But into whatever city you enter, and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
Show the surrounding paragraph
Luke 10:10-12 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come. Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house. Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ But into whatever city you enter, and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
Parallel Translations
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But into whatever city you enter, and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say,
‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
-
But into whatsoever citie ye shall enter yf they receave you not goo youre wayes out into the stretes of the same and saye:
even the very dust which cleaveth on vs of your citie we wipe of agaynst you: Not withstondinge marke this that the kyngdome of God was come nie vpon you.
Ye and I saye vnto you: that it shalbe easier in that daye for Sodom then for that cytie.
Show all 3 translations
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But into whatsoeuer citie ye shall enter, if they will not receiue you, goe your wayes out into the streetes of the same, and say,
Euen the very dust, which cleaueth on vs of your citie, we wipe off against you: notwithstanding knowe this, that the kingdome of God was come neere vnto you.
For I say to you, that it shall be easier in that day for them of Sodom, then for that citie.
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (19)
- Matthew 10:15 (v12) Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
- Acts 18:6 (v10) When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now…
- Matthew 11:24 (v12) But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you.”
- Acts 13:51 (vv10–11) But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.
- Luke 10:9 (v11) Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
Show all 16 cross-references
- Matthew 10:14 (vv10–11) Whoever doesn’t receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
- Lamentations 4:6 (v12) For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown as in a moment. No hands were laid on…
- Mark 6:11 (vv11–12) Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against…
- Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (v11) For this commandment which I command you today is not too hard for you or too distant. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will…
- Luke 9:5 (v10) As many as don’t receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”
- Acts 13:26 (v11) Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.
- Acts 13:40 (v11) Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
- Acts 13:46 (v11) Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it…
- Romans 10:8 (v11) But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we preach:
- Hebrews 1:3 (v11) His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had…
- Ezekiel 16:48-50 (v12) As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you have done, you and your daughters. “ ‘…
16 distinct cross-references across this passage (19 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (13 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv10–11 God is a most severe revenger of the ministry…
God is a most severe revenger of the ministry of his Gospel.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv10–12 10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they…
10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
Ver. 10. See Mat 10:14; Act 13:51;
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv10–12 But into whatsoever city ye enter,.... On the other…
But into whatsoever city ye enter,.... On the other hand Christ here directs how to behave towards other cities they should come to, and be rejected:
and they receive you not; refuse to admit them into their houses, or provide in any shape for them, nor hear their message:
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go your ways out into the streets of the same. The Ethiopic version reads, "cast the dust off your feet into the streets of it: and say"; aloud, in the most public manner, in the ears of all the people, as follows.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v11 The kingdom of God is at hand - Though…
The kingdom of God is at hand - Though ye will not receive it.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v11 Verse 11. Even the very dust of your city]…
Verse 11. Even the very dust of your city] See on Mt 10:14; Mt 10:15.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v10 Luk 10:10-12. Into whatsoever city ye enter, and they…
Luk 10:10-12. Into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not — Show no willingness to hear your doctrine, and no inclination to give you entertainment, or the necessaries of life; go your way out into the streets, &c. — Declare in the most public manner, how greatly they have sinned in rejecting you and your message; and that your declaration may make the greater impression upon them, let it be accompanied with the symbolical action of publicly wiping the dust of their city from off your feet, as a testimony that you will have no communication with such a faithless and disobedient people. Say, Since you reject so gracious and important a message, we cannot but consider you as rejected by God, and devoted to certain and inevitable destruction, and therefore we separate ourselves from all that belongs to you, even from the dust of your city. This was agreeable to the manner of the eastern people, who taught their disciples by symbolical actions, as well as by discourse; see on Mat 10:14. Jesus added, When you have so done, say, Notwithstanding, be ye sure of this — And remember it in the midst of all the calamities which are to befall you; that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you — That mercy and salvation, present and eternal, the kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory, have been offered you, though you will not receive them. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable, &c. — To make the seventy the more earnest in preaching the gospel, that so, if possible, the people might be prevailed upon to believe and obey it, he proceeds to declare the terrible punishment about to come upon those who should reject it. See on Mat 10:15.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv10, 12 son of peace--inwardly prepared to embrace your message of…
son of peace--inwardly prepared to embrace your message of peace. See note on "worthy," (see on Mat 10:13).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv11–12 11. Even the very dust] Act_13:49-51; Act_18:5-7.
