Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 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. 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 10:11-15)

The Unworthy

Preaching the gospel is a life of great reward and blessing. Jesus instructs His disciples to know the nature of preaching is found in receptive hearts and knowing the heartache of those who refuse to listen. The twelve apostles had an important role in the ministry of Jesus and the spread of the gospel throughout the world. Jesus gave the twelve power over unclean spirits and healing of all kinds of sicknesses and diseases, but this was not their purpose or mission. Miracles could not save a soul. The message of the gospel is where salvation is found. When Jesus sent the twelve out, He gave them instructions on how to enter a city. They would enquire if the inhabitants wanted to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and to receive the apostles into their homes.

The ministry of Jesus and His apostles was not always met with rejoicing. Throughout the ministry of Jesus, the scribes, Pharisees, and Jewish leaders tried to interfere with what Jesus taught and what He did. Jesus knew the work of the twelve would be met with opposition and careless hearts. The Son of God walked among men, but most people refused to believe. As the twelve went into the cities, many of the people had no time for them, did not want to hear their message, and refused to open their doors to them. The gospel does not appeal to most people. Preaching the gospel can be filled with disappointment.

Jesus tells the twelve if a city receives them, rejoice and work as long as they are allowed. When a home is opened to them, greet it with the blessings of God and share the gospel. But when the twelve find a city that is uninterested, callous, refusing to listen to the word of God, they are to turn away from the unworthy and shake the dust from their feet. Shaking the dust from the feet came from the view the Jews had about the Gentiles whom they considered impure; even the dust of their feet. It was a significant act to shake off the dust from the feet in the presence of the people, showing they regarded the city or the home unworthy of the gospel. They walked away, refusing to teach them because their hearts were hardened against God.

It is difficult to see hearts unwilling to hear the gospel. While the practice of shaking off the dust from the feet is a cultural thing, there is a figure when people are unwilling to listen to the story of Jesus Christ. Like the days of Jesus, most people have no interest in the gospel. When a child of God wants to share the good news of salvation with a lost and dying world, a lost and dying world has no interest and cares nothing for what will happen to them after death. That is the sad reality. Jesus said few will be saved because few are worthy to hear the gospel. It must be remembered to consider someone unworthy is not because they are not worth saving. God is not willing that anyone should perish, and His single desire is for all men to be saved. Understanding God’s desire does not change the reality that when men are invited to come to the blood of Jesus Christ, most are unworthy because they refuse the grace of God.

Looking around a community and the efforts to preach the gospel will unveil many unworthy souls. Jesus makes a stunning confession that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah than for those unworthy persons. God destroyed the cities because of their wickedness. How much greater is the tragedy when men refuse to hear the story of Jesus Christ? The gospel of two is clear about people: there are those who are worthy and those who are unworthy. Where you find yourself determines if you are saved or not. Make your life worthy of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and obey His word.