Matthew 10:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In an act of swiftly eliminating the root of evil, He instructs, “Do not take with you…” (He refrains from saying, “Do not take it with you;” rather, He advises to shun this harmful affliction even if it must be left behind elsewhere). Through these actions, He accomplished multiple goals. Firstly, He removed all doubts from His disciples; secondly, He liberated them from worldly concerns, so they could focus solely on proclaiming the Gospel; and thirdly, He demonstrated His divine authority.

It prepares them for all forms of self-discipline. By steering them away from indulgence and granting them perfect peace, it even prevents them from embracing the burden of chastisement. This exemplifies true generosity, encouraging them to place their faith in He who instructs on the nature of selflessness.

“Do not covet gold,” he warns, lest the fate that befell Achan (Num. 7:1-26), which caused Judah to suffer, should also befall you and as Gheziah was afflicted with leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-27) and as the entire nation fell into corruption in the wilderness (Ex. 32:1-7). He also prohibited silver, taking it away from them, to ensure they were recognized as messengers of the Gospel rather than traders.

He continually imparts these instructions to the messengers of the Gospel, reminding them of the principle: "Freely ye have received, freely give." Should they proclaim the message without seeking compensation, the ownership of gold, silver, or money would become irrelevant. Possessing such wealth might suggest that their ministry is driven by personal gain rather than the salvation of souls. Likewise, they are not to carry even a copper coin. By renouncing material riches, one simultaneously tends to dismiss the concern for life's basic needs. Therefore, the apostles, as champions of the true faith who taught that all things are guided by God's Providence, were required to exemplify a complete disregard for future concerns.

Why is there a necessity to assist a wealthy individual? Is it primarily because he might be more inclined to offer a reward to someone who shows him love? - It is common for us to feel inclined towards those whom we presume will express gratitude toward us. Therefore, it is even more crucial that we attend to the needs of the vulnerable and impoverished, for it is with the poor that we can have faith that the Lord Jesus will recompense our kindness. He has provided us with a model of virtue that is applicable to all righteous deeds, specifically indicating that we should extend our generosity towards those unable to return it. He directs us to host gatherings not for the affluent, but for the needy.

Encouraging a sense of nostalgia, He instructs them not to take anything along for their journey. It was customary for travelers to carry pouches for their money attached to their belts. He teaches His disciples to embrace complete simplicity, desiring them not only to avoid raising suspicions but to inspire wonder instead. A humble and satisfied existence generates the greatest awe. By relieving them of worldly concerns, which can hinder their mission, He aims to demonstrate His providence, which is adequate for all their needs. Consequently, He later remarked, "When I sent you without purse and without scrip... the food of which you were deprived" (Luke 22:35). The Savior made this statement to the Apostles to dissuade them from hoarding supplies under the guise of preparation.

To safeguard the hearts of His disciples from the influences of greed and the distractions of earthly concerns, which often accompany material wealth, the Lord instructed them: DO NOT BELIEVE, do not gather, do not carry any gold, silver, or copper in your belts.

When Jesus Christ gave guidance to the apostles, He anticipated that worries regarding sustenance, attire, and housing might divert them from their mission of preaching. Thus, He instructed them, "Do not take with you gold, silver, or copper in your belts, nor a bag for the road, nor two garments, nor shoes, nor a staff.

Prior to their journey, the Savior provided guidance on how they should conduct themselves during their mission of preaching. Their focus was to be on the lost sheep of the house of Israel, refraining from reaching out to the Samaritans and Gentiles. The core message of their preaching was to emphasize the imminent arrival of the kingdom of heaven, supported by miraculous signs and acts of kindness. They were instructed to take nothing along with them—no bag for provisions, no money in their belts, no extra clothing, no shoes beyond their ordinary sandals made of palm bark, and no walking staff unless they already had one.

"Around their waists": the belt, commonly worn to secure loose-fitting garments as per Eastern tradition, functions (and continues to function) as a means for carrying money, designed to be hollow inside. "Do not take with you," etc.: "Through this, He achieved several important objectives. First, He alleviated any doubts among His disciples; second, He liberated them from all concerns, enabling them to focus solely on proclaiming the Gospel; third, He demonstrated His authority; for this reason, He later asked them, 'Did you lack anything when I sent you without supplies and footwear?'"

The apostles accepted the minimal offerings provided by the believers for their livelihood, which were given willingly and without pressure in gratitude for their preaching efforts. Consequently, the Lord instructed, ‘You shall not lay up gold, nor silver, nor brass at your girdles, nor feasts, nor bread, nor two garments, nor boots to spare, nor a rod: for worthy is the worker of his wages. Released from material worries, they were even more enthusiastic in dedicating themselves to the mission assigned to them.