Luke 9:5

The dust is shaken off from the Apostles' feet as a testimony of their labours, that they entered into a city, and the apostolical preaching had reached to the inhabitants thereof. Or the dust is shaken off when they receive nothing (not even of the necessaries of life) from those who despised the Gospel. But if any by treacherous negligence, or even from zeal, despise the word of God, their communion must be shunned, the dust of the feet must be shaken off, lest by their vain deeds which are to be compared to the dust, the footstep of a chaste mind be defiled.

And whosoever will not receive you,.... Unto their houses: when ye go out of the city; where lodging and entertainment are refused you; shake off the very dust from your feet, for a testimony against them; See Gill on Mat 10:14, Mar 6:11.

These verses contain our Lord's instructions to His twelve apostles, when He sent them forth the first time to preach the Gospel. The passage is one which throws much light on the work of Christian ministers in every age. No doubt the miraculous power which the apostles possessed, made their position very unlike that of any other body of men in the Church. No doubt, in many respects — they stood alone, and had no successors. Yet the words of our Lord in this place must not be confined entirely to the apostles.

These verses contain our Lord's instructions to His twelve apostles, when He sent them forth the first time to preach the Gospel. The passage is one which throws much light on the work of Christian ministers in every age. No doubt the miraculous power which the apostles possessed, made their position very unlike that of any other body of men in the Church. No doubt, in many respects — they stood alone, and had no successors. Yet the words of our Lord in this place must not be confined entirely to the apostles. They contain deep wisdom for Christian teachers and preachers, for all time. Let us observe, firstly — that the commission to the apostles contained special reference to the demons and bodily sickness . We read that Jesus gave them "authority over all demons, and to cure diseases." We see here, as in a looking-glass — two of the principal parts of the Christian minister's business. We must not expect him to cast out evil spirits — but we may fairly expect him to "resist the devil and all his works," and to keep up a constant warfare against the evil prince of this world. We must not expect him to work miraculous cures — but we may expect him to take a special interest in all sick people, to visit them, sympathize with them, and help them, if needful, as far as he can. The minister who neglects the sick members of his flock, is no true pastor. He must not be surprised if people say that he cares for the fleece of his sheep — more than for their health . Likewise, the minister who allows drunkenness, blasphemy, impurity, reveling, and the like, to go on among his congregation unreproved — is omitting a plain duty of his office. He is not warring against the devil. He is no true successor of the apostles. Let us observe, secondly — that one of the principal works which the apostles were commissioned to take up was preaching .