And He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff: neither a bag, nor bread, nor money in their belts,
This command of Jesus was teaching them dependence on God’s providence and freedom from the supports of the world. They were being sent out not as travelers whose comfort was secured, but as representatives of the kingdom of God. They were to feel upon themselves the truth that God is able to care for the needs of His servants when they are faithful to the work of Jesus. The staff remained as a necessary tool for the journey, but in the other matters they were required to learn simplicity and trust. This did not mean laziness or carelessness, but that their trust was to be in God, not in supplies. When a servant is weighed down too heavily with earthly securities, he can lose the lightness and freedom with which he must walk the path of faith. This command also set them apart from ordinary travelers. They were going not for their own affairs, but for the work of God.