Harmonizing Matthew 10: 9, 10 and Mark 6: 8

"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves."

In this statement there is nothing to forbid the disciples' taking what they already have. The prohibition lies in the verb translated to provide; however, there is no connotation of foresight in this word, but only that of acquisi­tion. The apostles could take what they had, but were not to purchase extra supplies; which included a staff.

This verb used in Matthew and translated to provide, is used seven times in the New Testa­ment, including Matthew 10:9. The other six times we give below. The word is ktaomai, and its basic meaning is acquisition: "Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity." Acts 1:18.

This field was bought by the chief priests (Matthew 27:5, 8), but it was the return of the money by Judas which brought about the pur­chase of the field; it was purchased by his money. So we have the verb which is used in Matthew 10:9, ktaornai, a word which may be used not only for him who gets something for himself, but of one who is the cause of its being gotten by another.

"But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Acts 8:20. The apostles had prayed to God that the gift of the Spirit might be sent down from His throne. Simon had not realized the import of the prayer; he gave no heed to it; he 'sought to purchase the divine gift. Peter's re­ply is outstanding for the warmth with which he repudiates the proffered money. He was shocked that Simon did not understand that the Spirit was a gift, and that he thought if he could but once purchase it, it would be his own private possession as long as he lived.

"And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom." Acts 22:28. The most severe penalties were imposed on anyone who claimed to be a Roman citizen, if he were not one. Lysias had purchased his citizenship for a high price. The words "a great sum" are found here in the New Testament in the sense of a "sum of money." The sale of the freedom of Rome became quite common. Messalina, the wife of the Emperor Claudius, used to sell the freedom of the city for a very high price. At times the privilege of this sale was the per­quisite of some of the imperial parasites and favorites, who made all they could of such a privilege. Emperors, too, resorted to the sale of citizenship as a means of replenishing the royal exchequer.

"That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor." 1 Thess. 4:4. In tiLis verse we have the Greek middle voice, to acquire for oneself. What the apostle here requires is that men live up to the strict purity of Christ's gospel, and each one should acquire a wife of his own (Paul is ad­dressing men here), not as a gratification of passion, but as a remedy against it. Acquisition is the meaning here.

"I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." Luke 18 :12. The incorrect possess of the Authorized Version undoubtedly comes from the Vulgate possideo, which would require the perfect middle Kekternai. But we have here the present middle indicative, I get, I acquire. So what the man said was, not that he tithed all that he possessed, i. e., his property, but that he paid tithe on his income—that which he acquired week by week. Again the sense is acquisition.

"In your patience possess ye your souls." Luke 21:19. The better reading is "By your patience ye shall gain your souls." The need of patience and endurance to the end is very prominently taught in the New Testament. The proper exercise of patience would result in the winning of one's soul; in persistency in the right course, one would acquire immortality; he would win his soul even if death came.

So the seven texts in the New Testament that use the verb ktaomai, demand that the sense of acquisition, be given in each case. The text in Matthew, then, does not prohibit an apostle from taking a staff if he already possessed one; but he should not purchase what he does not already have. He was not to stock up on goods to take along on his itinerary; but, content with what he already possessed, he should trust to the beauty of his message to acquire him favor as he preached the gospel under God.