Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus“sent forth” twelve apostles “and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter you not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses. Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town you shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till you go there. And when you come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you”, and in chapter ten and verse fourteen of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples if people did not “hear” their “words” they were to, “shake off the dust of” their “feet” where we read:
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words,
when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
The verse reads, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and whosoever” which means “and whatever person whether male or female” “shall not receive you” which refers to “will not accept, take hold of, sustain, bear, endure and learn from the disciples”, “nor hear” or “not in any way attend to, consider, perceive and understand”, “your words” which refers to “the disciples' speeches, discourses, doctrine, teaching and instruction”. Matthew shared how Jesus gave His “apostles” instruction concerning people who would not “learn from or listen to” their “discourses and teachings”.
The verse continues, “... when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.” Matthew added the word, “when” which means “at the time and moment” “you depart out” or “the apostles leave, go forth from and exit” “of that house” which means “from that dwelling place, abode or habitation” “or city” or “town were people dwell, live and make their habitation”, “shake off” which means “swing and shake violently” “the dust” or “the raised and fine pulverization of dirt” “of your feet” which means “from the disciples' feet”. Matthew shared how Jesus told His “apostles” to 'violently shake” the very “dust” from their feet when they exit the city and home of people who rejected their teachings.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus did not want even the “dust” of the houses or city who rejected Him to cling to His “apostles' feet”. As a vivid demonstration to their rejection, the disciples of Jesus were to “shake” the “dust” of these infidels from their feet. God desires a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus Christ, however, if they reject Him and His teaching concerning the “kingdom of heaven”, they shall discover that He wants nothing to do with them – including the “dust” they stand upon. Those who are wise will “hear and obey” Jesus' “words” even when they are presented through His “disciples”, but woe be to those who reject the instruction of Almighty God.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told how it will be, “more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment” if people do not “receive” His disciples, 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
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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