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Matthew 10:8
ESV Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
NIV Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
NASB Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
CSB Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
NLT Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
KJV Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
NKJV Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

What does Matthew 10:8 mean?

The Twelve, Jesus' hand-picked apostles, are being sent out to represent Him to the people of Israel (Matthew 10:1–6). He has directed them to preach the same message that He does: The kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 10:7).

Now Jesus directs them to authenticate that the message is true by performing the same kinds of signs and wonders He has done: miracles of healing, casting out of demons, and raising the dead. In doing these things, Jesus' apostles will demonstrate to all who witness them that they represent Him, since He did these things first. They will also demonstrate the absolute truth of their message. The disciples will not perform these miracles through their own power. They will act in Jesus' name and by Jesus' authority, doing the things they have seen Jesus do. They will be His representatives even in the miracles that are performed.

Christ specifies that the message of the kingdom is not something they should ever sell. The disciples had received it for free from Jesus, and they were to offer it freely to all who would come and hear and believe. The heart of the good news of Jesus is the grace of God, which is always a free gift (Ephesians 2:8–9). Connecting faith to material prosperity is a grave mistake; attempting to "sell" salvation is a despicable sin.

The meaning Jesus applies here, however, goes even further. He will make it clear that on this mission, the disciples are not to seek much in the way of support. They will travel, and preach, but they will not "work" or ask to be paid.
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