Things are often easier if you have a partner. A chore, such as pulling weeds in the garden or shoveling the walkways, gets done quicker when there’s two. That assignment from the boss is easier with another co-worker helping. That is frequently the reason why some people go into business together, two attorneys or two doctors starting a partnership. The Lord Jesus knew this, which is why He paired up the disciples before sending them on an assignment, as we will see in our Gospel reading for today.
Shortly before our Scripture for today took place, Jesus had visited His hometown of Nazareth, where the community rejected Him and basically ran Him out of town. Now, with only a limited time left in His ministry, Jesus wanted to reach the greatest number of people with His message. Now was the time to put His disciples to work. The Lord’s plan was to send the disciples out, two by two, into the various cities and villages throughout Galilee and Judea (vs. 7).
We might wonder why send them out in pairs? Couldn’t the disciples reach more villages if they went on their own? This was done for their own safety. Look at how Jesus was treated in His own hometown! Bullies know that it is much easier to gang up on one person than it is with two people. Going out with two to share the Gospel message would give each of them mutual help and encouragement. A pair of witnesses also met the Old Testament legal requirement for an authentic testimony (Deuteronomy 19:15).
Jesus had some instructions that He gave to the disciples before He sent them out, instructions about what they should and shouldn’t take with, and also for how they act when they reach the village they will be witnessing to. First, they could take a staff or a walking stick with them (vs. 8). This would not only aid in the travel made completely on foot, but also provide a bit of protection from criminals along the way and wild animals. They were also instructed not to carry the usual leather traveling bag, a food supply, or extra money with them. This was so that they would learn to completely trust in the Lord for their provisions, and not their own selves or resources.
There were further instructions about what to wear and not wear. They were to wear the standard sandals that most people wore (vs. 9). The disciples were also not to wear two tunics. The tunic was the standard garment of clothing. Men who had some degree of wealth would often wear two to show off to others their fancy wardrobe. Jesus wanted His disciples to identify with the common folk more than with the wealthy, and to travel with the minimum of clothing, again to show trust in God to provide, and to avoid any ostentatious display of wealth.
Next, Jesus gave instructions on when they arrived at the village they were going to minister in (vs. 10). When the disciples came to a village, they were to carefully select where they would stay, but once there they were to be content with the host and his provisions and accommodations, and not move to another place that might have better cooking or lodging. Instead they were to focus on ministry, not physical comfort.
Then followed a warning that Jesus told the disciples to give if they were not well-received, and their message was rejected. He told them that they were to leave, and when leaving, to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them (vs. 11). To “shake the dust off one’s feet” was a symbolic act, signifying complete renunciation of further fellowship with those who rejected them. If the people of the village did not accept the Gospel message the disciples brought, they were rejecting not just these disciples, but also Jesus, His ministry, and the Gospel of salvation. Devout Jews would shake the dust of their feet after having passed through Gentile territory to show their separation from them and their pagan practices. This was then a vivid sign that the disciples wanted to be separate from those who had rejected Jesus.
When we bring the Gospel message to someone, we too might experience resistance and rejection. That is to be expected, and is not a fault of ours. People are responsible for what they do with the Gospel. We are not to blame for their rejection of the Gospel if we are faithful to present it.
The disciples obeyed the Lord Jesus, and went out bringing the Gospel. Their message was one of repentance, not a fluffy, “feel good” one (vs. 12). Too many preachers today do not want to even whisper the words sin and repent. Congregations do not want to hear that, but it is what Jesus and His disciples preached throughout the land. Repentance requires that we line up our lives according to God’s Word, the Bible. Repent, because God means what He says, because our sin is a matter of life and death, because in repenting we will receive forgiveness, life, and salvation.
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