8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.” (Matthew 10:8–11 (ESV)
Jesus gave His Twelve Apostles specific instructions when He sent them out to the Jewish people. The task at hand is to examine those directives taken from today’s text.
In Matthew 10:8, Jesus told His Twelve Apostles what they were to do as He sent them to the Jews. In vs. 9-10, He instructs them on what they are not to do.
Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts. Not only were the apostles not to charge money for their ministry (vs.8), but also they were not to acquire any gold, silver or copper. Their focus was to serve and minister to the Jewish people and not seek monetary gain. Jesus did not say to not own gold, silver or copper but rather in this context to not pursue such items.
“Jesus is not prohibiting the Twelve from owning any of these items; rather, he is stressing the specific requirements of this particular mission,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
No bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. The apostles were not to make elaborate provisions for their mission. The basic necessities would be sufficient. Additionally the basic necessities were to be provided.
“This is to be a relatively quick preaching journey, so they are not to spend time procuring extra supplies; those to whom they minister must support their mission,” states Dr. MacArthur.
And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As the apostles ministered, they would be ministered to by the people who responded favorably to the message of the Gospel.
“In sending out the Twelve, Jesus commanded them to travel light and to rely on the generosity of the people in the towns that they would visit. Given that Mark 6:30 indicates that this was a defined mission with only a temporary length, we are not to apply all of what Jesus says to every church mission. Therefore, for example, it is not necessarily a lack of faith to raise money for a mission before embarking on it instead of relying on help once we get to where we are going,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Matthew 10:9-10 should not be interpreted to justify a church board not paying their pastor, or church staff, a livable and fair wage. Many church lay leadership endeavor to keep their pastor humble by paying a part-time salary for full-time work. This is not only inappropriate, it is also sin.
1 Timothy 5:17 (ESV) says, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” The phrase double honor not only refers to the pastor’s position of leadership but also to the church’s financial package they provide for their pastor and his family.
Take the opportunity and time to review your church’s budget and the pastor’s salary. Be honest with yourself and before the Lord as to whether or not the church is being financially responsible and generous to their spiritual shepherd.
Soli deo Gloria!
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