11. Even the very dust] Act_13:49-51; Act_18:5-7.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv10–12 (10, 11) Into whatsoever city ye enter, and they…
(10, 11) Into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not.—See Notes on Mat_10:13.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v12 But I say unto you, that it shall be…
But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Such a rejection implies that they would have nothing to do with the Master of these preachers, the pitiful, loving, Galilaean Teacher. These were days of possible mighty blessings, of proportional terrible punishments. The woe of Sodom, that well-known swift destruction, most probably through sudden volcanic agency, was tolerable in comparison with the far more awful doom reserved in the immediate future, at the hands of Rome, for these guilty cities of Palestine (see a further note on this on ver. 15).
Vers. 12-15. Guilt and punishment.
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These very solemn words of our Lord demand our attention the more, because his thought is so fully illustrated. They suggest or convey to us three truths.
I THAT GREAT INIQUITY MAY LOOK FOR SIGNAL PUNISHMENT AT THE HAND OF GOD. Jesus does not intimate that Tyre and Sidon suffered any more than they deserved, that Sodom had a retribution which was in the smallest degree out of proportion to its guilt. These cities deserved their doom; they sowed the wind, and reaped the whirlwind. That which happened to them was exactly what they might have expected; and it is just what such cities as they were may always look for. It does not require a desolating army or a miraculous storm to bring disastrous evil upon the head of shameful wrong. Without such particular instruments as these, the blow which slays and buries will certainly descend. If destruction comes not on the wings of one wind, it will come on those of another; whether we think of the vicious city or the profligate man, we may be sure that great guilt will, sooner or later, work out the downfall and extinction of the evil-doer. By human history and the record of the lives of men, as well as by the sacred page, "the wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness of men;" they cannot and will not "escape the judgment of God.
II THAT NEITHER SWIFTNESS NOR APPARENT SEVERITY IN PUNISHMENT IS A SURE CRITERION OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CRIME. Destruction had come down suddenly and terribly on Sodom; Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida were still existing, and were still rejoicing in outward prosperity. Was the ancient city so much guiltier in God"s sight than the (then) modern towns of Galilee? No, replied the great Teacher. Had these ruined cities of a former age enjoyed such privileges as the citizens of his own time were possessing but neglecting, they would have repented and would have been spared. We must take care how we argue from sudden and severe evils to the relative guiltiness of the sufferers. These evils may clearly indicate wrong; they may (though in some cases they do not) indicate very great wrong-doing; but they do not prove that those on whom they descend are more guilty than others who are spared.
1. God may think well, in one case, to manifest his holiness by severe visitation, and in another case to illustrate his patience by delaying long the stroke of justice.
2. God may punish one city (or man) by physical and visible inflictions; he may chastise another by letting his moral laws do their appointed work, and bring down the men themselves to that low spiritual estate which is the saddest and direst consequence of sin.
III THAT PRIVILEGE IS VERY PRECIOUS, BUT IT IS ALSO VERY PERILOUS. Capernaum was "exalted to heaven," raised very high indeed in privilege. There the Son of God abode; there he wrought his mightiest works; there he lived his holy, patient, loving life; there he spake his deep, broad, ever-living truths; there God was manifested in power and grace. It was favored above all cities in the height of its spiritual privileges. But it knew not the day of its visitation; it drew not nigh in reverence to its Lord; it rejected his doctrine; it remained afar off from God and heavenly wisdom. And it incurred thereby the Savior"s strong condemnation; it accumulated guilt, and laid up for itself wrath against the day of wrath; it was "thrust down to hell" in reproach and retribution. We learn, more particularly:
1. That humility of spirit, rather than reproachfulness of tone, becomes us.
2. That the children of special privilege have great reason for devout heart-searching, lest they should find themselves the heirs of Divine condemnation. C.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v10 They receive you not
Luk_10:10-12
They receive you not
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Opportunity wasted
I.
