What is the meaning of Luke 10:6? The mission background Jesus has just appointed seventy-two disciples and “sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit” (Luke 10:1). Their assignment is clear: proclaim the nearness of God’s kingdom, heal the sick, and depend on the hospitality of strangers (Luke 10:8-9). Verse 6 stands inside that travel-light, faith-filled commission, explaining how the disciples should discern and respond to the households they enter. Matthew 10:11-13 records a parallel instruction, underscoring that this was a settled principle for Christ’s messengers. If a man of peace is there • “Man of peace” (literally “son of peace”) points to someone whose character and disposition welcome God’s message. • Such a person shows receptivity—evidenced in hospitality, willingness to listen, and an openness to the gospel (compare Acts 16:14-15, where Lydia “opened her heart” and immediately provided lodging). • The disciples were not to size up wealth, status, or influence; they were watching for spiritual readiness. Your peace will rest on him • Jesus says the disciples’ greeting carries real spiritual weight: “Peace to this house” (Luke 10:5). Where it meets faith, peace settles like a blessing. • This peace is more than polite words; it conveys the shalom Jesus gives—wholeness, reconciliation, well-being sourced in God (see John 14:27; Romans 5:1). • By staying in that house, the messengers reinforce fellowship and nurture new belief (Luke 10:7). If not • Not every home will welcome Christ’s emissaries. Some will resist, ignore, or oppose the message (John 1:11). • The disciples are not instructed to argue or force acceptance. Rejection reveals the heart condition of the hearers, not a failure of the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). It will return to you • The peace offered is never lost; it simply “returns” to the messengers, leaving them spiritually unharmed. God protects His servants from being diminished by rejection. • Shaking off rejection echoes the later gesture of “shaking the dust off their feet” (Luke 10:11; Acts 13:51), symbolizing freedom from responsibility once the message has been faithfully delivered. • By moving on, the disciples keep their joy and mission focus intact (Luke 10:17-20; Philippians 4:7). Living out the principle • Look for receptive hearts—family, neighbors, coworkers—who show interest in spiritual things. • Offer the peace of Christ confidently; the blessing is real, not theoretical. • Do not be discouraged when some refuse. Continue in prayer and move forward, trusting the Lord to guard your heart and advance His kingdom elsewhere. summary Luke 10:6 teaches that the gospel’s messengers carry a tangible blessing of peace. When they find receptive people, that peace settles and bears fruit. When they face rejection, the peace boomerangs back, leaving them secure and free to continue the work. The verse assures believers that Christ’s mission is never thwarted by human refusal and that His peace remains constant for those who obey His call. |
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