues are filled with iniquity; they do not obey the Lord; therefore, their glory is diminished, and their shame is raised above them.’ In another instance, they are warned as God above all: ‘And behold, since ye have done all these things, and I have spoken unto you, and ye have not heard, and I have called unto you, and ye have not answered, I will deal with this house, in which my name is called, and in which ye trust, and with this place which I have given unto you and your fathers, as I dealt with Shiloh; and I will cast you out from my presence, as I cast out your brethren, all the seed of Ephraim.’ Therefore, they were led, as mentioned, to desolation and dispersed throughout the earth; their temple was consumed by fire, and all of Judea was taken captive. Christ had forewarned His disciples of this eventuality. The impetus for His warning to the admirable Peter about his impending denial, three times, came during His arrest when Pilate’s soldiers and Judean officers brought Him before the high priests for judgment, causing Peter to deny Him. As the mention of His arrest led naturally to what would happen next, namely His crucifixion, He also prophesied the conflict that would erupt among the Jews, an onslaught of calamity that would inundate their land. In this context, He remarked, ‘When I sent you out without purse, and without bag, and without shoes, had ye not anything? And they said, No.’ The Savior commissioned the holy apostles to announce the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven in every village and city and to heal every malady and disease among the people. Along their journey, He instructed them not to toil for earthly needs, but to traverse the land unfettered, relying entirely on Him for their sustenance; thus they exemplified commendable and apostolic conduct.
when I sent you without the bag. At that moment, He did not refer to the purse but, along with the gold and silver, He indicated it as well, for by prohibiting the possession of gold and silver, He clearly also prohibited the bag; if there is no treasure, then the means of holding treasure becomes unnecessary. They place bread in the satchel, coins such as obols in the small leather pouch, and gold and silver in the sack. However, He refers to the absence of these as a need.
Before arriving in Gethsemane, the Lord deemed it important to caution His disciples once more regarding the upcoming trials (Matthew 26:31). He inquired of them, “When I sent you forth without a purse, without provisions, and without sandals, did you lack anything?” They answered, “Not a thing.” The Lord continued gently, so as not to alarm them too greatly, “But now, let the one who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag; and those who do not have a sword should sell their cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this Scripture must now find its fulfillment in Me, and with the lawless, I will be numbered!” The Lord, conveying the message that the disciples would soon need to rely on themselves for a time, indicated that they should consider their own safety and sustenance.
Some misunderstood His teachings and believed He was advising them to arm themselves for impending danger. In response to this, one of the disciples mentioned they had two swords. However, the Masters’ intent was not fully captured in this exchange, as He envisioned other matters. Nevertheless, two swords were not entirely unreasonable for those who would soon be scattered in the dark surroundings of Jerusalem. The Lord, as if to show approval, said, “It is enough” (Luke 22:35-38). He continued, instead of elaborating further, “All of you will face fear concerning Me tonight; for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. Yet after My Resurrection, I will meet you in Galilee.” Peter, in his sincere devotion, insisted, “Even if all are made to stumble on account of You, I will never be made to stumble!” Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” reaffirmed Peter, unable to fathom such a fallacy of his loyalty. The same assertion was echoed by all the other disciples as well (Matthew 26:31-35).
The Savior brings to the disciples' attention their shared history. He juxtaposes this known past with a future that is unfamiliar to them but known to Him. When He instructed them to spread the good news, He notes, they did not carry money bags, provisions, or footwear meant for unfavorable weather. Did they then find themselves in want? Indeed, during that time, they were warmly welcomed wherever they went and received all that they required. The thankful disciples recognized the care of Divine Providence, and when Christ Jesus inquired if they, unlike some who are perpetually dissatisfied and always grumbling about lacking essentials, felt any lack, they affirmed that they needed nothing. This illustrates a path toward spiritual growth: Divine Providence temporarily sustains the frail. However, as they gain strength, they encounter a deeper understanding—a lesson on needs, challenges, and trials.
Indeed, it is a moment of significance. When I sent you out without provisions, did you ever find yourselves in need? But now, let those who have a satchel take it, and also a wallet, and if anyone lacks these, they should sell their garments to procure a sword. The Lord did not intend to indicate a shift in mission strategy but rather aimed to illustrate a change in the manner in which society would respond to the disciples. Previously, their needs were met by those who received their message; now they would be responsible for their own clothing and sustenance, even their very safety. This shift occurred because many ceased to regard Him as the Messiah and instead saw Him as a transgressor.
The Lord declared, this scripture must be fulfilled regarding Me: I am counted among the transgressors. That which was prophesied regarding Me is drawing to a close. The disciples struggled to grasp this quickened discourse and the Saviour chose to pause and redirect their focus. He aimed to prepare them for the forthcoming challenges and equip them to withstand the trials ahead.
