When entering a home on their mission, Christ's messengers were to greet the household with a blessing of peace as part of preaching the gospel. That peace would rest upon the house if it was worthy by receiving the messengers and their message, but would return to the messengers if the house was unworthy and could not remain there. This was part of Christ's charge when He ordained and sent forth the twelve on their first missionary tour to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, in which they were to inquire who was worthy in a city and abide there, and if a house or city would not receive them nor hear their words to depart and shake off the dust of their feet against it. How people receive His servants and their message fixes their accountability, for to reject them brings guilt to be punished more severely than Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, since to refuse such a warning is to refuse a warning sent by God and not merely man. The same instruction governs house-to-house work today, to be done in love and simplicity with kindness and tenderness by presenting Bible truth and the love of Christ in the family circle, using judgment whether the household is worthy by its willingness to receive and provide for the workers, and giving time only where the labor will be received and not lost.
Mission Setting and Meaning
This command was given when the twelve were ordained and sent forth as delegated messengers on their first missionary tour to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It was spoken beforehand to portray the treatment they would receive, showing them the plan of the battle and pointing out the dangers before them, so they would not enter the work blindfold but would count the cost of every trial, for there was complete knowledge of the struggles they would encounter. They were commanded to go first to the Jews and not into the way of the Gentiles nor into any city of the Samaritans, because the time had come for the light of truth to be carried to the Jewish nation first and then to the whole world. Working first among Samaritans and Gentiles would have closed the doors of entrance to the Jews, and Christ Himself as Shepherd who came to seek and save the lost sheep gave the Jewish nation the first opportunity to receive Him as Saviour and the honor of first hearing His message of salvation.
To salute a house on entering it means to greet the household with a blessing of peace, and this greeting belonged to the messengers' visit and mission of preaching the gospel. The offered peace remains on the house if it is worthy, meaning if the household receives the messengers and their message, but returns to the messengers if the house is unworthy and cannot rest there. When entering a city or town they were to inquire who was worthy and abide there, accepting the hospitality of those who welcomed them. They were not to press their presence on every household, but if a household or city would not receive them nor hear their words they were to leave that suitable home-seeking process and on departing shake off the dust of their feet against it.
How people receive Christ's servants and their message determines accountability, for rejection of the disciples and their words brings guilt punished more severely than Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment. Refusing such warnings is refusing a warning sent by God and not merely a human rebuke. Men excuse themselves by saying it is only man rebuking them, by claiming the divine and human are commingled in the reproof, and by resolving to follow their own sinful way and do as they please, as when priests and rulers said Christ had a devil and need not be heeded because He was only human.
Pattern for Present Ministry
The charge given for the first missionary tour remains the governing pattern for house-to-house evangelistic work today, and it bears with even greater force upon labor in the great centers than it did then. It is the rule for church members, for canvassers entering homes, and for strong men appointed to the cities with many young men and women associated with them, all to labor humbly and sow the seed in every possible place. To enter a home now means to go into the homes of friends and neighbors, including those found in the highways and byways of life and even into the homes of unbelievers. These are those who have not yet received full evidence of the truth for this time, and the object of entering is to present the truth there.
The work is to be done in love and simplicity, with kindness, sympathy, and tenderness that wins hearts. It is carried on by simple presentation of Bible truth and of the love of Christ in the family circle, with telling of one's own experience in first service for the Master. Songs of praise, humble heartfelt prayer, and reading of Scripture in the family circle bring blessing to the household, and by these means many will be reached whom pulpit preaching would not reach. In this labor the divine Worker is present to send conviction to hearts, and Christ's abiding presence enables work with faith and hope and courage. Thoroughly converted workers present the words of eternal life with great ingenuity and the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness, so that souls are reached and converted. There is a place for every talent in it, and small talents and humble laborers can accomplish more in it than brilliant gifts.
Workers must use judgment and discrimination concerning the master of the house and whether the household is worthy of their labor. Willingness to receive them and to provide for them is the test of where time and instruction should be given. They are to stay and give time and instruction only where they are received and provided for, and are not to waste precious strength and time where labor would be lost and produce no good result. They are not to press their presence on every household, but if a household does not welcome them and their peace cannot rest there, they are to leave and seek a suitable home.
