YAHSHUA was met with criticism and doubt, when He went to His town of Nazareth to teach in the synagogue. The people were astonished at His teaching, questioning His knowledge and wisdom and where did He come from. They knew Him to be the son of Mary, brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and a carpenter, but nothing else. While He was teaching, the people kept rejecting His knowledge and what He was saying. They didn’t know that there in their midst stood the SON OF GOD, the Author and Creator of all living things, including themselves. Their minds were plugged with doubt unable to see and understand Whom He was through many miracles. They missed all together that theirs was the privilege of having God incarnated living among them. As a result, they remained in their own estate of mind, missing the opportune time when God’s Son had come to bring peace, but that was now hidden from them. Their lack of faith did not allow YAHSHUA to perform one work of power, except laying of hands on a few sick people. Israel didn’t know Whom was that man among them for a while performing miracles. Their eyes were closed and their ears locked to YAHSHUA’S messages. The kingdom of God was near them, but they didn’t want it. So it was that when YAHSHUA sent His disciples to the missionary field, He warning them saying, … “As you going into the house, give you greetings and wish it well; then if indeed that house is deserving, let come upon it your peace. But if it is not deserving, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive and accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, you leave that house or town, shake the dust from your feet” (Matt. 10:12-13). Israel’s attitude of rejection toward the Savior continued to the end of His earthly life. The disciples were to shake the dust of their feet in response to the Israel’s rejection of YAHSHUA’S message.
Many years previously, the Prophet Isaiah asked the question, “Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed?” (Isa. 53) John confirms in John 1:11-12: “He came to that which belonged to Him, and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him. But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in His name.” The disciples were sent out with the Gospel message being instructed to go nowhere among the Gentiles and do not go into any town of the Samaritans; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. “And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand! Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give; take no gold nor silver nor copper money in your purses and do not take a provision bag or a wallet for a collection bag for your journey, nor two undergarments, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the workman deserves his support…And whoever will not receive and accept and welcome you nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake the dust from your feet. Truly I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town” (Matt. 10). This is a testimony against those who would not accept the message, with judgment coming against them. This act of shaking the dust from the feet is an expression of finality. Rejecting the truth is a way to perdition. Israel didn’t recognize their favorable time when YAHSHUA was on earth, rejecting His message and He Himself; many missed their salvation. Perls are not to be thrown to pigs, neither that which is holy to the dogs (Matt.7:6).
“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matt. 10:7) was the message given to the disciples to pass it on. The kingdom of heaven is YAHSHUA Himself, Who came from heaven, bringing salvation; it is the spiritual nature of God, not political or earthly kingdom; it is YAHSHUA fulfilling the law in its completion and given us eternal life with forgiven. A great number of Israelites were left behind in the desert, for not listening to the message of the Law. They were judged and never saw the Promised Land. It is the same idea today as yesterday. If we do not listen to the message of salvation, the dust of someone’s feet will be shaken out of their feet. The opportunity will not return for that person, ending up in hell.
Light from the Word 