And if that house be worthy, your peace shall come upon it; but if it be not worthy, your peace shall return to you.
και εαν μεν η η οικια αξια ελθετω η ειρηνη υμων επ αυτην εαν δε μη η αξια η ειρηνη υμων προς υμας επιστραφητω
11 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Furthermore, demonstrating that their greeting signifies more than just verbal acknowledgment, he states, If the house is deserving, your peace will rest upon it; but if they reject you, the initial consequence will be the loss of that peace, and the second will be that it will face destruction similar to that of Sodom. They may question, What benefit do their afflictions hold for us? Indeed, you will discover homes belonging to esteemed individuals.
"Before entering any house, greet it first so that the Lord may come in and dwell there, just as He did with Mary, the sister of Lazarus, enabling His disciples to be welcomed. This greeting represents a sacrament of faith on earth, fostering reconciliation, quelling conflicts, and promoting mutual recognition among individuals. While the authentic use of this greeting was obscured by misunderstanding, the mystery of resurrection had already been symbolized in various forms. For instance, the arrival of light and the appearance of dawn dispel the darkness. From that time, people started to exchange greetings and acknowledge one another, so that this invocation for peace (Matthew 10:12-13) might bring healing to the speaker and blessings to the recipient.
However, if someone merely acknowledges the words of the greeting without embodying its spirit, it is like a light shining upon them that they repulse, akin to the way sunlight is reflected by the earth. This greeting is proclaimed by name, concealed in power, grasped through knowledge, established as a sacrament, and is ample for all humanity. Thus, the Lord sent it forth with His apostles as a sign, so that their vibrant voices would resonate throughout the world, preparing the path for all. This greeting was spread in every household, distinguishing and separating its members, and reached all who heard it, allowing those aligned with it to be identified, gathered, and to remain in fellowship, while those contrary in nature could be revealed and removed following the sowing. The greeting that flowed from the apostles continued to thrive among their brethren, demonstrating that the treasure of the Lord, who sent it, was abundant. It remained unchanged in those who received it, affirming that its gifts were given by truth and faith. This salutation persisted in both the giver and recipients without diminishing or vanishing. The greeting made clear that the Father is present in everything by His essence and that the Son was sent from the Father, being wholly present in all and ultimately deriving His purpose from the Father. Since the Son reflects the Father, He did not cease to proclaim and teach until the signs were fulfilled in His deeds, wherein the visible forms found their realization in truth, what was once shadow became substance, and all mysteries were entirely fulfilled, completed, and realized."
A significant instruction of peace and unity is initially given to those who preach; they are to promote peace, maintain steadfastness, and honor the traditions of gracious hospitality. This directive emphasizes that messengers of the Kingdom of God should not move from one home to another, disrupting the norms of hospitality. They are called to express gratitude for the kindness shown to them and are directed to shake off the dust from their feet and depart from any city that does not welcome them. It is revealed that hospitality is a source of great blessing; those who offer hospitality not only receive peace, but if their lives have been touched by the fleeting troubles of this world, they find cleansing as they host the paths of the apostles.
Moreover, in the Gospel of Matthew, there is guidance for the apostles to select the homes they enter, thereby avoiding unnecessary changes in residence that would breach the rules of hospitality. However, it is important to note that the responsibility for choosing guests does not rest with the host; otherwise, such discretion would undermine the very essence of hospitality.
While the call for the noble practice of hospitality is commendable in a literal context, its interpretation as a spiritual commandment bears profound sacramental significance. When selecting a home, one seeks a worthy host. This implicitly suggests a preference for the Church and Christ. What dwelling is more fitting for the apostles than the sacred Church? And who deserves our utmost devotion if not Christ, who humbly washes the feet of His guests? Christ does not permit those welcomed into His dwelling to remain dirty; He cleanses them of their past life, preparing them for eternity. He is the ultimate Master, one who should never be forsaken or exchanged for another. To Him we should turn and say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed” (John 6:68-69).
Consider Peter, who embodies the fulfillment of divine commands and welcomed others, earning a place in heavenly sanctification. Therefore, the primary aspect to reflect on is the faith of the Church: if Christ resides within, it is certainly the right choice! However, if those present are non-believers or if a heretical teacher dishonors the establishment, one must distance themselves from heretics and depart from such a gathering. It is essential to shake off the dust from one's feet to avoid allowing the soul to become contaminated by the barrenness of disbelief, akin to dry, sandy earth.
