Tertullian — Against Marcion 24
He chose also seventy other missionaries besides the twelve. Now why, if the twelve followed the number of the twelve fountains of Elim, should not the seventy correspond to the like number of the palms of that place? Whatever be the Antitheses of the comparison, it is a diversity in the causes, not in the powers, which has mainly produced them. But if one does not keep in view the diversity of the causes , he is very apt to infer a difference of powers . When the children of Israel went out of Egypt , the Creator brought them forth laden with their spoils of gold and silver vessels, and with loads besides of raiment and unleavened dough; whereas Christ commanded His disciples not to carry even a staff for their journey. The former were thrust forth into a desert, but the latter were sent into cities.
Consider the difference presented in the occasions, and you will understand how it was one and the same power which arranged the mission of His people according to their poverty in the one case, and their plenty in the other. He cut down their supplies when they could be replenished through the cities, just as He had accumulated them when exposed to the scantiness of the desert . Even shoes He forbade them to carry. For it was He under whose very protection the people wore not out a shoe, Deuteronomy 29:5 even in the wilderness for the space of so many years. No one, says He, shall you salute by the way. Luke 10:4 What a destroyer of the prophets , forsooth, is Christ, seeing it is from them that He received his precept also!
When Elisha sent on his servant Gehazi before him to raise the Shunammite's son from death, I rather think he gave him these instructions: Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go your way: if you meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute you, answer him not again. For what is a wayside blessing but a mutual salutation as men meet? So also the Lord commands: Into whatsoever house they enter, let them say, Peace be to it. Luke 10:5 Herein He follows the very same example. For Elisha enjoined upon his servant the same salutation when he met the Shunammite; he was to say to her: Peace to your husband, peace to your child. Such will be rather our Antitheses ; they compare Christ with, instead of sundering Him from, the Creator. The labourer is worthy of his hire.
Luke 10:7 Who could better pronounce such a sentence than the Judge? For to decide that the workman deserves his wages, is in itself a judicial act. There is no award which consists not in a process of judgment. The law of the Creator on this point also presents us with a corroboration, for He judges that labouring oxen are as labourers worthy of their hire: You shall not muzzle, says He, the ox when he treads out the grain. Deuteronomy 25:4 Now, who is so good to man as He who is also merciful to cattle? Now, when Christ pronounced labourers to be worthy of their hire, He, in fact, exonerated from blame that precept of the Creator about depriving the Egyptians of their gold and silver vessels.