Matthew 10:11-15

Matthew 10:11-15

Into whatever city or village you all go, carefully inquire for whoever in it is worthy.  Remain there until you all should depart.  And while going into the house, greet it.  And if on one hand the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it.  But on the other hand if it is not worthy, let your peace be returned to you all.  And whoever should neither welcome you all nor listen to your words – while going out of the house or that town, shake off the dust of your feet.  Amen I say to you all, it will be more bearable in the Day of Judgment for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Look at the primary defining characteristic of the good town in this passage.  The good town – or the good house – receives God’s Word and His messengers.  That’s Jesus’ point.  We cannot force anyone to listen.  We cannot force anyone to like us.  It’s their call.  But Jesus tells us to look out for those who do.  We are to go through life looking for the ones who will listen and who will like us.  After all, how can we ever think that we will be able to have any impact upon those who don’t like us and won’t give us the time of day?

Who in your life likes you?  Who in your life listens to you?  Who receives what God has you proclaiming to the world?

Second Thought:

Notice that Jesus doesn’t only give His disciples the happy message of acceptance.  Sure, they will find places that receive them.  But Jesus also tells them bluntly that they will find rejection.  In fact, the warning about the negative rejection is about twice as long as the hope of acceptance!

What does this passage ultimately have to say to Jesus’ disciples who go out into the world and find rejection?  Why are both acceptance and rejection a natural part of the walk of a disciple?

Third Thought:

I’ve often wondered why it is that Sodom and Gomorrah are used in this passage.  After all, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah don’t seem to have anything to do with receiving God’s Word, do they?  In one sense, no.  But in another sense, absolutely!  Sodom and Gomorrah had conducted themselves in just about as inhospitably as a town possibly could.  That’s the comparison that Jesus is making.  The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were inhospitable to a people who lived under godliness.  This is why Jesus says to His disciples that if a town would refuse them that Sodom and Gomorrah will be treated better.  Sodom and Gomorrah simply refused godliness.  People who refuse to accept Jesus’ disciples are refusing the very Gospel itself!

Why is this a scary message?  When have you been inhospitable?  How does this passage show the selfishness of the world?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 10:16-20