"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city."
This lesson makes two important points that relate to Christianity today. First, we are reminded that when take on the responsibility of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are to rely on nothing other than our faith to sustain us.
Secondly, Jesus told His disciples, as well as those of us who believe in Him today, how we are to treat those people who refuse to listen to the word of God.
We are to walk away from them and ignore them as if they do not even exist.
Sadly, many of today's "Christians" falsely believe they must force others to adhere to the standards Jesus set for us. Some even go to the extreme of trying to enact laws to apply that force. That is simply wrong!
Just as Jesus very clearly put it, "But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city."
We are clearly to leave judgment to God and go on about the business of spreading the the good news of God's saving grace to those who are willing, and want to hear it.
I know it's really hard not to pound the gospel into friends, neighbors and family around us who appear to be walking themselves straight of into hell with their behavior, but just as is made so vividly clear in today's lesson, we are to leave them alone. We are NOT to preach to those who don't choose to listen.
The following is what Paul, Christ's Apostle to the Gentiles, said about those who condemn the actions of those around them, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; FOR THOU THAT JUDGEST DOEST THE SAME THINGS. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? (Romans 2:1-3)~
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