Lessons From Matthew 10: Shake the Dust

Shake the Dust

Do you support your local church by regularly giving of your time and money? Do you support other ministries for the cause of Christ in the world?

In Matthew 10:11 Jesus instructed His disciples to search for some worthy person in each town or city and stay there with them until time to leave. In verse 12 He told them to give their greeting or blessing as they enter, and if the home was what it appeared, let their peace rest on it. And if not, let their peace return to them.

Don’t let others ruin or change your outlook or attitude. In fact, if you are not welcome, He said shake the dust off your feet when you leave.

The Jews often took time to shake the dust from their feet to show their separation from the Gentile practices. This was out of arrogance or pride. Jesus told His disciples to shake the dust from their feet to show their separation from the Jews who rejected their Messiah. This was to show the people that they were making a wrong choice. The opportunity to choose Christ might not present itself again.

In verse 15 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire from heaven because of their wickedness. Those who reject the gospel when they hear it will be worse off than the wicked people of these destroyed cities, who never heard the gospel at all.

Do you embrace His truth and those who give it by actively listening and then obeying what you have learned?

Jesus told His disciples, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.” The opposition of the Pharisees would be like ravaging wolves. The disciples’ only hope would be to look to their Shepherd for protection.

Therefore they were to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Terri Hamman

Faith & Fitness Coach