THE OBJECT TO WHICH THIS ALLEGATION RELATES--The kingdom of God.
1. The gospel is designated the kingdom of God, because it is constituted by God. There is claimed on its behalf, strictly and truly, a Divine origin.
2. The gospel is designated the kingdom of God, because it is the ordained instrument of God to restore His authority over the minds of men.
II. THE FACT WHICH THE ALLEGATION AFFIRMS. The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you--
1. In the sacred and inspired writings.
2. In the proclamations and appeals of the ministry.
3. In the conversion of other men.
4. In the partial impressions of your own mind.
III. THE DEPORTMENT WHICH THE ALLEGATION DEPRECATES.
1. Continued carelessness of the truth.
2. Continued rejection of the truth. (J. Parsons.)
The grace of salvation coming near us
I. WHEN MAY THE KINGDOM OF GOD (OR THE GOSPEL) BE SAID TO COME NIGH TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR A PEOPLE?
1. When it comes within the hearing of the ear.
2. When it reaches the understanding.
3. When it gains access to the conscience.
II. WHY THE GOSPEL SALVATION IS BROUGHT NIGH TO SOME WHO ARE FINALLY LOST. (D. A. Clark.)
Symbolical action
To shake off the dust of their feet as a witness against any city which had wholly rejected their message, signified that they had no more part or lot with the inhabitants--that they would retain nothing of theirs, no, not so much as what accidentally cleaved to their sandals. This was one of the many outward significant symbolical acts of which the special messengers of God made constant use. Thus Jeremiah put on a yoke, and hid a girdle by the side of the Euphrates; thus Agabus bound St. Pauls girdle round his own hands and feet; and Paul himself and Barnabas on one occasion used this very sign of shaking off the dust of their feet against the Jews of Antioch in Pisidia, who had rejected Gods word spoken by their mouth. We have given up altogether the use of such signs, and I believe have lost much by our rejection of them. (M. F.Sadler.)
No room for excuse
The Rev. William Grimshaw, an early Methodist of eccentric manner, frequently would preach before the doors of such as neglected the parish worship. If you will not come to hear me at the church, he would say on these occasions, you shall hear me at home; if you perish, you shall perish with the sound of the gospel in your ears. (G. Stevens.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v10 and they do not receive you
and they do not receive you
"if the people of the city reject you"
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Even the dust from your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you
This is a symbolic action to show that they reject the people of the city. AT: "Just as you rejected us, we thoroughly reject you. We even reject the dust from your town that clings to our feet" (See: Symbolic Action)
we wipe off
Since Jesus was sending these people out in groups of two, it would be two people saying this. So languages that have a dual form of "we" would use it. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive "We")
But know this: The kingdom of God has come near
The phrase "But know this" introduces a warning. It means "Even though you reject us, it does not change the fact that the kingdom of God is near!"
The kingdom of God has come near
The abstract noun "kingdom" can be expressed with the verbs "reign" or "rule." See how you translated a similar sentence in Luke 10:8. AT: "God will soon rule everywhere as king" or "The proof that God is reigning is all around you" (See: Abstract Nouns)
I say to you
Jesus was saying this to the 70 people he was sending out. He said this to show that he was about to say something very important.
the judgment day
The disciples would have understood that this refers to the time of final judgment of sinners. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town
"God will not judge Sodom as severely as he will judge that town." AT: "God will judge the people of that town more severely than he will judge the people of Sodom" (See: Metonymy)
translationWords
kingdom of God
judgment day
Sodom
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv11–12 10:11 See study note on 9:5.
10:11 See study note on 9:5.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.