What is the meaning of Luke 10:4?

Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. (Luke 10:4 KJV)

Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no man on the way. (Luke 10:4 ASV)

Carry neither purse nor scrip nor sandals, and salute no one on the way. (Luke 10:4 DBY)

Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. (Luke 10:4 WEB)

carry no bag, no scrip, nor sandals; and salute no one on the way; (Luke 10:4 YLT)

Interlinear

Carry <bastazo> neither <me> purse, <balantion> nor <me> scrip, <pera> nor <mede> shoes: <hupodema> and <kai> salute <aspazomai> no man <medeis> by <kata> the way. <hodos> (Luke 10:4 KJV)

Albert Barnes’ Commentary

Verse 4. Purse–scrip–shoes. See Barnes for Mt 10:10

Salute no man by the way. Salutations among the Orientals did not consist, as among us, of a slight bow or an extension of the hand, but was performed by many embraces and inclinations, and even prostrations of the body on the ground. All this required much time; and as the business on which the seventy were sent was urgent, they were required not to delay their journey by long and formal salutations of the persons whom they met. 

“If two Arabs of equal rank meet each other, they extend to each other the right hand, and having clasped, they elevate them as if to kiss them. Each one then draws back his hand and kisses it instead of his friend’s, and then places it upon his forehead. The parties then continue the salutation by kissing each other’s beard. They give thanks to God that they are once more permitted to see their friend–they pray to the Almighty in his behalf. Sometimes they repeat not less than ten times the ceremony of grasping hands and kissing.” 

 It may also be added, in the language of Dr. Thomson (The Land and the Book, vol. i. p. 534), that 

“there is such an amount of insincerity, flattery, and falsehood in the terms of salutation prescribed by etiquette, that our Lord, who is truth itself, desired his representatives to dispense with them as far as possible, perhaps tacitly to rebuke them. These ‘instructions’ were also intended to reprove another propensity which an Oriental can scarcely resist, no matter how urgent his business. If he meets an acquaintance, he must stop and make an endless number of inquiries and answer as many. If they come upon men making a bargain or discussing any other matter, they must pause and intrude their own ideas, and enter keenly into the business, though it in no wise concerns them; and more especially, an Oriental can never resist the temptation to assist where accounts are being settled or money counted out. The clink of coin has a positive fascination to them. Now the command of our Saviour strictly forbade all such loiterings. They would waste time, distract attention, and in many ways hinder the prompt and faithful discharge of their important mission.” 

The salutation of friends, therefore, was a ceremony which consumed much time; and it was on this account that our Lord on this occasion forbade them to delay their journey to greet others. A similar direction is found in 2Ki 4:29. 

{d} “Carry neither” Lu 9:3

{e} “salute no man” Ge 24:33, Ge 24:56; 2Ki 4:29; Pr 4:25