What Should They Carry?

What Did Jesus Command His Disciples to Carry?
One supposed contradiction is over what Jesus told the disciples what they could carry.

In Matthew, the disciples are told to not acquire any money, bags, coats, sandals, or a staff.

In Mark, the disciples are told they should take nothing but a staff.

In Luke, the disciples are told to take no staff, bag, bread, money, or tunics. 

Matthew and Luke seem to agree while Mark does not. This is a very difficult supposed contradiction; however, there is one rather possible answer pertaining to the Greek of the passages. 

In Mark, the Greek word used for take is "αἴρωσιν". The meaning of the word is to carry, take up, or pick up. So Mark is likely saying to not go out and obtain or to pick up a staff, but pick up the one you have and go.

In Matthew, the Greek word is "κτήσησθε" which means to locate or acquire. So do not go out and locate these items. 

Luke uses the word "αἴρετε", a version of "αἴρωσιν", the word used in Mark. What seems to be happening is the words are being used differently. Mark is using the word as if to say, "Pick up what you have", but Luke is saying, "Do not go out and acquire something".

To use an analogy, I could say: "My colleague Ms. Smith gives me a headache", and then say, "I have a headache". Here, I am using the word headache to show different meanings. Just like how the word headache has more than one meaning, so too does "αἴρετε" or "αἴρωσιν".

It may also merely take what Luke and Matthew said as an exaggeration. If I were to say, "I was so thirsty I drank the whole ocean when I got home!" Then later I said, "I drank two glasses of water when I got home", I never contradicted myself; rather, I used hyperbole. 

Work Cited:

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.