Matthew 10:12

"Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on."

Key Reflection

When Jesus instructed his disciples to find a worthy home in any city they entered, this was deeply rooted in the cultural practices of first-century Israel. The practice of hospitality was paramount; guests were expected to stay at the home of those who welcomed them until their journey resumed. For the original audience, this command underscored the importance of seeking out and establishing trust with local communities before ministry work could begin, reflecting Jesus’ emphasis on relational integrity and the value of personal connections in spreading the message of the kingdom.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 12. And when ye come into an house, salute it. The word house, here, evidently means family, as it does in the following verse. See also Mt 12:25; Joh 4:53, "And himself believed and his whole house." The apostles were directed to salute the family, to show them the customary tokens of respect, and to treat them with civility. Religion never requires or permits its friends to outrage the common rules of social intercourse. It demands of them to exhibit to all the customary and proper tokens of respect, according to their age and station, 1 Pe 2:12-25; 3:8-11; Php 4:8. For the mode of salutation, See Barnes "Lu 10:4, See Barnes "Lu 10:5".

Related Verses

More from Matthew 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion