“When do you shake the dust?”
Jesus gave instruction to his twelve disciples when he sent them out to preach (Lk. 9:1-6). This has been referred to as “The Limited Commission.” The Great Commission was given after the resurrection of our Lord and is recorded in Matthew and Mark (Given in a different way in Luke and John). It is referred to as the Limited Commission because they were to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mt. 10:5). In his instructions, Jesus said, “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” (Lk. 9:5).
We see this played out in two passages of scripture. Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch of Pisidia. The scriptures read, “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable 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” (Acts 13:50-51). In Corinth there was opposition to the truth and the Bible records, “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6). This time he “shook his raiment.”
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus used some different words regarding those who rejected his teaching when he said, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Mt. 7:6). The background of this passage has to do with the meats offered on the altar. They were holy (Ex. 29:37), but, the message is clear. God’s word and message is holy and those who reject it will suffer the consequences. Does there become a point when you just walk away from those whom you are teaching? If so, what is that point? Here are some observations.
We must always love those whom we are teaching and be patient with them. God was long suffering, “Which sometime were disobedient when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water” (1 Pet. 3:20). God allowed Noah to preach 120 years before he destroyed the earth.
We must be willing to walk away. Do the words Paul wrote to Titus apply? “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject” (Titus 3:10).Of course, this is dealing with a factious man. When they mocked in Athens, the scripture says Paul left (Acts 17:33).When it is evident that one is not going to do the will of God, it is best to move on to another and endeavor to teach them the gospel.
We must always continue to pray for those whom we have taught even though they reject the will of God. Our prayer is that at some point their heart may be touched and they render obedience to the gospel. These words give us thought, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Sam. 12:23).
Larry
Larry