Luke 9

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

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.

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;

And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.

And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

And they did so, and made them all sit down.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

What does Luke 9:5 mean?

Explanation

Luke 9:5 instructs the disciples on how to respond if they are not welcomed in a city: they are to shake the dust off their feet when they leave as a sign of rejection and as a testimony against those who did not receive them.

At a literal level, the act of shaking off dust from one's feet was a symbolic gesture indicating that the disciples had fulfilled their duty of proclaiming the message, and any rejection was not their responsibility but that of the inhabitants.

At a deeper level, the action symbolized a dissociation from the unbelief and opposition encountered, serving as a warning of judgement to come for those who reject the gospel message.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the narrative in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus sends out His twelve disciples to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

The historical context is located in 1st century Judea, a time when Jewish culture had rituals concerning cleanliness and holiness.

Shaking the dust off their feet would have been a culturally significant act, as Jews returning from Gentile (non-Jewish) lands would shake the dust from their feet to symbolize ridding themselves of pagan pollution.

Jesus appropriates this custom to emphasize the seriousness of rejecting the good news of the kingdom.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse emphasizes the themes of responsibility and judgement. It highlights that while the disciples are responsible for delivering the message, they are not responsible for how it is received. The inhabitants' response determines their own fate.

From a Christian perspective, this illustrates the principle of free will in accepting or rejecting God's revelation. The gesture of shaking off dust also reflects the Old Testament prophetic acts, which conveyed judgement against unbelief and rebellion.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, Luke 9:5 can teach the importance of perseverance in the face of rejection.

It suggests that while believers should be diligent in sharing their faith, they should also recognize when to move on from unproductive situations, leaving judgement to God. It can encourage Christians to let go of the negative outcomes of evangelism and to trust in God's ultimate justice.

Cross-References

Mark 6:11: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.

Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgement, than for that city."

Acts 13:51: "But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium."
Matthew 10:14: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of a house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek is "κονιορτὸν τῶν ποδῶν" (konioton tōn podōn), which translates to "the dust of the feet." The Greek word "κονιορτὸν" (konioton) refers specifically to "dust" or "powder," and carries connotations of something worthless and to be discarded.

The action of shaking (ἀποτινάσσετε, apotinassete) implies a vigorous casting off, as if removing something defiling or disagreeable.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In rabbinic Judaism, shaking the dust from one's feet had a connotation of separating oneself from Gentile impurity.

Comparably, in other ancient cultures, similar practices might relate to purification and rejection of negative influences.

Other religious traditions may also feature symbolic acts of disassociation or cleansing in the face of rejection or to mark the boundary between the sacred and the profane.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific perspectives might discuss the psychological impact of ritualistic actions, such as shaking dust from the feet. Such actions can serve as a coping mechanism for rejection, providing a physical manifestation of an emotional and relational break.

Furthermore, from a sociological perspective, rituals reinforce group identity and norms, and this particular gesture might be analyzed in terms of group boundary maintenance.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of Luke 9:5.

Some, like John Calvin, viewed it as a solemn warning to those who reject the gospel.

Others, such as Matthew Henry, emphasized that it serves as a lesson for ministers to not be discouraged by rejection but to move on to more receptive audiences.

Meanwhile, modern commentaries may underscore the commission of the disciples as carriers of Jesus' message and the significance of their shaking off dust as a form of non-verbal communication indicating judgement upon the rejecting community.

Luke 9

Luke 9

What does Luke 9:5 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 9:5 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?