Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Christ first gave this charge when He gathered the twelve and sent them on their first tour to the lost sheep of Israel, withholding them for a time from Gentile and Samaritan cities so the first offer would go to the Jews. It told them to take no gold or silver or copper money in their purses and no extra store for the way, but to travel on His errand trusting God to open the way and move hearts to supply food and lodging, for the worker deserves support. They were to announce that heaven's kingdom was near, heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons, and give freely as they had freely received. That charge remains the pattern for gospel and medical missionary work in connection with the third angel's message, carried house to house in love and simplicity, relieving suffering, speaking of Christ, singing, praying, and opening the Scriptures in homes. So laborers today, including canvasser-evangelists and workers in the great centers, are to go in humble dependence without money or promise of wages, trusting God to supply their needs and Christ's presence to win hearts that pulpit preaching would not reach.
First Commission to Israel
The command was given at the first sending of the twelve on their first missionary tour, when they were called together and sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. At first they were forbidden to go into the way of the Gentiles or into any city of the Samaritans, until testimony had been borne to the Jews, lest the door to the Jews be closed. The restraint was to spare them trial and perplexity while the first offer of salvation was made to the Jewish nation by deeds of mercy and love, with the message that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
In that setting they were to go without gold or silver or brass or copper money in their purses, and without extra provision stored for the journey. They traveled on Christ's errands under His commission, depending on God's provision and trusting that His Spirit would prepare the way before them. The reason given was that the workman is worthy of his meat and worthy of support, so those who labored in the work would have their needs supplied as they freely gave what they had freely received.
The surrounding commission sent them to preach that heaven's kingdom was near, to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils, and to give freely what they had freely received. Jesus' compassion for people in need and His call for more laborers frame this mission. With such a message to give and such blessings to impart, they were to expect a welcome in the homes of the people, receiving food and lodging where they entered and abiding in a worthy home that would receive them.
Pattern for Present Work
The command stands as the pattern for medical missionary work done in connection with the third angel's message, making that work a sanctifying, unifying work with wonderful results. Faithful evangelists in every city and every place missionaries enter with that message repeat this commission. Going on Christ's errand under His commission without carrying money, present laborers trust His Spirit to prepare the way before them and expect a welcome in homes because of the message they give and the blessings they impart. That welcome includes receiving food and lodging where they enter and abide, for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Students trained for medical missionary work go out with an experienced worker to relieve suffering humanity, accepting favors of food or lodging when offered. They use the opening for conversation, explaining the Scriptures, singing Bible songs, and praying with the family, bringing blessing to the home. The same instruction sets the pattern for house-to-house presentation of the truth in love and simplicity and in love and sympathy. It directs evangelistic work in the homes of neighbors and friends who have not yet received full evidence of the truth for this time, and carrying the gospel message to those in the highways and byways and hedges of life.
The work is to be done by every talent faithfully used, even small talents and the humble labor of the cottager. It is done by songs of praise to God, by humble heartfelt prayers, and by simple presentation of Bible truth in the family circle, with the divine Worker present to send conviction to hearts. That instruction belongs to sharing truth through missionary service. Those instructions guide canvasser-evangelists who carry publications to places where the third angel's message has not been proclaimed, and set the pattern for canvassers today.
They are to present the truth simply and lovingly from house to house, supported by praise and humble prayer, trusting Christ's presence as they work. They speak of the love of Christ, tell personal experience in first service for the Master, and carry the simple story of Christ's love for man into homes, even homes of unbelievers, to reach souls that would not be reached by preaching the gospel from the pulpit. The directions set the manner for work in the great centers now, with even greater necessity than in His time. Strong men are to be appointed to work in the great centers with many young men and women associated with them to labor in a humble manner in harmony with those instructions.
The work requires great ingenuity in presenting the words of eternal life so souls are reached and converted, and thoroughly converted workers present the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness that will win hearts. The disciples were sent to preach without carrying money and without promise of material reward, with hardships and limited temporal provision. That stands as an example against ministers serving chiefly for wages. Those who go out to work in Christ's name today without carrying money or provisions will likewise have their needs supplied by God as they labor.
