Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
Parallel translations
- WEB Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house.
- KJV And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
- NKJV And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
- NASB Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they provide; for the laborer is deserving of his wages. Do not move from house to house.
- NLT Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They are to stay in one house, eating what is provided, for the laborer deserves his wages. Gospel workers may rightly receive support without seeking better lodging.
Overview
Jesus instructs the messengers to remain content where first received rather than seeking more comfortable hospitality. The principle that the laborer is worthy of his wages affirms the legitimacy of supporting those who do gospel work, a truth Paul later applies. It guards both the dignity of the worker and the focus of the mission.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Tim 5:17–18Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
- Matt 10:10–11Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.
- 1 Cor 9:4–15Have we no right to food and to drink?
- 2 Tim 2:6The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops.
- Gal 6:6Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.
- Deut 12:18–19Instead, you must eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates. Rejoice before the LORD your God in all you do,
- 3 Jn 1:5–8Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you.
- Mark 6:10And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.
- Acts 16:15And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
- Deut 12:12And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.
- Phil 4:17–18Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.
- Acts 16:34Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.
- Luke 9:4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that area.
- Acts 16:40After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.
- 1 Tim 5:13At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 10:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.