Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons: freely you have received, freely give.
All Commentaries on Matthew 10:8 Go To Matthew 10
Jerome
AD 420
This passage does not contradict the command which He gave afterwards, “Go and teach all nations;” for this was before His resurrection, that was after. Andit behoved the coming of Christ to be preached to the Jews first, that they might not have any just plea, or say that they were rejected of the Lord, who sent the Apostles to the Gentiles and Samaritans.
Figuratively, herein we who bear the name of Christ are commanded not to walkin the way of the Gentiles, or the error of the heretics, but as we are separate in religion, that we be also separate in our life.
Lest peasants untaught and illiterate, without the graces of speech, should obtain credit with none when they announced the kingdom of heaven, He gives them power to do the things above mentioned, that the greatness of the miracles might approve the greatness of their promises.
And because spiritual gifts are more lightly esteemed, when money is made the means of obtaining them, He adds a condemnation of avarice; “Freely ye have received, freely give;” I your Master and Lord have imparted these to you without price, do you therefore give them to others in like manner, that the free grace of the Gospel be not corrupted.
