In Matthew 10, we’ve been looking at Jesus sending out the disciples on their first solo evangelical journey. They were to leave with no provisions, trusting in the Lord to provide for their every need. Now He tells them how He is going to use other people to provide:

Matthew 10:11-15

11 "And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.

They were to find a person of good reputation, and stay there. They weren’t to switch hotels! Leaving a house would give the wrong impression, and could be offensive to the host.

12 "As you enter the house, give it your greeting.

13 "If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. …

Peace is the word EIRENE, and it refers to a blessing of fellowship and tranquility. He tells them that they should enjoy the fellowship of their hosts on their trip.

…But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.

They way to take back the blessing of tranquility was to leave graciously.

14 "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words,…

Now He tells them what to do if someone does not graciously receive them, or listen (heed is the word AKOUO, meaning to perceive and understand) to their message. This implies not only listening, but accepting the things the disciples were going to teach.

… as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.

This was an ancient custom, which signified that you wanted nothing else to do with the people you just left. They were actually ridding themselves of any association with the people who wouldn’t listen and accept their message.

Rejection of the MESSAGE was really rejection of the KING. They weren’t rejecting the disciples, but Jesus! The same principle is true today in personal evangelism. When you try to give someone a message about Jesus Christ, and they reject it, they are not rejecting you, but Him. Jesus tells these disciples (and therefore tells US) not to stick around and argue with them. When someone rejects our Savior, it is time to graciously pick up and go, shaking the dust off of our feet.

Don’t ever wear out your welcome in personal evangelism. People are either willing to listen or they are not! If they are not willing to accept the message, get out of there!

What Jesus says next is interesting:

15 "Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

Maybe it’s just me, but I think the land of Sodom and Gomorrah would have been pretty intolerable! But Jesus is telling us that these cities the disciples visited had greater opportunity to believe, because the disciples had been given Jesus’ authority (Matthew 10:1).

The principle here is that greater opportunity requires greater accountability!

Next, Jesus gives them a warning about the future; one that we should heed as well. We’ll see that next time.