Matthew 10:15, commentary and pictures

Christ spoke these words when sending the twelve on their first missionary tour, and the directions then given still govern labor today. If a house or city would not receive them nor hear their words, they were to depart and shake the dust from their feet as a testimony against it. That rejecting place will face in the day of judgment a punishment less tolerable and more severe than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. The severity is because of greater light and privilege, for those exalted in opportunity who neglect to follow the light and repent will be judged more strictly than Sodom. Where the message is rejected, workers are still to leave that house or city for new territory rather than waste strength and time where no good would result.

First Missionary Charge

The saying was given by Christ when He sent the twelve disciples out on their first missionary tour, and the directions belonging to that sending still govern labor now. That instruction directs house-to-house presentation of truth in love and simplicity, and it governs the work of canvassers who enter even the homes of unbelievers to speak of Christ's love and tell their personal experience of first service for the Master, a simple story that opens doors and reaches souls pulpit preaching would not reach. Saluting a house, letting peace rest on the worthy house and letting it return from the unworthy, departing from a house or city that would not receive nor hear, and shaking the dust from the feet belong to that first charge.

The twelve were first sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and commanded not to go into the way of the Gentiles nor into any city of the Samaritans until testimony had first been borne to the Jews. The Jewish nation was given the first opportunity and the honor of first hearing the message of salvation, as lost sheep whom Christ as Shepherd came to seek and save and gather from the bypaths and highways of sin and error back to His fold, because the time had come for the light of truth to be carried both to that nation and to the whole world. To have worked first among Samaritans and Gentiles would have closed the doors of entrance to the Jews, but if the Jews refused to hear, the disciples were to go into new territory, and afterward they were to go into all the world to teach all nations.

Their defined work was to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, and to give freely as they had freely received. They were to provide neither gold nor silver nor brass, nor scrip nor two coats nor shoes nor staves, because the workman is worthy of his meat, accepting provision from the houses they visited as the test of where to give time and instruction. They were to inquire who was worthy and abide there, to salute the house, to let peace rest upon the worthy house and to let peace return from the house that was not worthy.

If any house or city would not receive them nor hear their words, they were to depart out of that house or city and shake off the dust of their feet. That departure was to leave such a house or city rather than continue spending time and strength there, using judgment and discrimination and not wasting precious strength and time where labor would produce no good result. The declaration joined to it is that in the day of judgment it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city.

They were sent forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, and to beware of men. They would be delivered up to councils and scourged in synagogues, an experience to be met in the fullest sense.

Rejection Brings Severer Judgment

A house or city that will not receive Christ's messengers nor hear their words preaching that the kingdom of heaven is at hand will find its punishment in the day of judgment less tolerable and more severe than that of the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah stands as the measure of judgment, yet judgment will be more tolerable for them than for the place that rejects the gospel after its message has been carried to it. Grave responsibility and accountability attach to such refusal, and messengers are to use judgment and discrimination, inquiring who is worthy, letting peace rest only where it is worthy, accepting provision as the test of where to give time and instruction, and not wasting precious strength and time where labor would produce no good result. When rejected they are to depart from that house or city and shake off the dust of their feet, going as sheep in the midst of wolves, wise as serpents and harmless as doves, beware of men, for they will be delivered up to councils and scourged in synagogues, an experience to be met in the fullest sense.

What is rejected is the word of eternal life, so human destiny turns on whether it is received or rejected. Shaking or wiping the dust from the feet is the testimony against that rejection, impressing that the gospel must not be slighted or rejected with impunity. The severity rests on greater light and opportunity, for it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those exalted in opportunity who received great light and privileges yet neglected to follow the light, to repent, to give their hearts fully to God, and to be benefited. Refusal to heed warnings sent by God brings this severer judgment.

To reject the solemn message of mercy without repenting is a greater sin than the sin that brought destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah, and those exalted in privilege who refuse, despite knowing the truth and Christ's example, will be brought down. This falls on those who bear Christ's name yet dishonor Him by unconsecrated lives, who neglect His mercies, blessings, warnings and opportunities, abuse mercy, and disregard warnings. Close connection with God's work and profession of serving Him do not shield the unfaithful from wrath and retribution. It falls also on transgressors of God's law who have a knowledge of Christ's life and His death in their behalf, who may look upon Calvary and see the Son of God agonizing in the garden and dying upon the cross for them, yet continue to transgress and refuse to obey the law which He died to vindicate.

It falls also on those who have known Christ's love yet turn away to the pleasures of a sinful world, remaining earthly-minded, cherishing corrupt thoughts and practices, and failing to purify the soul by obedience to the truth. Greater light and rejected mercy bring greater guilt, so that the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah will be light in comparison with theirs. It includes slander, false accusations, and opposition to the Lord's servants and their faithful work treated as dishonest, for such hostility makes men accountable to God. It includes expulsion secured by prejudice and false reports turning authorities against the messengers, even when stirred up through devout and honorable women of influence with the government and men of influence complaining to the authorities.

The apostles so applied the warning to the region from which they were expelled, departing and shaking the dust from their feet as a testimony against those who rejected them. Expulsion did not discourage them, for they remembered Christ's promise of reward to those persecuted for His sake, and rejoiced under reviling and persecution for Christ's sake. Refusal to heed is refusal of a heaven-sent warning from the lips of Christ, not mere human reproof. Those who excuse themselves by saying it is only man rebuking them, that the divine and the human are commingled in the reproof, that they will not be instructed but will follow their own sinful way and do as they please, repeat the course of the Jews and the priests and rulers who said Christ had a devil and was only a human being whose words need not be heeded, and they are sternly rebuked for indifference and determination to continue in sin.

Direction for Present Work

The instruction given when the twelve were sent on their first missionary tour still directs evangelistic labor now. It calls church members to present Bible truth simply and in love and sympathy from house to house, in homes of neighbors and friends and in homes of unbelievers who have not yet received full evidence of the truth for this time, including those in the highways and byways and hedges who are to hear the saving gospel message. That work is done by songs of praise to God, by humble heartfelt prayers, by simple presentation in the family circle, and by telling personal experience of Christ's love and of first service for the Master. The divine Worker is present in such labor to send conviction to hearts, and Christ's abiding presence gives faith and hope and courage for it.

Those same directions govern canvassers now in going to homes and speaking of the love of Christ. The simple story of Christ's love for man opens doors and reaches souls that preaching of the gospel from the pulpit would not reach. They govern work in the great centers now with even greater necessity than at that time. Strong men are to be appointed to labor in the cities, with many humble young men and women associated with them to work in a humble manner in harmony with that instruction, showing great ingenuity and presenting the words of eternal life and the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness so that souls are reached and converted and won, which requires thoroughly converted workers.

Where a house or city will not receive the messengers nor hear their words, the warning of a judgment more severe than that of Sodom and Gomorrah makes rejection a serious matter. Workers are then to depart from that house or city, shake off the dust of the feet, and go into new territory rather than continue spending time and strength where no good would result. The mission of Christ's servants today carries the same importance as the apostles' mission, and accepting or rejecting their message carries the consequences then declared.