When disciples are rejected, they're not just to leave, but to go into the streets—the most public places—to declare that the Kingdom of God, which they refused, is now nigh, highlighting the ultimate consequence of their rejection. This isn't just a farewell, but a final, public pronouncement of a missed opportunity, underscoring the gravity of their choice.
But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just sent out seventy messengers, two by two, to prepare towns for his arrival, emphasizing prayer for more workers and the urgency of the kingdom. He instructed them on how to enter homes with a message of peace and how to eat what's provided. Now, he lays out a plan for towns that refuse them: publicly declare God's kingdom was near but is now withdrawn, as a testament against them.
Ever felt completely shut out, like your message or presence was unwelcome? Jesus gave His followers a powerful, visible way to respond to that kind of rejection.
When the seventy disciples were sent out, Jesus told them what to do if a town refused to welcome them. It wasn't just about packing up and leaving. They were instructed to go into the streets and make a public declaration. This included a dramatic, symbolic action: shaking the dust off their feet.
Dust as a Symbol
This act wasn't random. In the ancient world, shaking off the dust of a foreign land was a way of saying, 'We have nothing further to do with you.' It was a public severing of ties, a stark signal that the rejection was serious. It meant the people of that town had turned their backs on the message of peace and the offer of God's kingdom.
Public Declaration
They weren't supposed to just leave quietly. The instruction was to 'say' it, and the context suggests this was a public pronouncement. It was a formal witness against the town, declaring that they had received the offer of God's kingdom and rejected it. This public act served as a solemn testimony and a final warning before moving on.
Even when people shut the door on God's messengers, Jesus' message of hope wasn't entirely cut off. There's a profound truth here about God's persistent grace.
It's easy to focus on the rejection in Luke 10:10 and miss Jesus' crucial follow-up instruction. Even after the symbolic act of shaking off the dust, the disciples were to declare: "Nevertheless, the kingdom of God is near."
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A Persistent Proclamation
This statement is incredible. Despite the town's hostility and rejection of the messengers, the core truth remained: God's reign was accessible. The disciples weren't to leave people without a final, stark reminder of what they had refused. The offer of peace and the proximity of God's kingdom were still being proclaimed, even in the face of refusal.
The Weight of Refusal
This wasn't just a throwaway line. It underscored the immense privilege and the grave responsibility that came with hearing the Gospel. By rejecting the messengers and their message, these towns were essentially rejecting the kingdom itself. Jesus later warns that the judgment for such rejection would be more severe than for cities like Sodom, highlighting the profound significance of being offered God's presence and rule.
Understand the original words
basileia tou Theou · Greek Noun
The rule, reign, or sovereign authority of God over all creation, which was inaugurated through the ministry of Jesus Christ and will be fully realized in the future.
Jesus is instructing his disciples on how to respond to rejection, using a symbolic action of shaking off dust that would have resonated deeply with a Jewish audience familiar with the concept of ceremonial uncleanness and the stark consequences of rejecting God's messengers.
c. 6th Century BC
Babylonian Exile
The Jewish people were exiled to Babylon, leading to a period of spiritual reflection and a reorganization of their religious and social structures. This period saw the development of synagogues and a renewed focus on the Law.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Rebuilt
After their return from exile, the Jews, with Persian support, rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem. This marked a significant moment in their religious identity and national hope.
1st Century BC
Hasmonean Dynasty
This period saw a Jewish kingdom re-establish itself, but it was often marked by internal conflict and external pressures from rising powers like Rome.
c. 63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
Rome’s military intervention in Judea led to Roman dominance and the eventual installation of client kings, significantly altering the political landscape.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, gathering disciples and teaching throughout Galilee and Judea, preparing the way for the spread of the gospel.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
Jesus commissions seventy-two disciples (Luke mentions seventy) to go ahead of him, preparing towns for his arrival by proclaiming the kingdom of God and demonstrating its power.
c. AD 60-70
Early Church Expansion
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles and early believers actively spread the gospel throughout the Roman Empire, facing varying degrees of acceptance and persecution.
This passage describes the same instruction given to the twelve apostles, highlighting the symbolic action of shaking off dust as a testimony against those who reject the message.
Luke 9:5This verse records Jesus' prior instruction to his disciples to shake the dust off their feet when leaving a town that rejected them, reinforcing the significance of this gesture.
Deuteronomy 28:36-37This Old Testament passage describes God's judgment on Israel for disobedience, including being carried away to a foreign land and becoming a byword, which parallels the rejection and judgment faced by those who reject God's messengers.
Acts 13:51This New Testament passage shows Paul and Barnabas literally shaking the dust off their feet in Antioch of Pisidia as they left, demonstrating the practical application of Jesus' command when faced with rejection.
Ezekiel 3:18-19This passage from Ezekiel speaks of the prophet's duty to warn the wicked, and that if the wicked are not warned, their blood will be on the prophet's hands; conversely, if they are warned and do not repent, their blood will be on their own hands, underscoring the weighty responsibility of delivering God's message.
ellicottLuke 10:10: "But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,"
(10, 11) Into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not. —See Notes on Matthew 10:13 .
bengelLuke 10:10: "But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,"
Luke 10:10 . Πλατείας , the streets ) near the walls. Comp. on Revelation 11:8 .— εἴπατε , say ) publicly.
When disciples are rejected, they're not just to leave, but to go into the streets—the most public places—to declare that the Kingdom of God, which they refused, is now nigh, highlighting the ultimate consequence of their rejection. This isn't just a farewell, but a final, public pronouncement of a missed opportunity, underscoring the gravity of their choice.
Jesus has just sent out seventy messengers, two by two, to prepare towns for his arrival, emphasizing prayer for more workers and the urgency of the kingdom. He instructed them on how to enter homes with a message of peace and how to eat what's provided. Now, he lays out a plan for towns that refuse them: publicly declare God's kingdom was near but is now withdrawn, as a testament against them.
Jesus has just sent out seventy messengers, two by two, to prepare towns for his arrival, emphasizing prayer for more workers and the urgency of the kingdom. He instructed them on how to enter homes with a message of peace and how to eat what's provided. Now, he lays out a plan for towns that refuse them: publicly declare God's kingdom was near but is now withdrawn, as a testament against them.
"But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’" — When disciples are rejected, they're not just to leave, but to go into the streets—the most public places—to declare that the Kingdom of God, which they refused, is now nigh, highlighting the ultim…
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Last reviewed October 2026
