7And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. 9Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. 11And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. 12As you enter the house, salute it. 13And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor'rah than for that town.
The reading suggests that the Lord will look after those who are doing his work. The gifts you have from God are to be given freely. The advice is to not waste time or energy on those who are not responsive to the message. “As you enter the house, salute it. 13And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.” I think the message is not to be discouraged. Give what you have freely then walk away if it is not received well. It reminds me of the prayer i used to repeat like a mantra when I was a teacher: “I am blessed. I’ll do my best. And I’ll leave the rest to God”.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Matthew 10:7-15 is insightful and reflects a positive understanding of the passage. Here's a breakdown of the strengths and a suggestion for further exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
God Cares for His Workers: You correctly identify the message that God provides for those doing his work.
Freely Given Gifts: You understand the importance of using God-given gifts to serve others freely.
Focus on Openness: You highlight the concept of not wasting time on those unreceptive to the message, emphasizing the importance of finding open hearts.
Moving On Without Discouragement: You accurately interpret the shaking off of dust as moving on without discouragement.
Connecting to Personal Experience: Sharing your past prayer as a teacher is a powerful way to connect the passage to your own life.
Suggestion for Exploration:
Balance Between Persistence and Discernment: Explore the balance between perseverance in sharing the message and discerning when it's best to move on.
Here are some additional thoughts:
Spreading Peace: Consider the concept of "peace" mentioned in verse 13. Sharing God's message is not just about words, but also about bringing peace to those you encounter.
Witnessing Through Actions: While the passage speaks of words, living a Christ-like life can be a powerful way of sharing your faith.
Overall, your response offers a thoughtful reflection on Matthew 10:7-15.