Traveling Without a Suitcase - Matthew 10:9-15

Matthew 10

9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts

As Jesus sent his disciples out, he commanded them to completely rely on God for their provisions on the road.

"They should expect God to meet their needs, without taking undue concern for their own needs. Furthermore, they should expect that God would normally meet their needs through the inspired thospitality of others." - Guzik

10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 

The bag was slung over one's shoulders.  It was the same type of bag David carried his smooth stones in as he went to slay Goliath. 

Usually Middle Eastern travelers carried extra shirts and shoes when they went on a journey..  Sandals were the shoes of the peasant class. 

"Even though the twelve could expect their needs to be met through the people they served, they should never require their needs to be met as payment. The foundational principle was freely you have received, freely give." (Guzik)

11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 

"To settle in the house of a ‘worthy’ person implies that the disciples were not to shop around for the most comfortable quarters.” (Carson)

Note they were to search for the person.  God would provide the person, but they had to do their part too. When they found the right person they should stay there at his family's home. This was for three reasons. 

1. It would help them to avoid being associated with someone of ill repute. 

2. The more time they spent with the person, the more chance they had to share the gospel with them. 

3. If they were to bounce from home to home "looking for the better offer or entertainment", it would seem as they there were ungrateful.  

12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting.

Often the way Christians great each other is "the peace of the Lord be with You!"  In Jewish circles they would use the word "shalom".  These was a code word showing that one was coming in the name of the Lord. 

We often say these words in church today.  The purpose is not to exchange pleasantries but to share in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit which is in each of us.  The Spirit of peace is not the same as the world seek to give!

13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 

Though they were to do everything they could to enter a home with a "worthy" person, there would be times that this "peace" was not accepted.  In this case the peace would come back to the disciple. 

"Let your peace return to you, or "it shall return to you"; the happiness wished for shall not come upon them, and the prayers and good wishes of the apostles shall be void, and of none effect, with respect to that family, but should be made good to themselves; and they should be directed to another house, where they should find persons more generous and free to entertain them." (Gill)

14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 

The idea of shaking the dust off of one's feet was not to take any of the unholiness and unbelief which dwelt in this home.

"The act was a familiar symbol of the sense of indignation, as in the case of St. Paul (Acts 13:51) at Antioch in Pisidia. The Jewish maxim, that even the very dust of a heathen land brought defilement with it, added to its significance. It was a protest in act, declaring (as our Lord declares in words) that the city or house which did not receive the messengers of the Christ was below the level even of the Gentiles." (Ellicott)

15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

When someone rejects the believer, they are in effect rejecting Jesus.  Jesus words are very serious here, especially when we remember the total destruction that was brought upon Sodom and Gomorrah.  

By rejecting Jesus and his offer of salvation, they were headed to a "Christ-less" eternity with eternal judgment for their sin.  I think Jesus also added this to assure the disciples how serious God was about providing for them on their journey and the consequences for those who didn't.  Those who rejected them were going to be in worse shape than they would be by not being able to lodge there. 

Do you think you could ever have obeyed Jesus' instructions to go somewhere on his behalf with basically no extra provisions?  How might this principle apply to us in today's world?  In what ways do we not follow where Jesus calls us to go because we think we don't have enough to provide for ourselves? What is the difference between preparation and a lack of faith?  

Where do you think Jesus might be calling you to step out in faith where you have to completely trust that he will provide for you as you do?  I think part of the lesson is that in any situation where Jesus might lead you in this way the faith you put in him to provide for you is an important as what you are going to do.