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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 145

A Solemn Note

Text: Matthew 10 : 8 - 15

As Jesus prepared His disciples to go out and minister, He gave them great authority to serve mightily. He assured them that they would be well provided for. God has His children who will recognize them as His faithful servants, and they will rally round to give them the necessary support. Of course, they must take nothing for granted. That would be foolish and presumptuous!

The disciples must guard against an over-simplistic mindset. They must not think that everything would turn out smoothly. They must expect resistance at times and total rejection at other times. To prepare them for possible rejection, Jesus uttered these words.

“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.”
Matthew 10:14

“And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words…”

There will be people who will not receive God’s word, nor listen to His servants! These are people who had already hardened their hearts and they have no intention of opening their hearts to the Lord! The disciples must not allow their hearts to become disheartened because of people who will reject them!

“When you depart from that house or city…”

Every effort must be made, of course, by the disciples to present themselves as true and good servants of God. They must give a good account of themselves. They must not appear to be greedy, selfish, avaricious people. The instructions concerning how they should conduct themselves could well have been said in anticipation of people who would resist the work of proclamation of the Gospel. They would find nothing in the apostles to criticize.

If the disciples were rejected after they have done all they could, then they are free from blame. They may indeed depart from that house or city, without having to feel guilty because of failure.

“Shake off the dust from your feet…”

It is inevitable that the sandals worn would pick up “dust”. When the sandals are caked with dirt, it can be quite uncomfortable. The normal practice was to shake the dust off the sandals. This is the idea behind this phrase. But what does this phrase actually mean?

1. It is a symbol that represents dissociation

If the city rejects the apostles and the message they proclaim, then the citizens would be held accountable for their sins! The disciples may shake off any charge of irresponsibility on their part.

2. It is a symbol that carried a heavy word of warning

The disciples must warn the city that rejects them that it would be held accountable to God for the rejection of the Gospel.

3. It is a symbol that expressed authority

By doing this, the disciples were virtually proclaiming the judgment of the Lord on that city. Though the final day of judgment is in the distant future, nevertheless the symbolic act carried a lot of “authority”.

THE DOCTRINE OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

One important doctrine that Jesus taught His disciples was that one day all would be judged by God. Let us ponder over this statement Jesus made.

“Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day
of judgment than for that city.”
Matthew 10:15

“Sodom and Gomorrah”

These twin cities were adjudged to be so wicked that God caused the cities to be destroyed! The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was God’s judgment on them (Cf. Genesis 18-19). What is most striking in this text is that Jesus spoke of a future final judgment of God!

“In the day of judgment…”

How would God judge? What does this phrase actually mean?

1. There is temporal judgment

This is related and restricted only to life on earth! Sodom and Gomorrah were judged and its inhabitants destroyed because of the perpetration of great evil.

2. There is final judgment

All would have to stand before God one day! The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah would be judged another time. Punishment would be meted out against the sinful.

3. “For that city…”

The cities that reject the apostles and the glorious message they bring concerning the Messiah would be held accountable. Sodom and Gomorrah would be judged for their sins. However, cities and villages that reject Jesus would have a whole lot more to answer to, if they were to turn a deaf ear.

If judgments can be compared, then the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah would come out ahead of those who reject Jesus and the apostles He sent out! How solemn these words were! The presence of the apostles obviously had great significance.