When Jesus commissioned His apostles to spread the message, He was aware of the hostility that the Gentile nations would express towards the transformative message of love and compassion. Thus, He felt it essential to prepare them for the challenges they would encounter. Their tranquil existence was disrupted following His departure. As they embarked on their mission to proclaim the gospel in Galilee and Judea, nothing impeded their efforts; they lacked for nothing, even though they traveled without carrying a purse, food provisions, or an extra pair of sandals.
And He spoke to them, revealing the perils that the spirit of darkness posed to His disciples. The Lord, in a prophetic vision, foresaw the challenges His devoted followers would face after His departure—when He would be betrayed, condemned, scourged, and crucified. A different era was approaching for them, unlike the time when they were by His side. In His mysterious address, perhaps to avoid overwhelming them, as their spirits were not yet robust, He prepared them to confront the difficulties ahead, encouraging them to remain vigilant and watchful.
He contrasted their current situation with their previous experiences. Just as friends separated by distance reminisce about happier times, the Lord reminded His disciples of the period when He sent them to proclaim the Gospel in Judea and Galilee, a time that may have felt challenging and unsafe due to disbelief. Yet that phase would pale in comparison to the trials they would soon encounter starting from that very night and especially thereafter. Therefore, what was once a time of ease, free from worry and focused on their mission, was now replaced by a need for preparedness for any hardship or battle.
To illustrate the necessity for their readiness, the Savior referred to their initial sending out to preach. He instructed them to go “without bag,” which referred to the purse they typically carried at their waist for money. They were to travel “without scrip,” the bags that held various supplies for their journey. Additionally, they would go “without shoes,” meaning without the usual provisions travelers carried. He asked them, “Have ye lacked anything?” despite not having taken provisions with them. They replied no; they had found all they required, experiencing a fulfilling mission as they preached the Gospel of Christ, unhindered and at peace, before returning to their Master.
When I dispatched you without sandals, did you experience any need?
Everyone stood up, preparing for the nighttime journey which, as implied by the Master’s words, was fraught with danger. They gathered their belongings, and some even armed themselves (Luke 22:38; John 18:10). The disciples sensed that a new and difficult period was approaching, one that would be filled with trials and grief, during which their Divine Friend and Guardian would no longer be with them, and they would have to depend on themselves in light of the forthcoming threats. As He equipped them for this new reality, the Lord used figurative language to emphasize the importance of vigilance and self-reliance.
He recalled the earlier time when He had sent them to minister (Matthew 10:10) and highlighted the contrast between that mission and the present circumstance: “When I sent you without a purse, or bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They responded, “Nothing.” But now, the Lord said, “Let the one who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag; and let the one who has no sword sell his coat and buy one.” The disciples were about to be alone, stripped of their Master’s visible protection and direction, and as they would go forth to spread the Gospel, they needed to prepare for the challenges and hardships ahead, including enduring various trials and persecutions. By permitting them to take their bags and provisions, the Lord indicated that they were soon to face hunger and a range of difficulties (2 Cor. 6:4-5). St. John Chrysostom notes that at their initial efforts, the Lord allowed them to face no suffering, being ever-present to shield and supply their needs abundantly. However, when it became necessary for them to display their own bravery, He somewhat withdrew His grace, urging them to rely more on their own strength. Thus, when they lacked boots, belts, staffs, or other equipment, they were in no need; but when He instructed them to carry bags, furs, and swords, they found themselves hungry, thirsty, and without clothing. When the holy father speaks of the sword, he clarifies that it does not signify a command to procure weapons, but rather symbolizes the impending dangers and the suffering that they and the Lord would face from the Jews, as indicated by His subsequent words: “I tell you that what is written must be fulfilled in me: ‘He was numbered with the transgressors’”, referring to Isaiah’s prophecy about the sufferings of the Messiah (53:12), which was fulfilled when Christ was crucified between two thieves (Mark 15:27-28). The perplexed disciples, not grasping the deeper meaning of the Lord’s words, assumed He was advocating for self-defense and eagerly proclaimed, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” One of these swords belonged to Peter (John 18:10), who likely felt proud of this show of preparedness and later used it, receiving a gentle rebuke from the Master. Had the disciples reflected calmly on their response, they might have recognized how insignificant those two swords were next to the formidable powers of hell, Satan, and their allies determined to bring about the Lord’s demise. Aware of their misunderstanding, the Lord chose to defer clarification for another time and succinctly concluded with, “It is enough.”
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 19 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS