Mike,

I really enjoy your talks, and I listen to you almost daily and have for over one year. I say this to make sure you realize that I am not an attacker of the truths that you speak; however, I am curious that you say in your talk on “How Important is Knowledge” that all of the other disciples went back and forth from their families and following Jesus. Your proof of this is that that is why it is only Peter, James and John that are with him most of the time and the others are at home. I am not advocating not being responsible or anything like that. I am just curious if there are verses that would back up this statement.
Thanks for everything you do, and I hope you take this in the inquiring spirit it is written.
D____

class=”email”>Hi D____,
Thank you for your question.
Another verse which adds weight to this statement is:

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

class=”email”>And there is also this verse of scripture:

Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

As many of today’s ministers demonstrate, it is possible to live a very comfortable life on the tithes and offerings of a congregation. But Christ did not have “a congregation” to support Him. The tithes at that time were “of mint and cummin” and of the other produce of the land, and it was to go to the priests and the Levites. Here is who did support Christ and His ministry:

Luk 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Why are we told that it was “certain women… which ministered unto Him of their substance?” The reason is that these words, as with the rest of God’s Word, are spiritual words. These women represent what women throughout God’s Word represent; they typify the church which ought to be ministering to those who minister to them. It was Paul who said:

Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

class=”email”>And so we are told in the preceding verse:

Luk 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

So the twelve were with Christ in His ministry and as such typify the foundation of the New Testament Church:

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

But being “with him” does not mean that any of these twelve apostles ever abandoned their families. They certainly never did. Christ has never yet asked anyone to forsake his wife and children to preach the gospel. He does tell us all, ministers or otherwise, that the kingdom of God must come before all else. But it is this doctrine which assures us that none of the apostles ever forsook their families. The doctrine of the kingdom of God requires that we “provide for our own or we are worse than an infidel.”
I certainly never meant to imply that none of the apostles ever “lived of the gospel.” They all, no doubt, did receive help from those to whom they ministered. Even the apostle Paul, who told the Corinthians that He would not take anything of them, admitted that he was receiving help from other churches:

2Co 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

The apostle Paul was not advocating “going to war at his own charge” or denying a “cheerful giver” of his blessing. What he was advocating was “whoever will not work should not eat.”

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

But as with all of God’s Word, this is primarily a spiritual statement. Paul goes so far as to twice say that “you shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn” is also spiritual statement:

1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1Ti 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer [ is] worthy of his reward.
1Co 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Co 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10 Or saith he [ it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [ this] is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Co 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

But all of this is not “the sum of God’s Word” on this subject. The apostle Paul, under the inspiration of God’s spirit continued with this theme here writing to these Corinthian “carnal babes:”

1Co 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
1Co 9:13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1Co 9:15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

class=”email”>And he makes this statement to the elders of the church of Ephesus:

Act 20:33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
Act 20:34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

If you thought that I was saying that James, Peter and John were always with Christ, and the others came and went, then I simply did not make myself clear. My point in saying what I did was to make it clear that none of the apostles had forsaken or ever failed to provide for their families. It was after Christ told the rich young ruler to “sell all you have and come and take up your cross and follow me,” that we read of Christ entering into Peter’s home and healing Peter’s mother- in- law.

Mat 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Christ had not required Peter to sell his house and put his family out in the elements. “Sell all you own” had to do with getting rid of that young ruler’s self- righteousness and replacing it with the righteousness of Christ and His cross. And those are words which we all must live. Why would Peter have a house and family but the same not be so for the other apostles? We are not told specifically who was and who was not married or how big were their families. But what we are told is enough to tell us that Christ had not asked or required his apostles to fail to provide for their families. That was my point.
Christ’s apostles were all very hard workers. They all were compelled to preach the gospel:

1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

I hope this clarifies what I was trying to relay in that talk. More important I hope this helps you to see what the scriptures teach on this subject.

class=”email”>Mike