When entering a home on their mission, Christ's messengers were to greet the household with a blessing of peace as part of preaching the gospel. That peace would rest upon the house if it was worthy by receiving the messengers and their message, but would return to the messengers if the house was unworthy and could not remain there. This was part of Christ's charge when He ordained and sent forth the twelve on their first missionary tour to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, in which they were to inquire who was worthy in a city and abide there, and if a house or city would not receive them nor hear their words to depart and shake off the dust of their feet against it. How people receive His servants and their message fixes their accountability, for to reject them brings guilt to be punished more severely than Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, since to refuse such a warning is to refuse a warning sent by God and not merely man. The same instruction governs house-to-house work today, to be done in love and simplicity with kindness and tenderness by presenting Bible truth and the love of Christ in the family circle, using judgment whether the household is worthy by its willingness to receive and provide for the workers, and giving time only where the labor will be received and not lost.
Mission Setting and Meaning
This command was given when the twelve were ordained and sent forth as delegated messengers on their first missionary tour to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It was spoken beforehand to portray the treatment they would receive, showing them the plan of the battle and pointing out the dangers before them, so they would not enter the work blindfold but would count the cost of every trial, for there was complete knowledge of the struggles they would encounter. They were commanded to go first to the Jews and not into the way of the Gentiles nor into any city of the Samaritans, because the time had come for the light of truth to be carried to the Jewish nation first and then to the whole world. Working first among Samaritans and Gentiles would have closed the doors of entrance to the Jews, and Christ Himself as Shepherd who came to seek and save the lost sheep gave the Jewish nation the first opportunity to receive Him as Saviour and the honor of first hearing His message of salvation.
To salute a house on entering it means to greet the household with a blessing of peace, and this greeting belonged to the messengers' visit and mission of preaching the gospel. The offered peace remains on the house if it is worthy, meaning if the household receives the messengers and their message, but returns to the messengers if the house is unworthy and cannot rest there. When entering a city or town they were to inquire who was worthy and abide there, accepting the hospitality of those who welcomed them. They were not to press their presence on every household, but if a household or city would not receive them nor hear their words they were to leave that suitable home-seeking process and on departing shake off the dust of their feet against it.
How people receive Christ's servants and their message determines accountability, for rejection of the disciples and their words brings guilt punished more severely than Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment. Refusing such warnings is refusing a warning sent by God and not merely a human rebuke. Men excuse themselves by saying it is only man rebuking them, by claiming the divine and human are commingled in the reproof, and by resolving to follow their own sinful way and do as they please, as when priests and rulers said Christ had a devil and need not be heeded because He was only human.
Pattern for Present Ministry
The charge given for the first missionary tour remains the governing pattern for house-to-house evangelistic work today, and it bears with even greater force upon labor in the great centers than it did then. It is the rule for church members, for canvassers entering homes, and for strong men appointed to the cities with many young men and women associated with them, all to labor humbly and sow the seed in every possible place. To enter a home now means to go into the homes of friends and neighbors, including those found in the highways and byways of life and even into the homes of unbelievers. These are those who have not yet received full evidence of the truth for this time, and the object of entering is to present the truth there.
The work is to be done in love and simplicity, with kindness, sympathy, and tenderness that wins hearts. It is carried on by simple presentation of Bible truth and of the love of Christ in the family circle, with telling of one's own experience in first service for the Master. Songs of praise, humble heartfelt prayer, and reading of Scripture in the family circle bring blessing to the household, and by these means many will be reached whom pulpit preaching would not reach. In this labor the divine Worker is present to send conviction to hearts, and Christ's abiding presence enables work with faith and hope and courage. Thoroughly converted workers present the words of eternal life with great ingenuity and the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness, so that souls are reached and converted. There is a place for every talent in it, and small talents and humble laborers can accomplish more in it than brilliant gifts.
Workers must use judgment and discrimination concerning the master of the house and whether the household is worthy of their labor. Willingness to receive them and to provide for them is the test of where time and instruction should be given. They are to stay and give time and instruction only where they are received and provided for, and are not to waste precious strength and time where labor would be lost and produce no good result. They are not to press their presence on every household, but if a household does not welcome them and their peace cannot rest there, they are to leave and seek a suitable home.