In our current church culture, we welcome anyone who walks into the doors of our church. We shake their hands, give them a tour of the church building, and allow them to worship freely on Sunday mornings. Anyone is welcome to attend church until they want to make it their church home.
When this happens, they are encouraged by leadership to either become a member or take some sort of step to make the church their home church. A church member remains in good standing unless he or she commits some sort of grandiose sin of which they need to be confronted.
If they do not receive the confrontation in humility, often people leave (and in some cases) repent of their behavior. This sounds like the right way to handle discipleship, right?
But in Matthew 10:13-14, the disciples were given specific instructions on how to discern whether the people in their homes or towns were worthy of the gospel message:
“If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.”
To better understand this idea, we need to understand the context in which these verses exist.
Earlier in the text, Jesus is clear that the disciples should take no money or possessions with them as they go from town to town. Their main objective is to heal the sick, drive out demons and proclaim the gospel.
But as any human would need, the disciples would need lodging and food to maintain their strength to continue the work they were set out to do. But to find lodging was easier said than done.
Because of the rumors and persecution their work brought, some people did not welcome them into their homes. Sometimes the disciples were met with persecution because of their association with Jesus.
Jesus tells them this is a sign to them that they are not welcome and that the owners of the home are not a part of Jesus and his ministry.
Jesus’ instructions to the disciples in Matthew 10 are the exact opposite of the way we handle the gospel today.
The first way the disciples were to discern who was worthy of the gospel and who wasn’t was to greet people with the peace of God. Their greeting of “peace be with you” was a way to bless the home and the people living in it.
That’s what it meant when in verse 13 it says, “If the house is deserving, let your peace rest on it.” If the people accepted that blessing, the disciples could stay with them for the evening, eat their food and get some rest before they ventured out to do more gospel work the following day.
If they didn’t, the disciples were not even able to bring the dust of that town with them on their way to the next town: “leave that home or town and shake the dust off of your feet.”
To whom the disciples said, “peace be with you,” was very important. To extend peace to that homeowner meant that the homeowner was one of them and that he aligned themselves with the gospel and with Jesus’ ministry.
When someone welcomed the disciples into their home, it was for public viewing. The neighboring homes could see what they were doing. It was a public sign that they aligned themselves with the disciples and Jesus.
Because of Jesus’ increasing reputation for being a blasphemer and the impending persecution that was to come, it was of great risk for someone to align themselves with the disciples.
Today, however, many people throw the word “Christian” around without really understanding the depth and meaning behind it.
Statistics show most Americans still consider themselves Christians, although average church attendance is once per month. Some Christians don't read their Bible or initiate any sort of intimate relationship with Jesus.
1. Align yourself with those who are of the same spirit. It’s one thing to say you are a Christian; it is quite another to act like it.
Jesus carefully chose the 12 people with whom he would be with on the journey until his death. He knew those people would take great risks and exhibit great faith by following him, despite having nothing except persecution as a reward for their efforts.
Many people say they are Christians, but how many of them actually do the work necessary and suffer loss in persecution at the risk of declaring the gospel?
Those are Jesus’ true disciples. Figure out who those people are and align yourself with them so you two can share the gospel with the world around you.
2. Extend peace to those who welcome your words.The biggest test of someone’s spiritual maturity is how they act in the midst of conflict.
When someone is persecuted because they choose to share about the love of Jesus, how do they act when someone rejects their words?
Do they cower and hide, concealing their identity with Jesus? Or do they continue to spread the word regardless of what people say or think?
3. Partner to spread the gospel.We can all agree that the world is becoming less favorable to Christians. The time is more important than ever to spread the gospel message to others.
Whether that's volunteering at a soup kitchen, sharing your testimony with your friends, or going out to the mission field, the gospel message is more important than ever before.
Once you've established who is worthy of the peace of God, partner with them in a way that helps spread the gospel message. If you're going to do evangelism in your community, make sure you go together.
We were never meant to do this life alone. Jesus understood this and sent the disciples out two-by-two to do the ministry work. In the same way, we as a church should be going out two-by-two and spreading the good news of Jesus to everyone we meet.
Although we live in a society where talking about our faith is way more accepted, it is increasingly becoming more taboo. Talking about Jesus can cost us everything; it can cost us persecution, jail, and even death.
Verses 19 and 20 of this passage speak to this when they say, “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
But Jesus is worth it. His gospel message of hope and peace to all who know him personally is worth the persecution to have Jesus’ name spread to the masses.
Discern who among you is ready to take a similar risk to the disciples and spread the gospel despite the risk. We are the best examples of the physical manifestation of the gospel.
When you pinpoint those fellow members of the body, partner with them and focus on one area of your community where you can spread Jesus’ message of great love and peace through knowing him.
For further reading:
How Does John 5:24 Describe How We Become Saved?
How Does Romans 10:9 Describe How We Become Saved?
Does Paul Say That if One Is Saved, Their Family Will Also Be Saved?
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