Mk 6:9 “Do not put on two tunics.”
Summary Notes
What did Jesus say?
Jesus told His twelve closest disciples to take nothing extra on their journey, not even two tunics.
Why would He say this?
Jesus sent these twelve men on a journey to the cities of Israel that He planned to visit. He equipped the men with miraculous powers and told them to use their powers to help people. They were to heal the sick and to urge the people to prepare themselves for Jesus’ arrival. He specifically told His disciples to travel lightly. Therefore, they were to take only their immediate necessities and not to include any backup necessities, such as an extra tunic. They would not need any other provisions because practical gratitude of the people would sustain them.
Although Jesus was instructing His twelve disciples about a specific journey, I think that there are some principles I can apply to my own life.
Click here to go directly to my personal application and your comments or continue with my full notes.
COMMAND 194: “Do not put on two tunics.”
REFERENCE:
Click here see why I like lighthouses.
Mk 6:9; See also Mt 10:9; Lk 9:3
RECIPIENT: The twelve disciples
Mk 6:7-9 And He summoned the twelve…
Mt 10-1a; 2-4 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples…
2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.
CONTEXT:
After Jesus departed Nazareth, He instructed His twelve closest disciples to send them out two by two to go ahead. Presumably they were to prepare the people to receive Jesus message favorably by performing unmistakable and unprecedented miracles of healing.
Mark
Mk 6:7-9 And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; 8and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff–no bread, no bag, no money in their belt– 9but to wear sandals; and He added…
Matthew
Mt 10:1; 5-8 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
5These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; 6but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.‘ 8“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. ”
Luke
Lk 9:1-3a And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. 3And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money…”
COMMAND FULL TEXT:
Mk 6:9b “Do not put on two tunics.”
Mt 10:9 “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.”
Mt 9:3b “Take nothing for {your} journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not {even} have two tunics apiece.”
RESULT:
Mk 6:12-14 They went out and preached that men should repent. 13And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. 14And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.
Mt 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them.
Mt 11:1 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Lk 9:6 Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
MY COMMENTS AND NOTES:
Travel Lightly
These disciples were instructed to travel lightly in their own country, preach and, to supernaturally heal people. They were not to take more than their immediate necessities and not to take any extra goods or possessions. They were to have their own needs met by grateful individuals.
Bring a Staff or Not to Bring a Staff?
Did Jesus say to bring a staff or not to bring a staff? This apparent inconsistency in the three narratives from Matthew, Mark and Luke is cleared up when you note that the Greek word ῥάβδος in Matthew and Luke is the plural form “staffs” and in Mark “staff,” ραβδον, is singular. Jesus told them to travel without an extra staff.
Specific Instructions for the Twelve
This is specific instruction for the’ twelve closest disciples during Jesus’ earthly ministry. All their needs were to be supplied by the people they met and, they were to take nothing extra nor acquire anything extra. Jesus equipped these twelve men with miraculous powers and told them to use their power to heal sick people and to tell them that Jesus would be arriving soon. They didn’t need any other provisions because practical gratitude of the people would sustain them. Jesus later in Luke rescinds the command to take no provisions:
Lk 22:35-36 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing.” 36And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.”
DEFINITIONS: Key Greek Words – Removes ambiguity of the Bible text
acquire: G2932 κτάομαι tal-ee-thah’ — a primary verb; to get by any means
worker: G2040 ἐργάτης er-gat’-ace — a toiler; figuratively a teacher
worthy: G514 ἄξιος ax’-ee-os — deserving, comparable or suitable (as if drawing praise):
support: G5160 τροφή τροφή — literal or figurative nourishment
put on: G1746 ἐνδύω en-doo’-ō — to sink into a garment); to literally or figuratively invest with clothing
tunic: G5509 χιτών khee-tōne’ — an undergarment, usually worn next to the skin, a garment, a vestment
MY PERSONAL APPLICATIONS: Please share your own application in the comments
When the opportunity arises to do someone a significant good deed such as save their life or return lost money or care for some urgent need, remind them that they matter. Perhaps suggest that they pass on the good deed to someone else in the future. Since I’m a Christian, I can also humbly tell them that God loves them and that He is their ultimate provider. Also, If I’m actually in need and the recipient is offering a gift of gratitude, then it is okay to accept it to meet my need.
© 2021 Christopher Carlson
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB
Please share a comment, question or perhaps another application for this command of Jesus.
Hi Christopher,
I’m trying to resolve these commands regarding taking a staff and not taking a staff. I think you are right in that Jesus is telling his disciples not to take an EXTRA staff. And, I liked your solution of one gospel using the plural form and one using the singular. However, when I looked up the passages, all of the material I examined has the same word – ραβδον – in all three of the gospels. I am, admittedly, looking at digital resources (Logos, Blue Letter Bible) for inline comparison, so there may be something going on there. Where did you discover sources that had the plural form?
Thanks!
Hello Dave,
My apologies for such a late response. My hope is to get back to making additions again as soon as possible. To answer your question, I am using the e-Sword and referencing the King James Version with Strong’s and the Literal Translation (copyright © 1976-2000 by Jay P. Green, Sr.) to make the observation of singular or plural.