And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall return to you.
και εαν η εκει υιος ειρηνης επαναπαυσεται επ αυτον η ειρηνη υμων ει δε μηγε εφ υμας ανακαμψει
12 Church Fathers comment on this verse
He illustrates that his words serve not only as a salutation but also as a blessing. He states that if the homeowner is deserving, he will receive a blessing; however, if he is unworthy and unable to accept peace, being an adversary of your message and teachings, the blessing will not be extended to him, but will instead return to you.
He also instructed them not to bestow sacredness upon those who are unworthy, nor to present valuable truths to those who cannot appreciate them, particularly by maintaining close relationships with unbelievers. Instead, they were to share these truths with those deserving of such honor, those who embraced the message and were children of the light. For it would have been shameful for them to seek close communion with individuals who rejected the excellence of Christ and were entangled in sin. “For what fellowship has a believer with an unbeliever?” How could those who had not even heeded their teachings, yet ridiculed their wise counsel, possibly regard it as honorable? In Athens, for instance, some mocked the apostle Paul.
He was teaching them that God does not reside in temples made by hands, being spiritual and boundless, the One who fills all creation but is not confined by anything, and proclaimed that he was revealing to them the One they mistakenly thought they were rightfully worshiping. Yet, in their arrogance and pride in their eloquence, they foolishly questioned, “What will this seed-picker have to say? It appears he is explaining the deities of others.” They derogatorily labeled the seed-picker as a worthless bird that merely gathers seeds off the ground, and thus they contemptuously belittled the life-giving message being presented to them.
The Lord Jesus instructed His disciples, stating that when they enter any home, they should first greet it with the words, “Peace be unto this house; and if the son of peace be there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you” (Luke 10:5-6). This teaching reveals that, given our inability to discern who is a son of peace and who is not, we must ensure that no one is regarded as unworthy or excluded. Our goal should be to seek the salvation of everyone to whom we share this message of peace. We need not fear the loss of that peace if the recipient is not a son of peace and is unfamiliar to us; the blessing will return to us, meaning that this declaration serves our own purpose rather than his. Conversely, if that peace does indeed rest upon him, it will be a blessing for both him and us.
A commendable trait is to refrain from easily relocating from one home to another; we ought to maintain steadiness and uphold the bonds of fellowship established with our generous hosts. Upon entering a household, we convey a message of tranquility, arriving with a blessing of peace. We should accept the provisions offered with gratitude and share the good news of the kingdom of heaven, without diminishing our commitment to faith. And if anyone is unwilling to welcome us as guests in their city, let us dust off our feet as a testimony. See the interpretation of Luke 9:4-5.
If there is a worthy person of peace present, your blessing of peace will rest upon him. The grace reflected in the peace you extend carries the power of that declaration. A son of peace embodies a spirit of tranquility, as we have discussed in different contexts. If such a person is absent, your peace will revert to you. Likewise, in Matthew’s Gospel, it is stated, “And if the house be worthy, your peace shall come upon it; but if it be not worthy, your peace shall return unto you.”
Blessed are those who do not depend on their efforts as a means of pleasing God, for they feel unworthy to appear before Him in judgment. They consistently mourn their inability to fulfill God's will in its entirety as He desires. Such individuals have truly discovered indescribable consolation. When the heavenly beings bear witness to their triumph over the forces of darkness, their remembrance will be honored among the celestial hosts. Yet, in the midst of conflict, humanity is gripped by fear and apprehension: today one may achieve victory or face defeat; tomorrow one may conquer the adversary or succumb. Thus, the burdens of warfare continually weigh heavy on the heart. Passion is an unyielding force. The one who is free from passions has received his reward and is free from concern.
