Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 10:10

10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves. For the workman is worthy of his meat.

Our Saviour having in the last Verse commanded them to give freely, they might reasonably be thinking, that they had need to provide well for their Journey. No, saith our Saviour, Provide neither Gold, nor Silver, nor Brass, &c. That this was but a Temporary Precept, the Will of God concerning them for this short Journey, appeareth from Luke 22.35, 36. But now he that hath a Purse, let him take it, and likewise his Scrip, &c. They were to finish this Journey in a short time, and much Provision would have been an hindrance to their Motion. Besides our Saviour designed to give them an experience of the Providence of God, and to teach them to trust in it, as also to teach People, That the Labourer is worthy of his Hire, and that God expecteth, that his Ministers should not live of their own, but upon the Altar which they served, so as at once he taught his Apostles not to be Covetous, nor overmuch Sollicitous, and People to provide for those who Ministred to them in things Spiritual. I pass over what others have Critically observed concerning the Words, that being not my proper Work. Mark saith, Ch. 6.8. That he commanded them that they should take nothing for their Iourney, save a Staff only, no Scrip, no Bread, nor Money in their Purse, but be shod with Sandals, and not put on two Coats. From whence is plain that the Staves forbidden in Matth. were either Staves for defence, or to bear Burdens upon, not meerly Travellers Staves. The Sum is, in this their first Journey, which they were soon to dispatch, he would have them trust God, for Protection, and Sustenance, and load themselves with nothing more than necessary.

Marginal references: Luke 12[illegible: 1 letter] 1 Tim. 5.[illegible: 1 letter]