9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. (Matthew 10:9-10 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
This command of Christ was temporary, and extended only to the apostles’ first journey, which they were soon to despatch: our Saviour encourages them to trust to God; first for protection; take no staves with you, that is, no striking or smiting staves for your own defence.
Preachers must be no strikers, though a walking-staff they might take with them: itinerant preachers might be wearied with travelling, as well as with speaking.
Next for provision; he would not have them over-solicitous for that neither; saying, the workman is worthy of his meat. As it is a minister’s great duty to trust God for his maintenance; so it is the people’s duty to take for the minister’s comfortable subsistence. The labourer is worthy of his hire, and the workman is worthy of his meat.