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2/24 Reading Portions: Exodus 7; Luke 10; Job 24; 1 Corinthians 11
Luke 10:11
‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you.
Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’
WIPE
During the days of our Lord’s earthly ministry, the Jews had a tradition of wiping the dirt from their feet whenever they walked upon Gentile lands. They did not want to bring their defiled, unbelieving dust onto the holy land of God’s people. This command to the disciples in this commission was to suggest to those who rejected the gospel a sign they could readily recognize, implying, “You’re lost just as you believe the Gentiles are lost; yet you’ve denied the gospel of the kingdom, and thus, you’ve brought judgment upon yourself.” Paul and Barnabas also shook the dust from their feet during their first missionary journey, at Antioch of Pisidia, when the Jews there opposed the gospel (Acts 13:51). I’ve seen the Jehovah’s Witnesses do this after having encountered me, taking this passage literally. Yet this could not have the same implication today. The necessity of cultural foot washing on the settling of dust on sandal-clad feet in Israel is foreign to us living in America today; and thus, the shaking and wiping off the dust from the feet would have no impact— it would have no real meaning. The gospel, full of mercy as it is, still carries with it a merciful message when parting—
‘Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’
Since Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and sending the Holy Spirit, we recognize that all salvation is from the Lord and by the Lord. We need only be faithful to His calling, command, and commission. Conversion of souls is His business. Now, when we wipe the dust from our beautiful feet which are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Rom 10:15; Eph 6:15), we do so figuratively and spiritually. The dead, disobedient dust of Adam’s descendants should not stick to our gospel message. Others may reject the gospel. Some may oppose the gospel. Nevertheless, we still offer its abounding hope; and we don’t let the dust of unbelief soil or spoil Christ’s Good News. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
The gospel message we proclaim
Must be dusted off;
Man’s unbelieving, faithless shame
Cannot be held aloft.