Christ first gave this charge when He gathered the twelve and sent them on their first tour to the lost sheep of Israel, withholding them for a time from Gentile and Samaritan cities so the first offer would go to the Jews. It told them to take no gold or silver or copper money in their purses and no extra store for the way, but to travel on His errand trusting God to open the way and move hearts to supply food and lodging, for the worker deserves support. They were to announce that heaven's kingdom was near, heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons, and give freely as they had freely received. That charge remains the pattern for gospel and medical missionary work in connection with the third angel's message, carried house to house in love and simplicity, relieving suffering, speaking of Christ, singing, praying, and opening the Scriptures in homes. So laborers today, including canvasser-evangelists and workers in the great centers, are to go in humble dependence without money or promise of wages, trusting God to supply their needs and Christ's presence to win hearts that pulpit preaching would not reach.
First Commission to Israel
The command was given at the first sending of the twelve on their first missionary tour, when they were called together and sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. At first they were forbidden to go into the way of the Gentiles or into any city of the Samaritans, until testimony had been borne to the Jews, lest the door to the Jews be closed. The restraint was to spare them trial and perplexity while the first offer of salvation was made to the Jewish nation by deeds of mercy and love, with the message that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
In that setting they were to go without gold or silver or brass or copper money in their purses, and without extra provision stored for the journey. They traveled on Christ's errands under His commission, depending on God's provision and trusting that His Spirit would prepare the way before them. The reason given was that the workman is worthy of his meat and worthy of support, so those who labored in the work would have their needs supplied as they freely gave what they had freely received.
The surrounding commission sent them to preach that heaven's kingdom was near, to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils, and to give freely what they had freely received. Jesus' compassion for people in need and His call for more laborers frame this mission. With such a message to give and such blessings to impart, they were to expect a welcome in the homes of the people, receiving food and lodging where they entered and abiding in a worthy home that would receive them.
Pattern for Present Work
The command stands as the pattern for medical missionary work done in connection with the third angel's message, making that work a sanctifying, unifying work with wonderful results. Faithful evangelists in every city and every place missionaries enter with that message repeat this commission. Going on Christ's errand under His commission without carrying money, present laborers trust His Spirit to prepare the way before them and expect a welcome in homes because of the message they give and the blessings they impart. That welcome includes receiving food and lodging where they enter and abide, for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Students trained for medical missionary work go out with an experienced worker to relieve suffering humanity, accepting favors of food or lodging when offered. They use the opening for conversation, explaining the Scriptures, singing Bible songs, and praying with the family, bringing blessing to the home. The same instruction sets the pattern for house-to-house presentation of the truth in love and simplicity and in love and sympathy. It directs evangelistic work in the homes of neighbors and friends who have not yet received full evidence of the truth for this time, and carrying the gospel message to those in the highways and byways and hedges of life.
The work is to be done by every talent faithfully used, even small talents and the humble labor of the cottager. It is done by songs of praise to God, by humble heartfelt prayers, and by simple presentation of Bible truth in the family circle, with the divine Worker present to send conviction to hearts. That instruction belongs to sharing truth through missionary service. Those instructions guide canvasser-evangelists who carry publications to places where the third angel's message has not been proclaimed, and set the pattern for canvassers today.
They are to present the truth simply and lovingly from house to house, supported by praise and humble prayer, trusting Christ's presence as they work. They speak of the love of Christ, tell personal experience in first service for the Master, and carry the simple story of Christ's love for man into homes, even homes of unbelievers, to reach souls that would not be reached by preaching the gospel from the pulpit. The directions set the manner for work in the great centers now, with even greater necessity than in His time. Strong men are to be appointed to work in the great centers with many young men and women associated with them to labor in a humble manner in harmony with those instructions.
The work requires great ingenuity in presenting the words of eternal life so souls are reached and converted, and thoroughly converted workers present the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness that will win hearts. The disciples were sent to preach without carrying money and without promise of material reward, with hardships and limited temporal provision. That stands as an example against ministers serving chiefly for wages. Those who go out to work in Christ's name today without carrying money or provisions will likewise have their needs supplied by God as they labor.