Neither A Purse, Nor A Sack, Nor Shoes

Nolite portare sacculum, neque peram, neque calceamenta. Quid sit, sacculum non esse portandum, alibi evidenter expressit; scripsit enim Matthaeus quoniam dixit ad discipulos Dominus: Nolite possidere aurum, neque argentum. Si prohibemur aurum possidere, quid eripere, quid auferre? Si quod habeas, donare praeceperis, quemadmodum congeris quod non habebas? Qui praedicas non furandum, furaris? Qui dicis non maechandum, moecharis? Qui exsecraris idola, sacrilegium facis? Qui in Lege gloriaris, per praevaricationem Legis Deum inhonoras? Nomen enim Dei per vos blasphematur. Non sic apostolus Petrus, qui primus Dominicae exsecutor sententiae, ut ostenderet non in vacuum Domini effusa mandata; cum posceretur a paupere, ut ei aliquid pecuniae largiretur, ait: Argentum atque aurum non habeo. Ille gloriatur quod non habeat argentum neque aurum: vobis pudori est minus adhuc habere quam cupitis? Est ergo et pauperies gloriosa; quia est et beata, sicut scriptum est: Beati pauperes spiritu. Tamen non tam hoc gloriatur Petrus, quod argentum et aurum non habeat, quam quod servet mandatum Domini, qui praecepit: Nolite possidere aurum; hoc est dicere: Vides me Christi esse discipulum, et aurum a me requiris? Aliud nobis multo pretiosius auro donavit, ut in nomine eius operemur. Itaque non habeo quod non dedit, sed quod dedit habeo: In nomine Domini Iesu, surge, et ambula. Sicut ergo qui horrea vult congerendis aedificare frumentis, Dominicae sententiae auctoritate reprehenditur: ita qui sacculum vult auro parare condendo, naevum reprehensionis incurrit. Non peram, neque calceamenta. Utrumque de corio mortui animantis confici solet: nihil autem in nobis Dominus Iesus mortale vult esse. Denique ad Moysen dicit: Solve calceamentum pedum tuorum; locus enim in quo stas, terra sancta est. Mortale igitur atque terrenum calceamentum iubetur solvere, cum mitteretur ad populum liberandum; huius enim minister muneris timere nihil debet, nec a suscepto officio, mortis periculo retardari. Ipse enim cum defensionem fratrum, hoc est, Iudaeorum voluntarius recepisset, calumniae terrore revocatus est ab incoepto, et fugit ex Aegypto. Et ideo cum Dominus affectum eius probasset, conditionem autem vidisset infirmam, animi eius mentisque vestigium mortalibus vinculis censuit exuendum. Sanctus Ambrosius Mediolanensis, Expositio Evangelii Secundum Lucam, Liber VII Source: Migne PL 15.1712c-1713d

Carry neither a purse, nor a sack, nor shoes. 1 Why it might be that a purse should not be carried, is manifestly expressed elsewhere, for Matthew wrote that the Lord said to His disciples, 'Have neither gold nor silver.' 2 If we are forbidden to have gold why seize it, why carry it off? If you are commanded to give away what you have, why do you gather what you do not have? 'Why do you preach that one should not steal, when you steal? Why do you say do not commit adultery, when you commit adultery? Why do you denounce idols and commit sacrilege? Should he who glories in the law trespass against the Law and dishonour God? The name of God is blasphemed because of you.' 3 Peter the apostle was not like this, he who was the first enactor of the Lord's precepts, so that he might show the Lord did not pour out His commandments into a void. When asked by a poor man to give him some money, he said, 'I have neither silver nor gold.' 4 He glories in lacking silver and gold, and should you be ashamed because you have less than you would wish? This is a glory of poverty, that it is blessed, as it is written, 'Blessed are the poor of spirit,' 5 However Peter does not glory so much in this, that he has neither silver nor gold, as in serving the commandment of the Lord, who commands, 'Do not have gold,' which is to say, 'You see I am disciple of Christ, and you seek gold from me? He gave something more precious than gold, that we may work in His name. Therefore I do not have what He did not give, but what He did give I do have, 'In the name of the Lord Jesus rise and walk.' 4 Thus the authority of the Lord’s precepts rebukes the one who wishes to build barns for the gathering of wheat. 'Nor a sack, nor shoes.' Both are accustomed to be made of the skins of dead animals, and so the Lord Jesus wants nothing mortal in us. He says to Moses, 'Take the shoes from your feet, for the place in which you stand is holy ground.' 6 Therefore when he is sent to liberate the people the command is given to remove the shoe of mortality and worldliness, for his servant should not be troubled by a gift, or an office, or pause because of the peril of death. For when Moses had voluntarily undertaken the defense of his brothers, that is, of the Jews, he was recalled from his undertaking by the terror of calumny. 7 Therefore when the Lord had tested his love and seen it was in a weak condition, he decreed that his soul and mind should be stripped of any trace of mortal chains. Saint Ambrose, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Luke, Book 7 1 Lk 10.4 2 Mt 10.9 3 Rom 2.21-24 4 Acts 3.6 5 Mt 5.3 6 Exod 3.5 7 Exod 2.15