This week’s readings are all from Luke 9. Click here to see a full listing of each day’s reading and the full chapters of Luke 9. Full readings of each day’s smaller segments of the readings will be posted on this site during the week.
Today's Reading
After Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave the area. 5 Wherever they do not receive you, as you leave that town, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 Then they departed and went throughout the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 while others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. 9 Herod said, “I had John beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida. 11 But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing.
I am just curious, any idea how long the apostles were out traveling and doing their work?!
Amber, I actually had the same question. I also wondered if the “dust your shoes” had ever been used before. Is this a common practice that would have been recognizable to other people or was this something specific to Jesus and his disciples?
There isn't any indication for how long this sending-out lasted. To go around the towns of Galilee it could be guessed that it was at least a week or two.
The 'dust from your feet' reference is found in all the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke). There is some debate by scholars as to what this would have indicated to Jesus' first, Jewish audience. The Pharisees taught that when leaving a Gentile town that the dust from the feet should be cleansed, but these are Jewish towns they are visiting and it seems to be related to a lack of acceptance/hospitality by the townspeople. In a location that provided hospitality, the feet of guests would have been cleaned when entering the home, so perhaps this is a sign in relation to that element. Another thought is that Jesus saw this mission as sacred, and he was telling the disciples to follow the customs of what one would do in terms of ritual cleanness on the Temple mount. Jesus, John the Baptist, and others during this period were highly critical of the contemporary Temple system, and had instituted alternate ritual purity actions (such as baptism). The teaching concerning presence in the Temple compound has similarities to what Jesus tells the apostles to do on their whole mission:
'One should not enter the Temple mount with his walking stick, his over-shoes, his money bag, or with dust on his feet.' (Berakot 9.5 MISH-N)
Lastly, it could also be a sign of judgment against the town. Something like 'judgment is coming on this place and I don't want any part of it to be on me when it does.' This could also align with a purity element of not wanting to be defiled by the dust from such a place.
A chapter later, when Jesus sends out the 70/72, he says:
But whenever you enter a town and the people do not welcome 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: The kingdom of God has come.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town! (Luke 10.10–12 NET)
Paul and Barnabas also 'shake the dust off their feet' in Pisidian Antioch on their first missionary journey:
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13.48–52 NRSV)