Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew Mark and Luke John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer not again, (2 Kings 4:31.)
Christ does not intend that his disciples shall be so unkind 642 as not to deign to salute persons whom they meet, but bids them hasten forward, so as to pass by every thing that would detain them.
7. Eating and drinking those things which they shall give you This is another circumstance expressly mentioned by Luke. By these words Christ not only enjoins them to be satisfied with ordinary and plain food, but allows them to eat at another man's table. Their plain and natural meaning is: "you will be at liberty to live at the expense of others, so long as you shall be on this journey; for it is proper that those for whose benefit you labor should supply you with food." Some think that they were intended to remove scruples of conscience, that the disciples might not find fault with any kind of food. 643 But nothing of this kind was intended, and it was not even his object to enjoin frugality, but merely to permit them to accept of a reward, by living, during this commission, at the expense of those by whom they were entertained.
642"Si inhumains et mal-gracieux;" — "so barbarous and uncivil." 643"A fin que les disciples ne facent conscience d'aucune sorte de viande;" — "in order that the disciples may not make conscience of any kind of food."