Shake Off the Dust Under Your Feet - Mark 6:11

Mark wrote how Jesus, “called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits. And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse. But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. And he said unto them, In what place soever you enter into an house, there abide till you depart from that place”, and in chapter six and verse eleven of his book, Mark wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them” where we read:

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

The verse reads, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.” Mark began with the words, “and whosoever” or “and whatever person whether male or female” “shall not receive you” which means “will not accept and take the disciples in”, “nor hear you” or “or no and in no way are endowed with the faculty of hearing, understanding, perceiving or considering what the disciples say”, “when” which means “at the time and moment” “you depart there” or “the disciples go forth and leave that place”, “shake off the dust” which means “swing and shake violently the earthen heap, rubbish and loose dirt” “under your feet” or “that is beneath the disciples' physical feet” “for a testimony against them” which means “toward something evidential and as a witness in opposition to the people who do not hear or receive the disciples”. Mark shared how Jesus instructed His “disciples” to “shake off” the very dirt from their feet as a witness against people who would not “receive” nor “hear” them.

The verse continues, “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Mark added the word, “verily” which means “surely and truly” “I say unto you” or “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed to His disciples”, “it shall be more tolerable” which means “it will be more bearable and endurable” “for Sodom” or “for the city of Sodom that means burning and was a city in Palestine which was destroyed by the Lord raining fire and brimstone on it” “and Gomorrha” which refers to “and Gomorrah which means submersion and was a city in eastern part of Judah that was destroyed when the Lord rained fire and brimstone on it which is now covered by the Dead Sea” “in the day of judgment” or “in the period and time of separating, sundering and sentencing of condemnation and punishment”, “than for that city” which means “than for that abode, habitation and dwelling place”. Mark shared how Jesus said it will be easier to bear the judgment that will come upon “Sodom and Gomorrha” than for the cities who reject Jesus' “disciples” and their “words”.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how those who reject the “gospel of Jesus Christ” will have a greater judgment upon them than the cities of “Sodom and Gomorrha” which were destroyed by “raining fire and brimstone”. This speaks to the seriousness of the “good news” of God, and because He sent His Son Jesus to die upon the cross for the sins of everyone, those who refuse to receive Him and His ways shall face certain judgment that will be more harsh than these wicked cities. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and those who receive Him shall inherit everlasting life, but woe be to those who refuse to accept Him as the Christ and Savior of God.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus' disciples, “went out, and preach that men should repent”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".