John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And commanded them that they should take nothing for [their] journey , etc..] To accommodate them in it, except those things after directed to: save a staff only ; a single one, for staves in the plural number are forbidden, (see Gill on Matthew 10:10); no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse . Travellers used to put their bread, or any other sort of food into their scrips, and their money in their girdles; but the disciples were not allowed to carry either, because provision was to be made for them wherever they came at free cost, it being what their labour was worthy of; (see Gill on Matthew 10:9-10).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-13 - Though the apostles were conscious to themselves of great weakness, an expected no wordly advantage, yet, in obedience to their Master, and i dependence upon his strength, they went out. They did not amuse people with curious matters, but told them they must repent of their sins, an turn to God. The servants of Christ may hope to turn many from darknes unto God, and to heal souls by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ παρηγγειλεν 3853 5656 V-AAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM ινα 2443 CONJ μηδεν 3367 A-ASN αιρωσιν 142 5725 V-PAS-3P εις 1519 PREP οδον 3598 N-ASF ει 1487 COND μη 3361 PRT-N ραβδον 4464 N-ASF μονον 3440 ADV μη 3361 PRT-N πηραν 4082 N-ASF μη 3361 PRT-N αρτον 740 N-ASM μη 3361 PRT-N εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF ζωνην 2223 N-ASF χαλκον 5475 N-ASM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:8 {Save a staff only} (ei me rabdon monon). Every traveller and pilgrim carried his staff. Bruce thinks that Mark has here preserved the meaning of Jesus more clearly than #Mt 10:10 (nor staff) and #Lu 9:3 (neither staff). this discrepancy has given trouble to commentators. Grotius suggests no second staff for Matthew and Luke. Swete considers that Matthew and Luke report "an early exaggeration of the sternness of the command."Without even a staff is the _ne plus ultra_ of austere simplicity, and self-denial. Men who carry out the spirit of these precepts will not labor in vain" (Bruce).
