And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus tells his disciples that the "peace" they offer isn't just a nice wish, but a tangible blessing that God will actually grant if received. However, if the peace is rejected, it doesn't vanish; it simply returns to the disciple, becoming a blessing of greater "tranquillity and spiritual power" for them as a consolation for their faithfulness.
And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is sending out his disciples, the Twelve Apostles, on a mission to preach the good news and heal the sick. He's given them specific instructions to travel light and rely on the hospitality of those they encounter. As they enter each town, they are to find a "worthy" person or household, someone open to their message, and stay there.
Imagine Jesus handing you a scroll with specific instructions. This isn't just a friendly visit; it's a mission with divine authority behind your words.
When Jesus sent out his disciples in Matthew 10, he gave them a powerful, almost priestly role. Their greeting, 'Peace be to this house,' wasn't just a polite custom. It was a proclamation of God's blessing and presence.
A King's Decree
Think of it like this: The disciples were ambassadors of the King of kings. When they entered a home, their greeting was a divine edict. If the 'house' – the people within – was 'worthy,' meaning receptive to God's message and the messenger, then the peace they carried would settle upon them. It was a tangible impartation of God's favor and well-being.
Not Just a Wish
This peace wasn't merely a wish or a hopeful prayer; it was an active decree that would take effect if the conditions were met. It signifies that God's blessing is not automatic but is tied to our response to His messengers and His message.
What happens when your genuine offer of peace is rejected? It doesn't just vanish; it has a destiny, and it's good news for you.
The latter part of the verse, 'but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you,' is a profound statement about divine justice and the believer's security.
Not a Loss, But a Gain
When a household rejected the disciples and their message of peace, the peace didn't just disappear. It was meant to 'return' to the disciples. This wasn't a punishment for the householder in the sense of an added curse, but rather a confirmation that the blessing they refused would not be lost. Instead, it would become a greater blessing to the one who offered it.
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Spiritual Profit
Commentators suggest that this 'return' signifies an increase in peace, spiritual power, or tranquility for the disciple. The trials, disappointments, and rejections they faced actually served their best interests, making them more resilient and spiritually enriched. The peace that was rejected by others was, in a sense, 'banked' as a spiritual gain for the messenger. It's a powerful reminder that God ensures His servants are never at a true spiritual loss, even in the face of rejection.
Understand the original words
eirēnē · Greek Noun
The Hebrew concept of 'shalom' (peace) represents wholeness, well-being, harmony, and prosperity in a relational and spiritual sense. In the New Testament, it includes the peace with God brought through Christ.
This teaching was given during Jesus' earthly ministry, a time of intense spiritual activity and growing opposition, highlighting the disciples' role in bringing God's peace and the consequences of rejecting it.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus Commissions the Twelve Apostles
Jesus sends out his twelve disciples on a mission throughout Galilee, instructing them on how to preach, heal, and behave.
c. AD 27-30
Disciples Proclaim the Kingdom
The apostles travel from town to town, announcing that the kingdom of heaven is near and demonstrating God's power through signs and wonders.
c. AD 30
Rejection and Persecution
The disciples face rejection and opposition from some Jewish leaders and communities, mirroring the rejection Jesus himself would face.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus continues his ministry, facing increasing hostility from religious authorities, which ultimately leads to his crucifixion.
c. AD 33
The Great Commission
After his resurrection, Jesus expands the mission to all nations, empowering his followers to continue his work.
This passage describes the same instruction given to the seventy disciples, emphasizing the importance of their initial greeting of peace and its conditional nature upon the worthiness of the household.
Psalm 35:13This verse speaks to the idea of 'returning' blessings or prayers to oneself when those for whom they were intended are unrighteous, mirroring the concept of peace returning to the sender if the house is unworthy.
Acts 13:51This shows the apostles physically shaking the dust off their feet as a testimony against those who rejected them, a practical outworking of the principle of withdrawing their peace from unworthy places.
2 Timothy 2:24-26This passage highlights that the servant of the Lord must be gentle and patient, able to correct with gentleness, which implies a discernment about when to persist and when to withdraw, similar to Jesus' instruction in Matthew 10:13.
barnesMatthew 10:13: "And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you."
If the house be worthy - That is, if the "family" be worthy, or be willing to receive you as my disciples. Let your peace come upon it - That is, let the peace or happiness which you seek or for which you pray in saluting it (see Luke 10:5), come upon it; or seek their peace and happiness by prayer, instruction, by remaining with them, and imparting to them the blessi…
clarkeMatthew 10:13: "And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you."
If that house be worthy - If that family be proper for a preacher to lodge in, and the master be ready to embrace the message of salvation. Your peace - The blessings you have prayed for shall come upon the family: God will prosper them in their bodies, souls, and substance. But if it be not worthy - As above explained. Let your peace - The blessings prayed for, retur…
Jesus tells his disciples that the "peace" they offer isn't just a nice wish, but a tangible blessing that God will actually grant if received. However, if the peace is rejected, it doesn't vanish; it simply returns to the disciple, becoming a blessing of greater "tranquillity and spiritual power" for them as a consolation for their faithfulness.
Jesus is sending out his disciples, the Twelve Apostles, on a mission to preach the good news and heal the sick. He's given them specific instructions to travel light and rely on the hospitality of those they encounter. As they enter each town, they are to find a "worthy" person or household, someone open to their message, and stay there.
Jesus is sending out his disciples, the Twelve Apostles, on a mission to preach the good news and heal the sick. He's given them specific instructions to travel light and rely on the hospitality of those they encounter. As they enter each town, they are to find a "worthy" person or household, someone open to their message, and stay there.
"And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you." — Jesus tells his disciples that the "peace" they offer isn't just a nice wish, but a tangible blessing that God will actually grant if received. However, if the peace is rejected, it doesn't vanish; i…
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Last reviewed October 2026