“And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.”
My Notes
What Does Luke 22:35 Mean?
"And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing." Jesus reminds the disciples of the earlier mission (9:3, 10:4) when he sent them out with no money, no bag, and no extra shoes — and they lacked nothing. The question is rhetorical but the answer is experiential: they went out empty-handed and came back with everything they needed. The provision was complete despite the preparation being zero. They're being asked to recall evidence of God's faithfulness.
The purpose of the reminder is contrast: what worked then (go with nothing) won't work now (v. 36: now buy a sword). The season is changing. The method that produced provision during peaceful ministry won't apply during the approaching persecution. Same God. Different season. Different instructions.
Reflection Questions
- 1.When God sent you with 'nothing,' did you lack anything — and can you name the evidence?
- 2.How does recalling past provision prepare you for changing circumstances?
- 3.What does the shift from 'go with nothing' to 'now buy a sword' teach about different seasons requiring different methods?
- 4.Where do you need to answer 'Nothing' before you can face the next season of challenge?
Devotional
When I sent you with nothing — did you lack anything? Nothing. The answer comes immediately because the memory is fresh. They went out with no money, no bag, no shoes. They came back having lacked nothing. The evidence of God's provision is in their own biography.
Jesus asks the question not to reminisce but to establish a baseline. He's about to change the instructions. The peaceful mission where they traveled light and found hospitality everywhere is over. A new season is approaching — one where they'll need a purse, a bag, and even a sword (v. 36). The provision method is changing because the circumstances are changing.
But before changing the instructions, Jesus makes them recall the evidence: did you lack anything? Nothing. The God who provided when you had nothing is the same God who will provide in the new season. The method changes. The provider doesn't. You're being asked to remember the past faithfulness before facing the future danger.
Nothing. One word that summarizes an entire missionary journey. They walked into towns with empty hands and full authority. They healed the sick, cast out demons, preached the kingdom — and their material needs were met every single day. Not with surplus. Not with comfort. But with sufficiency. They lacked nothing.
The recall is the foundation for what comes next. Jesus says: remember that provision? Good. Now the season changes. The hospitality that was available then won't be available now. The welcome that open doors provided will be replaced by hostility. You'll need resources you didn't need before. But the God behind the resources is the same God who provided when you had none.
Every new season of challenge should begin with a recall of past provision. Before you face the next thing, remember the last thing. When I sent you with nothing, did you lack anything? Nothing. That 'nothing' is your evidence for whatever comes next.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Then said he unto them,.... That is, Jesus said unto them, as the Persic version expresses it:
but now he that hath a…
When I sent you ... - See the notes at Mat 10:9-10. Lacked ye ... - Did you want anything? Did not God fully provide for…
When I sent you without purse - See the notes on Mat 10:9, Mat 10:10.
We have here Christ's discourse with his disciples after supper, much of which is new here; and in St. John's gospel we…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture