Is there a contradiction here? Luke 9:3 and Mark 6:8?

Question

Please help, I stumbled upon this this morning. Thanks!

Answer 1

I did some research after seeing your question. When reading the bible you have to be very careful about reading everything in its entirety. Here is what I found on a website answering questions on perceived contradiction in the bible.


He told them to go barefoot, without a staff.
"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purse, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves." Matthew 10:10

"And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece." Luke 9:3

He told them to wear sandals and carry a staff.
"And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: But be shod with sandals." Mark 6:8-9

Explanation:
In Matthew and Luke, when Jesus says not to take shoes or staves, He says it in a description of extra items not take: a purse, money, two coats, food. He does not want anything burdening them in their journey, and He also wanted to teach them to rely completely on God’s loving provision for His followers. Just as people do in our day and age, people in Jesus’ time usually had a few pairs of shoes (sandals in their case). Additionally, people traversing these dirt roads wore out sandals fairly quickly. The disciples were already wearing sandals when Jesus gave them these instructions. He doesn’t say “take off your sandals and walk barefoot”. That would be folly on the roads of Israel. He just didn’t want them taking extra, unnecessary items. The same pertains to the staffs: it is very reasonable to assume that they already each had one with them when Jesus was discussing these issues. He does not expressly prohibit carrying a staff anywhere in these reports.

The focus of the accounts of the instructions in Matthew and Luke is on restriction of unnecessary baggage. Mark gives a summary of all of the instructions on this issue. Just because there is an omission of a mention of shoes and staffs in two of the accounts does not mean that Jesus didn’t indeed tell them to wear shoes and carry a staff. This example is one reason why we have the four Gospels: to fill in all of the pertinent details that perhaps other writers overlooked or didn’t value. Everyone has there own style of reporting events, i.e., the truth.


Website: http://skepticsannotatedbiblerespons.blogspot.com/2004/10/43-did-jesus-tell-his-apostles-to-go.html

Answer 2

Luke 9:3
And he said to them,"Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs(plural), nor bag, nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece."
Mark 6:8-9
He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts- but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.

Slight differences between Matthew, Mark and Luke have troubled some. Matthew 10:9,10 and Luke 9:3 say the disciples were not to take staffs; but Mark 6:8 prohibited everything except a staff.. Mark 6:9 also instructed them to wear sandals; but in Matthew 10:10 sandals were included in the things they were not to carry. Actually, however, what Matthew 10:10 and Luke 9:3 prohibited was the packing of EXTRA staffs and sandals. The disciples were not to be carrying baggage for the journey, but merely to go with the clothes on their backs.

Answer 3

I will try to answer your question, In Mark 6:8 we see a (singular) Staff & in Luke 9:3 we see (plural) Staves. Back in the time of the Apostles, when they were sent out to preach the Gospel, they had to walk on ground that was very rocky, therefore many of the Apostles might have needed a staff to help them to walk amoung bad terrain, If you notice in Luke it says staves, Why would the Apostles have need of more than one staff apeace. God would supply their every need. It was not that they could not have a staff to help them to walk, But too many will slow them down. No there is no contridiction. That is God's way of letting them know that he will supply their every need.

Answer 4

You are looking so hard for a contradiction, but I don't think you have found anything. It seems more to me that since it was two different writers perhaps one thought no staffs and the other thought only a staff. Or maybe, just maybe the people who translated into your language made an error. I wouldn't get excited, but you go ahead.

Answer 5

That is just one of many. There is also Matthew 10:10 that agrees with Luke but not Mark.

All in all there are about 300 contradictions in the bible...we should believe only when the evidence warrants belief - the bible is not credible.

Answer 6

Two perspectives, two ways of retelling something. One tells it in the plural as in a group setting, another tells it as if speaking to an individual. They were not ALL to take a staff. They were to travel light. Those which might need a staff, they should take it, but as a whole, they were not all commanded to take or not take a stave or staff....unlike how everyone WAS commanded to not take a purse or money of any kind, or two coats. They were all to wear sandals and wear one coat. The difference is in the setting and how it was retold.

Answer 7

If you read below, they say the say thing. There is no contradiction.

Interpertation of the verses as:

When Jesus sent the 12 out to spread the Gospel/Good News, he sent them with little, as the Lord will provide for their needs and their fellow followers will accommidate them. If any will not listen after you have tried, don't let that discourage you, "shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them" or walk away with your head high for you have served the Lord well and should not feel bad, don't let those who will not listen discourage you.

Verses as they are in the NIV Bible

Luke 9
1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." 6So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.


Mark 6
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil[b] spirits.
8These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 10Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."

12They went out and preached that people should repent. 13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.


The fact that one includes a staff and the other doesn't is irrelevant, it is two versions of the story. The message is the same.

Answer 8

The 4 Gospels are written by 4 people so that would account for the discrepancy. Just like you may hear something 1 way and I may hear it another.

Answer 9

I'm not to sure but I think the passages were two different moments. But I am Sure that the Bible NEVER contradicts itself. That would be like God telling us not to kill then he'd kill half the population.

Answer 10

yes there is. luke says no staffs and mark says take only a staff. i guess thats what happens when two different people tell the same story.