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Jesus knows that when we send His peace to a house and there is no peace, it is time to pack our bags and hit the road.

  • The peace of Jesus is our guide.
  • This is especially important to know.

His peace is an important guide. The lack of it, at any time, is a real clue something is going on we should pay attention to.

No peace? Run away.

Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.[1]

~~Jesus (Luke 10:5-6)

One of the most important tasks that Jesus gave to his followers was to share the good news of his kingdom with others. He sent out his twelve disciples and later seventy-two others to preach and heal in his name. He also gave them some instructions on how to do this effectively and respectfully.

One of these instructions was to say, “Peace be to this house!” whenever they entered a house . This was a common Jewish greeting that expressed goodwill and blessing. It also implied that they came in peace and not in hostility or judgment. Jesus wanted his messengers to be peacemakers and not troublemakers.

But what if the people in the house did not welcome them or listen to them? Jesus said, “If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.”  This meant that if the people were open and receptive to the gospel, they would receive the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. But if they were closed and hostile, they would miss out on this peace and the messengers would not lose anything.

Jesus also told them not to move around from house to house, but to stay in one place and eat and drink whatever they were given . This showed respect and gratitude for their hosts and also avoided giving the impression that they were looking for better accommodations or food. Jesus said that the worker deserves his wages, meaning that they should accept the hospitality as their reward for their service.

Jesus also warned them that not every town or village would receive them well. He said that if they were rejected, they should shake off the dust from their feet as a sign of warning and move on . He said that it would be more bearable for Sodom than for those who rejected the gospel. Sodom was a city that was destroyed by God for its wickedness and became a symbol of God’s judgment.

Jesus also rejoiced that God had revealed his secrets to his followers and not to the wise and learned of the world . He said that no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. He also said that blessed are the eyes that see what they see and the ears that hear what they hear, because many prophets and kings longed for this but did not experience it.

Jesus taught us how to share the gospel of peace with others in a way that honors God and respects people. He also showed us how to handle rejection and opposition with grace and wisdom. He also reminded us of the privilege and joy of knowing him and his Father. May we follow his example and instructions as we seek to spread his kingdom in this world.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 10:5–6.