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Mark 6 · a question people ask

Did Jesus tell the twelve to take a staff or not?

In the text

The three Gospels that tell it word it differently. Mark: "He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse" (6:8), "but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics" (6:9). Matthew: "Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food" (Matthew 10:10). Luke: "Take nothing for your journey—no staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money. Don’t have two tunics each." (Luke 9:3). So Mark has a staff and sandals; Matthew has neither; Luke has no staffs and doesn't mention sandals. All three tell them not to take two tunics or coats, and all three tell them to shake off the dust where they aren't received (6:11; Matthew 10:14; Luke 9:5). Favor sets the three side by side, each in its own words, and doesn't smooth out the difference.

The verses

“He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!””
Mark 6:8-11 · World English Bible
“Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts. Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on. As you enter into the household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you. Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.”
Matthew 10:9-14 · World English Bible
“He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—no staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money. Don’t have two tunics each. Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there. As many as don’t receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.””
Luke 9:3-5 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Mark 6

Mark 6: Five loaves and two fish

Mark says only once that Jesus marveled: at the unbelief of his own country (6:6). And Mark ends the night on the sea with his own disciples amazed, because they "hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened" (6:52), though they had just set the loaves before five thousand men.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions