Shake Off The Dust From Your Feet
Jesus said, "If a household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in that day of judgment than for that city" (Matthew 10:13-15).
Peace Come — The idea of a blessing being given and then being taken back is characteristically eastern. It is said that to this day if one greets a passerby and then learns the greeted one is of another faith, he will return and take the greeting back. John said, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2). True disciples understand that truly meaningful blessings have to do with the peace that comes from God. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). True peace is had only in Christ (John 16:33).
Shake Off The Dust — There is no question that Jesus instructed His disciples to make decisions about who would hear and receive the message of the gospel and who would not. He said, "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces" (Matthew 7:6). The wise man said, "He who reproves a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man get himself a blemish. Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you" (Proverbs 9:7-8). There are times when dogging a person with the gospel will only harden his heart and drive him further away. A good example will do more than preaching to this person (1 Peter 3:1). Not only so, but the devil would like nothing better than to keep us tied up with those who are firmly entrenched in his system and away from those who might listen to the gospel. While we are busy with one who will not listen, someone who might listen is not getting the message. In the work of teaching others of Christ, we must get away from those who show themselves unworthy and carry the word to those who are. This discussion is not about those who sincerely want to know the truth but require some time and effort to be convinced. However, there are multitudes lost in sin who need to hear. They cannot hear if we are tied up with one who will not listen. With the former, we must be patient. With the latter, we must shake off the dust from our feet and go to another.