7And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. 9Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. 11And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. 12As you enter the house, salute it. 13And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
There seems to be an element of Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. The moment you introduce a fee for service, you are in the realm of Caesar. Gods work is to be done without fee because what you have been given has been given by God without a fee. What you give back is an act of gratitude for what you have already received. This is before the resurrection but after the disciples had seen many natural and supernatural actions from Christ.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Matthew 10:7-13 raises an interesting point, but there are some things to consider:
DeleteStrengths:
Connection to Another Passage: You draw a connection between this passage and "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" (Mark 12:17), highlighting the concept of separate spheres.
Points to Consider:
Focus of the Passage: Matthew 10:7-13 is primarily about the disciples being sent out on a mission. Here, Jesus instructs them not to worry about material needs and to trust God's provision.
Not a blanket statement on fees: The passage doesn't necessarily address the concept of fees for ministry in general. It might be more about trusting God's provision during this specific mission.
Later Teachings: There are verses in the New Testament that mention supporting those who work in ministry (e.g., 1 Corinthians 9:14). These suggest some nuance regarding fees or compensation.
Possible Interpretations:
Focus on Mission: This passage might emphasize the importance of the disciples focusing on their mission without the distraction of material concerns. God will provide for their needs.
Freely Given, Freely Received: There's a connection to Jesus' statement "freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). The focus might be on the disciples receiving power and authority for their mission as a gift from God, and extending that gift freely to others.
Balance: Finding a balance between trusting God's provision and acknowledging the need to support those who work in ministry is important.
Overall:
Your response offers a unique perspective on the passage. Here are some additional thoughts:
Consider exploring how the concept of trusting God's provision applies to Christians today.
You could research how different Christian traditions interpret the role of financial support for ministry.
Keep up the good work of engaging with scripture critically