BibleAnswers@home.com - Mark 6:6-9 states, "Then Jesus went out from village to village, teaching. And he called his twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two, with authority to cast out evil spirits. He told them to take nothing with them except a walking stick--no food, no traveler's bag, no money. He told them to wear sandals but not to take even an extra coat." (NLT)
Compared with Luke 9:1-4, "One day Jesus called together his twelve apostles and gave them power and authority to cast out demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the coming of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 'Don't even take along a walking stick,' he instructed them, 'nor a traveler's bag, nor food, nor money. Not even an extra coat.'" (NLT)
And Matthew 10:9-11 agrees with Luke, "Don't take any money with you. Don't carry a traveler's bag with an extra coat and sandals or even a walking stick. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed." (NLT)
Clearly Mark quotes Jesus as instructing His disciples to take a walking stick, while Luke and Matthew seem to indicate Jesus instructed His disciples not to take a walking stick. In addition, Matthew also seems to contradict Mark on the issue of taking sandals. How can all three passages be properly understood?
The key is in the language of what Jesus said. First of all, Matthew used the Greek word ktaomai, which means "to procure, acquire" while Mark and Luke both used airo, meaning "to take." In other words, the disciples were not to acquire, or purchase, any special provisions for their journey. They were to depart with what they already had (and some undoubtedly already had walking sticks and sandals). The lack of preparation would demand utter dependence on the Lord.
This command by Jesus exactly corresponds with early Rabbinic injunctions not to enter the Temple-precincts with staff, shoes, and a money-girdle. The reason would be to avoid even the appearance of doing business, when the person entering the Temple should have been absorbed in the service of the Lord. Consequently, the apparent contradiction between Mark and Luke would rather suggest that Luke is stating not to obtain any additional staff for the journey as it would give the wrong impression.
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