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Just came across this and thought I'd share it. I know one of my problems has been attempting to persuade the seemingly unpersuadable. Gotta pick who to share the gospel with using discernment.
Yes.
Matthew 10:14
14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
This is a quote from a commentary by Martin Luther in Galatians 5:13.
I just find it fascinating because it shows things haven't changed. We're in a different time, but not a different people.
What we learn is that we should use judgment in our "witnessing" efforts (ie casting pearls before the swine)... choosing who can receive this message.
From what I've found, meekness and curiosity are two primary attributes to look for in people when sharing the gospel message.
Thoughts?
Get over yourself . . . pride and self-congratulation is not Christ-like. Self-righteousness saves no one and drives away many. There isn't the slightest chance that any one on this forum has any greater access to truth than anyone else on this forum. Such belief is not a sign of spiritual maturity. It in fact retards spiritual development with pride and self-congratulation. No one here is Christ nor one of His apostles and no one has their understanding. So no one should be shaking dust off their sandals. Belief to the contrary is just vanity and hubris.
This is a quote from a commentary by Martin Luther in Galatians 5:13.
I just find it fascinating because it shows things haven't changed. We're in a different time, but not a different people.
What we learn is that we should use judgment in our "witnessing" efforts (ie casting pearls before the swine)... choosing who can receive this message.
From what I've found, meekness and curiosity are two primary attributes to look for in people when sharing the gospel message.
Get over yourself . . . pride and self-congratulation is not Christ-like. Self-righteousness saves no one and drives away many. There isn't the slightest chance that any one on this forum has any greater access to truth than anyone else on this forum. Such belief is not a sign of spiritual maturity. It in fact retards spiritual development with pride and self-congratulation. No one here is Christ nor one of His apostles and no one has their understanding. So no one should be shaking dust off their sandals. Belief to the contrary is just vanity and hubris.
Certainly we should be open to sharing the gospel with anyone & everyone. However, after consistent rejection, it's time to move on.
Get over yourself . . . pride and self-congratulation is not Christ-like. Self-righteousness saves no one and drives away many. There isn't the slightest chance that any one on this forum has any greater access to truth than anyone else on this forum. Such belief is not a sign of spiritual maturity. It in fact retards spiritual development with pride and self-congratulation. No one here is Christ nor one of His apostles and no one has their understanding. So no one should be shaking dust off their sandals. Belief to the contrary is just vanity and hubris.
God does not tell us to hound people into believing in Him. One is either willing or unwilling to listen. Yes, we do need to "shake off the sandals". Or, do you keep sharing the gospel with people who tell you "no thanks"?
As Jimmie said, "Certainly we should be open to sharing the gospel with anyone & everyone. However, after consistent rejection, it's time to move on."
God does not tell us to hound people into believing in Him. One is either willing or unwilling to listen. Yes, we do need to "shake off the sandals". Or, do you keep sharing the gospel with people who tell you "no thanks"?
As Jimmie said, "Certainly we should be open to sharing the gospel with anyone & everyone. However, after consistent rejection, it's time to move on."
Shaking the dust of your feet does not mean I am through with you you have had your chance. That is nothing short of arrogance.
Feet in the scripture means our understanding . This is why Jesus said to Peter when he refused to have his feet(understanding) cleaned "you have no part of me unless I do".
So when you shake the dust(the earth) off your feet all you are doing is shaking off what is not part of you(the earth).
Shaking the dust of your feet does not mean I am through with you you have had your chance. That is nothing short of arrogance.
Feet in the scripture means our understanding . This is why Jesus said to Peter when he refused to have his feet(understanding) cleaned "you have no part of me unless I do".
So when you shake the dust(the earth) off your feet all you are doing is shaking off what is not part of you(the earth).
This is quite interesting. Matthew Henry's Commentary:
The servant of Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behoves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase their condemnation.
John Wesley:
Verse 14. Shake off the dust from your feet - The Jews thought the land of Israel so peculiarly holy, that when they came home from any heathen country, they stopped at the borders and shook or wiped off the dust of it from their feet, that the holy land might not be polluted with it. Therefore the action here enjoined was a lively intimation, that those Jews who had rejected the Gospel were holy no longer, but were on a level with heathens and idolaters.
Adam Clarke:
Verse 14. Shake off the dust of your feet.
The Jews considered themselves defiled by the dust of a heathen country, when was represented by the prophets as a polluted land, Amos 7:17, when compared with the land of Israel, which was considered as a holy land, Ezekiel 45:1; therefore, to shake the dust of any city of Israel from off one's clothes or feet was an emblematical action, signifying a renunciation of all farther connection with them, and placing them on a level with the cities of the Heathen.
People's New Testament Commentary:
14. Shake off the dust of your feet. This was done when there was a positive rejection of the gospel. It was a symbolical act, signifying that all responsibility for the stubborn household or city had ended. Compare Mark 6:11 and Acts 13:51. Nor can the gospel be forced upon an unwilling people in any age.
This is quite interesting. Matthew Henry's Commentary:
The servant of Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behoves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase their condemnation.
John Wesley:
Verse 14. Shake off the dust from your feet - The Jews thought the land of Israel so peculiarly holy, that when they came home from any heathen country, they stopped at the borders and shook or wiped off the dust of it from their feet, that the holy land might not be polluted with it. Therefore the action here enjoined was a lively intimation, that those Jews who had rejected the Gospel were holy no longer, but were on a level with heathens and idolaters.
Adam Clarke:
Verse 14. Shake off the dust of your feet.
The Jews considered themselves defiled by the dust of a heathen country, when was represented by the prophets as a polluted land, Amos 7:17, when compared with the land of Israel, which was considered as a holy land, Ezekiel 45:1; therefore, to shake the dust of any city of Israel from off one's clothes or feet was an emblematical action, signifying a renunciation of all farther connection with them, and placing them on a level with the cities of the Heathen.
People's New Testament Commentary:
14. Shake off the dust of your feet. This was done when there was a positive rejection of the gospel. It was a symbolical act, signifying that all responsibility for the stubborn household or city had ended. Compare Mark 6:11 and Acts 13:51. Nor can the gospel be forced upon an unwilling people in any age.
God does not tell us to hound people into believing in Him. One is either willing or unwilling to listen. Yes, we do need to "shake off the sandals". Or, do you keep sharing the gospel with people who tell you "no thanks"?
As Jimmie said, "Certainly we should be open to sharing the gospel with anyone & everyone. However, after consistent rejection, it's time to move on."
Certainly we should be open to sharing the gospel with anyone & everyone. However, after consistent rejection, it's time to move on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by saved33
God does not tell us to hound people into believing in Him. One is either willing or unwilling to listen. Yes, we do need to "shake off the sandals". Or, do you keep sharing the gospel with people who tell you "no thanks"?
As Jimmie said, "Certainly we should be open to sharing the gospel with anyone & everyone. However, after consistent rejection, it's time to move on."
But when you are dealing NOT with rejection but disagreement about WHAT the Gospel IS . . . your attitude then becomes one of arrogance and hubris toward fellow Christians based on your belief that YOUR understanding is the correct one. How does one get to be so arrogant?
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