Matthew 10:5-11

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Do not go to the Gentile regions and do not enter any town of the Samaritans,

⁶ but go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

⁷ And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom from the sky has approached.’

⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

⁹ Do not purchase gold or silver or copper for your belts,

¹⁰ nor a bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, because the worker deserves his food.

¹¹ And whatever town or village you enter, search for someone worthy in it and stay there until you leave.

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his advice to the workers in Galilee

These apostles had been prayed for, trained, empowered for service, and sent out with a specific target in mind. They were to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Now, they had to trust that the LORD who sent them on a mission would provide for them while serving him. During harvest, the Lord of the harvest feeds his workers.

So, Jesus tells the twelve not to weigh themselves down with extra provisions. They were to just go, find people to feed them where they went, and keep preaching Jesus until the job was done. These were not the instructions Jesus always gave to those he sent out, but they applied in this case. The Israelites had claimed that they were looking for their Messiah, now it was time for these Galilean villages to prove where their hope was.

LORD, as you send us out, teach us to trust in your ability to provide for your own team.