Shake the Dust Off - Luke 9:5

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus, “called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house you enter into, there abide, and then depart”, and in chapter nine and verse five of his book Luke shared how Jesus told His disciples, “whosoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet” where we read:

And whosoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city,

shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

The verse reads, “And whosoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, ...” Luke began with the words, “and whosoever” or “and whatever person or village” “will not receive you” which means “does not sustain, bear, endure or accept Jesus' disciples”, “when you go out of that city” or “at the time and moment Jesus' disciples leave and depart from that village, town or habitation” there were to do the following. Luke shared how Jesus told His “twelve disciples” they were to “leave” any “village” who did not “accept” them and do the following when they departed.

The verse continues, “... shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” Luke added the words, “shake off the very dust” which means “brush off even so and indeed the ornumi, pulverulence and blown about light dirt” “from your feet” or “from the disciple's physical feet” “for a testimony” which means “as a witness” “against them” or “in opposition to the people who refuse to accept the disciples”. Luke shared how Jesus told His disciples to “brush off” the “dust” from their feet from any village who did not “receive” them that would serve as a “testimony” in opposition to those who reject them.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus did not want His disciples to keep even the “dust” from the cities that rejected His disciples. Because the people of those villages would not receive the “gospel” of Jesus, Jesus would have His disciples demonstrate how He would not “receive” them. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to be their “Savior and Lord”, if they receive Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. If they reject Him, the “very dust” under their feet will provide a “witness” against them for their rejection that lasts for all eternity.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus' disciples, “departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where”, 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".