Dirty Feet

Luke 9:4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. 5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus commissioned His disciples to go out and preach that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” They were to go with humble hearts, fully relying on the Lord's provision and care. They would be preaching pilgrims, traveling testifiers of the kingdom of God. To find lodging was not an easy task, though hospitality was common in their day, those who would gladly receive them were not just showing an innate kindness but also revealing that they supported the disciples message. Blessings would abound for those who not only received the message of the kingdom with open hearts, but also received the disciples with open homes. However, to those who would exude hatred and execute fierce tactics sending them away, the disciples were to shake off the dust of their feet and keep going. Such an action was not limited to the disciples when Jesus was on earth, but Paul and Barnabas also followed this pattern in Acts 13:50-52, “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.”

For years I wondered why Jesus commanded His disciples to do this and how one could apply such an action today. I realized that it was to be “a testimony against them (those who indignantly rejected)”, but was that it? I fully believe that when Jesus told His disciples to shake the dust off their feet, He was not simply making a statement for the generation at hand. His command echoes forth for all generations of believers. Foremost, for a disciple to shake the dust off his feet signified that he did all he could through the Spirit's leading. He preached faithfully, but not forcibly. It was a testimony against the angry, obstinate rejection of others. In our zeal to witness, we must be reminded of John's writing, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death (1 John 3:13-14).” Indeed, when we share the gospel, we must pray for prepared hearts and understanding minds. However, we also must realize that the “god of this world” has blinded many minds and hardened many hearts towards the light of the gospel. We are called to plant and water, but praise God that He gives the increase!

Finally, when a disciple would shake the dust off his feet, it was not just an outward removal of dust, but also an inward removal of hindrances. It was a signification of tossing aside bitterness. He would not allow the disdaining attitudes from that city to follow him to the next, but realized that his joy came not in good circumstances, but in Jesus Christ. How often do some strive to share the gospel in earnest, but find that they are met with more challenge from scoffers than acceptance from others? So, in turn they are embittered and make no more attempts in proclaiming Christ. For other believers, discouragement sets in after a stern rejection and they find themselves questioning the very truths they were once so willing to spread. We must realize that some will ultimately reject the gospel, but we cannot allow their attitudes and actions to become a hindrance in our lives by casting a shadow of despair or planting a seed of bitterness. We must simply shake the dust off our feet, trusting that God will give the increase in His time. We must rejoice in that though the whole world may stand against us, God is our certain refuge and His glory alone is our chief aim. Remember the words of Jesus, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”