A gospel preacher must bear the weaknesses of the faithful and discard their empty actions as one would brush away dust, as stated, “Who is weak, and I am not weak?” (2 Corinthians 11:29). If there exists a community that rejects faith and lacks a foundation in apostolic teachings, it must be left behind to prevent the spread of unbelief. The Apostle makes this point clear: “After one admonition to the heretic, turn away from him” (Titus 3:10).
It is common for a recipient to bear the name of a honorable individual while leading a life unworthy of that title. Therefore, He states: If the house is deserving, the peace you impart will settle upon it, bringing with it serenity and stillness. However, if the house is unworthy, your peace will return to you, meaning it will have no impact on that dwelling, and you, taking it back with you, will move on. Notice that He did not instruct them on how to discern the worthy from the unworthy in advance, resulting in their humbling themselves due to their lack of essential provisions. One might also reflect on how, having stripped the Apostles of all things, He still grants them everything anew. After all, who would not willingly welcome those who exhibit such humility and disregard for material concerns, shining not only in their teachings and miracles but, more significantly, in their way of life?
If the household is deserving and the family you visit embodies goodness in both name and action, then your peace will rest upon them. Your heartfelt prayers, teachings, and preaching will bring to fruition your good intentions for them. If, however, they fail to reciprocate and reveal themselves as insincere, the initial consequence will be that your peace will revert to you. They will forfeit the tranquility you wished upon them, and your good intentions will remain with you, a reflection of your own love.
When you arrive in a town, do not proclaim your message to everyone you encounter; instead, seek out those who are deserving. Once you identify such a person, remain in their home and share your message from there. The Lord extends His grace and peace to all who welcome it, yet He warns that those who reject it will face a judgment more severe than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. The specific locations where the apostles preached and the duration of their ministry are not explicitly stated; however, it is evident that their separation was brief. The Savior did not send them all to one location, but rather in pairs, which allowed them to minister in six different places that He Himself had not visited. Such locations were relatively few, not just in Galilee, but also in Judea. It is likely they were given a specific timeframe for their return, as indicated by their simultaneous return; had there been no set schedule, they would have arrived at different times.
Should any household or entire town refuse to welcome them, they are to depart and shake the dust from their feet as a sign against them, indicating that there is no shared ground between the unrepentant residents and the messengers of salvation. From this point on, the latter will withdraw their call for redemption and their influence. The responsibility for their lack of faith falls solely upon them, as stated in Acts 18:6. Their judgment will be more severe than that of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Longing for peace does not equate to bestowing it; thus, Jesus clarifies to His disciples that their aspiration for peace will truly bring tranquility to the household and even to the entire city that welcomes them and is deserving of it—that is, one that receives them with sincerity and without deceitful intentions. If the home is deserving, your peace will rest upon it; however, if it lacks worthiness, your wish for peace for that dwelling will remain unfulfilled, and your peace will return to you.
Their calling, much like the most significant and fruitful missions throughout history, was intended to embody profound simplicity and be sustained by their own efforts. The generous hospitality prevalent in the East, which had frequently aided in the dissemination of new teachings, would greatly benefit them. Upon entering a city, they were to seek out a home that offered a warm welcome and bestow upon it the ancient and cherished blessing, ‘Peace be unto this house.’ Should the household merit this blessing, it would be realized; if not, it would return to them unfulfilled.
"Your peace will rest upon it," meaning that the blessings you hope for will be actualized through your prayers, teachings, and ministry. "It shall return to you": the peace you desire for that household will not be granted to it, and your hopes will not come to fruition in that place, as stated in Psalm 34:13. "Peace changes nothing; take it with you as you depart."
Detached from earthly concerns, they were even more enthusiastic in their commitment to the mission entrusted to them. When you enter a town or city, assess who among its inhabitants is deserving, and remain there until you leave. Upon entering a home, greet it with a kiss, proclaiming, "Peace be unto this house." If the house is worthy, your peace will rest upon it; if not, it will return to you. Should anyone refuse to welcome you or heed your words, as you depart from that house or town, shake the dust off your feet as a witness against them, signifying your disassociation. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
The dwellers of the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah did not adhere to the natural law inscribed by the Creator in human reason and conscience, for which they received severe punishment. However, those who reject the revealed law and the message of Christ will bear greater guilt and face harsher judgment, as the will of God has been conveyed to them more explicitly and thoroughly.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 24 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS