Anchor My Faith

Rejection Results in Judgment

Scripture: Matthew 10:12-15; Luke 9:5

With this lesson we continue with instruction from the previous lesson. That instruction was related to their time when entering a town or village. ^{Mt 10:12} “As you enter the house, greet it. ¹³ And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”

To understand the idea of greeting the house you enter, we need to look at an old translation of John 4:53 (KJV): “So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.” The use of house or whole house would refer to the entire family that lived there. Upon them their peace was to rest. If the family does not respond positively to the disciples’ message, they are to keep their peace and move on.

^{Mt 10:14} “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, ^{Lk 9:5} when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them. ^{Mt 10:15} Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.”

If the disciples find no one in the town or village they enter that will listen to their message, they are to leave and as a sign of judgment on the residence, they are to shake off the dust from their feet. This was a sign used by the Jews after leaving a Gentile region. Paul and Barnabas did this as recorded in Acts 13:50 – 51 (ESV): “But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.”

A town is made up of people and if no one will accept the gospel message, then it can be said that the town rejects the message. Those in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah would not accept a relationship with God and were destroyed, as reported in Genesis 19:24 – 25 (ESV): “Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”

Jesus said that “it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town” that rejects the disciples message because they are hearing a greater revelation and thus have a greater understanding and therefore will receive a greater punishment.

Conclusion

Here in the west our access to the gospel is very great and as a result our punishment may be very great because of our unwillingness to respond to it as we should. We attend church and Bible studies and hear and see the gospel presented in various forms, but it makes little change in our lives and since those in the world see little change in us, they see no reason to learn about Jesus. Father have mercy on us for our lack of thankfulness and response for the sacrifice made for our salvation.