Matthew 10:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord had said above, The workman is worthy of his meat; that they should not hence suppose that He would open all doors to them, He here commands them to use much circumspection in the choice of a host, saying, Into what city or town ye enter, enquire who in it is worthy.

Consequently, it will be more favorable for the inhabitants of Sodom compared to these disbelievers, as the Sodomites, having faced their judgment in this life, will encounter their punishment in a far less severe manner in the next.

The region of Sodom shall experience joy, for although the angels who visited Sodom did not perform a miracle, their presence served as a testimony to the entire world through the city itself. Those who ignored the apostles witnessed signs, as it is stated, “the blind see” (cf. Matt. 11:5), yet in Sodom, the angels rendered the onlookers blind (Gen. 19:11). Thus, the city of Sodom, notorious for its wickedness, will rejoice even more. Moreover, the city that turns away His followers will face harsher judgment than those from Sodom, because while Sodom sinned against divine messengers, the city that rejects the disciples is also rejecting the Lord Himself: “he who rejects you rejects Me” (Luke 10:16).

The Apostles, on entering a strange town, could not know of each inhabitant what sort of man he was; they were to choose their host therefore by the report of the people, and opinion of the neighbours, that the worthiness of the preacher might not be disgraced by the ill character of his entertainer.

The Apostles are not to choose carelessly the house into which they enter, that they may have no cause for changing their lodging; the same caution is not enforced upon the entertainer, lest in choosing his guests, his hospitality should be diminished. When ye enter a house, salute it, saying, Peace be to this house.

The entire city faces judgment. Sodom and Gomorrah, once thriving cities, were completely consumed by heavenly fire due to their profound wickedness. This divine retribution appears to be the most severe of all, as the land remains scorched and serves as a testament to its calamity. Yet, Christ warns that a greater condemnation awaits those who reject and disregard the teachings of the apostles. Unlike the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, who had not witnessed the multitude of miracles performed by Christ or received His disciples, these people have seen such wonders. The statement that “more gladly will the land of Sodom and Gomorrah be in the day of judgment” indicates that, even in the afterlife, those from Sodom and Gomorrah will face consequences for their actions.

The Apostles salute the house with the prayer of peace; yet so as that peace seems rather spoken than given. For their own peace which was the bowels of their pity ought not to rest upon the house if it were not worthy; then the sacrament of heavenly peace could be kept within the Apostles own bosom. Upon such as rejected the precepts of the heavenly kingdom an eternal curse is left by the departure of the Apostles, and the dust shaken from their feet; And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye go out of that house, or that town, cast the dust off your feet. For he that lives in any place seems to have a kind of fellowship with that place. By the casting the dust off the feet therefore all that belonged to that house is left behind, and nothing of healing or soundness is borrowed from the footsteps of the Apostles having trod their soil.

Otherwise; The feet of the disciples signify the labour and progress of preaching. The dust which covers them is the lightness of earthly thoughts, from which even the greatest doctors cannot be free; their anxiety for their hearers involves them in cares for their prosperity, and in passing through the ways of this world, they gather the dust of the earth they tread upon. They then who have despised the teaching of these doctors, turn upon themselves all the toils and dangers and anxieties of the Apostles as a witness to their damnation. And lest it should seem a slight thing not to receive the Apostles, He adds, Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Thus either the hearer, being predestined to eternal life, will follow the heavenly word when he hears it; or if there be none who will hear it, the preacher himself shall not be without fruit; for his peace returns to him when he receives of the Lord recompense for all his labour.

The Lord informed the apostles that should any city refuse to welcome them and disregard their message, ‘it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city.' Consider what awaits those who ignore the messages of Divine Revelation. Our despair will know no bounds. After receiving so many concrete evidences, to reject the truth of God equates to blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. Yet, we are not disheartened. One spiritualist speaks of comfort: ‘What a trial! We will only need to be reborn.’ Meanwhile, the scribes declare: ‘Who is to be judged?

TRULY I TELL YOU: IT WILL BE MORE SEVERE FOR THE LAND OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH, which lacked the hearing of the gospel of salvation, on the day of judgment, that final great day when I will judge all nations, THAN FOR THAT CITY OR VILLAGE, which has rejected the message of salvation; for the people of Sodom were guided solely by their consciences, and through this, the will of God is revealed to you more clearly and completely; thus, whoever ignores your message bears greater guilt than the Sodomites. Furthermore, the Sodomites, who have already faced punishment for their sins on earth, will endure a milder consequence in the hereafter. Therefore, it is evident, the interpreter points out, that certain transgressions will incur punishment both now and later.

When you arrive in a village, do not address everyone immediately; instead, ask who is deserving. Upon identifying such a person, stay at their home and share your message from there. The Lord assures grace and peace to all who welcome them, but warns of a judgment harsher than that faced by Sodom and Gomorrah for those who turn them away. While the specifics of where the apostles ministered and for what duration remain unclear, it is evident that their separation could not have been extensive. The Savior did not send them to a single location, but rather in pairs, enabling them to reach six different areas He Himself had not visited. Such opportunities were limited not only in Galilee but also in Judea. It is likely they had a pressing timeline for their return, as evidenced by their simultaneous return; had no time frame been established, some would have arrived earlier than others.

If any household or entire town chooses not to welcome them, they are to depart and dust off their feet as a witness against them, indicating that from this point forward, there is no shared connection between the unrepentant residents and the messengers of salvation. The latter will cease their redemptive proclamation and impact among them, and thus, the responsibility for their disbelief rests solely upon them (Acts 18:6). They will face a harsher judgment than Sodom and Gomorrah.

If someone does not offer you hospitality and refuses to heed your message, do not remain in that home or town. When you depart, make it known that you disassociate from them, even if you wish to avoid taking the dust of that city with you: shake off the dust from your feet. The Jews were concerned about becoming ceremonially unclean through their association with Gentiles and believed that the very ground on which the Gentiles walked was polluted. Therefore, they felt it necessary to remove the dust from their feet to purify themselves from contamination.

If they were to dismiss these messengers, they ought to shake the dust off their feet as a witness that they had proclaimed the truth, thereby symbolically liberating themselves from any obligation regarding the impending judgment that would be harsher on the obstinate and hardened adversaries of the light than on the most obscure regions of the pagan world, where the light either never reached or only flickered dimly.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, along with Adam and Seboim, faced destruction by fire and brimstone due to the profound wickedness of their people. These cities were situated near what is now the Dead Sea, lying on the southern edge of Palestine (Genesis 19:24-25). In Scripture, the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah is frequently depicted as a powerful illustration of divine retribution for sin, serving as a reminder that transgression and moral corruption are not overlooked.

Liberated from worldly distractions, they were even more committed to the mission given to them. When you enter a town or city, determine who is deserving of your presence and stay with them until you leave. When you enter a home, extend a greeting of peace to it. If the home is deserving, your peace will rest upon it; if not, it will return to you. If anyone refuses to welcome you or heed your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet as a testament against them, signifying your disassociation with them. Truly, I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.