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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 5:17–18Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
- Matt 10:10–11Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.
- 1 Cor 9:4–15Have we no right to eat and to drink?
- 2 Tim 2:6The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.
- Gal 6:6But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.
- Deut 12:18–19but you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates. You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God in all that you put your hand to.
- 3 Jn 1:5–8Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers.
- Mark 6:10He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.
- Acts 16:15When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay.” So she persuaded us.
- Deut 12:12You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God, you, and your sons, your daughters, your male servants, your female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you.
- Phil 4:17–18Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
- Acts 16:34He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God.
- Luke 9:4Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.
- Acts 16:40They went out of the prison, and entered into Lydia’s house. When they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them, and departed.
- 1 Tim 5:13Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
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