When his three elements—spirit, soul, and body—are brought into harmony and unity, as the apostle states (Eph. 4:4), through the action of the Holy Spirit, they become inseparable. Christ, as it is written, died and rose again, never to die again; death no longer rules over Him. His death became our redemption because sin was vanquished through His death, and His resurrection brought eternal life to all who trust in Him. Do not perceive your demise as a casualty of your foes, whether in reality or in a dream. O wretched man, you are on the battlefield—do not surrender, and as you contemplate what lies ahead, do not place your trust in your own deeds. The foolish only recognizes his fall, believing he will triumph, and thus disqualifies himself from the race. For this reason, the Lord instructed His disciples as they went forth to proclaim the Gospel, saying to them, ‘Do not greet anyone along the way. And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him’ (Luke 10:4-7). Even the apostles had to exercise vigilance.
The tranquility proclaimed by the preacher either takes root in a home where a person of goodwill resides, or it comes back to the preacher himself. This occurs because there will be individuals chosen for eternal life who will embrace the divine message they receive. Conversely, if no one is receptive, the preacher will not be without benefit. Peace returns to him as the Lord bestows reward upon him for his diligent efforts.
To once again reach the people of Judea with the message of the imminent kingdom of God, the Lord selected 70 additional disciples, reminiscent of the elders appointed under Moses, paralleling how the 12 apostles reflect the leaders of the 12 tribes. He sent these disciples ahead of Him to every town He intended to visit. Those chosen to join this new community were not to face any obstacles or restrictions in carrying out the mission assigned to them. When one disciple requested to bury his father and another wished to say goodbye to his family, the Lord did not allow them to delay.
As they prepared to depart, He reiterated nearly all the instructions He had previously shared with the 12, but provided more explicit guidance about the challenges they would encounter, particularly concerning the apostles' future. He offered them teachings and encouragement pertinent to these trials. Cautioning against misguided zeal, as exemplified in Luke 9:52-56, the Lord warned of impending divine judgment upon those cities that would remain disobedient and heedless, a judgment soon to be made manifest (Luke 10:13-15).
The directives given to the seventy disciples closely resemble those that Jesus imparted to the twelve when He commissioned them to evangelize (Matt. 9:37, 10:1, etc.). This similarity in the two addresses reflects the fact that both were delivered by Him during similar circumstances. However, notable distinctions arise between these two messages. In the address to the twelve, Jesus instructs them to refrain from visiting Gentiles and Samaritans, directing their ministry exclusively toward the people of Israel (Matt. 10:5-8). In contrast, the message to the seventy includes no such prohibition; rather, Jesus sends them ahead to every town and location where He plans to go, including the Samaritan villages through which He was currently traveling.
Additionally, the instructions given to the seventy include a unique command absent in the guidance for the twelve: they are to greet no one along the way (Luke 10:4). Given that greetings in Eastern cultures are often lengthy, this command implies that the disciples should pursue their mission with utmost urgency, avoiding any delays along their journey (cf. 2 Sam. 4:29). Therefore, this instruction indicates that the address was delivered by Jesus near the conclusion of His public ministry; the disciples were to travel swiftly to the towns assigned to them so that they could accomplish the work entrusted to them before the end of His earthly ministry.
In Matthew 10:10, Jesus spoke to the Seventy, saying, "And if there be there a son of peace, your peace shall rest upon him." A son of peace refers to someone who is open to receiving and embraces the tranquility that comes from the teachings of Christ.
During this period, the Saviour selected an additional seventy disciples from among His followers. These individuals were to join the twelve, forming a new circle of devoted proclaimers of the gospel and stewards of God's kingdom. He sent them out in pairs to prepare His path in various locations, providing them with instructions reminiscent of those given to the twelve disciples (Luke 10:1-20). The directives were more concise, reflecting the temporary nature of their mission, and they did not include the earlier prohibitions against engaging with Gentiles and Samaritans, as these were no longer applicable. However, the instructions carried a more somber tone, influenced by the sadness arising from the persistent rejection they faced. For further understanding, one may refer to the parallel accounts found in Matthew 10 and Luke 9:1-6.
"Son of peace" refers to a tranquil individual, a man who is prepared in his heart to embrace the peace that the messengers and proclaimers of peace will extend to him. In the Gospel of Matthew, the term is associated with "house," while in the Gospel of Luke, it is linked to "son of peace" within the house, particularly indicating someone significant in that home, notably its master.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 19 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS