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I. THE BREADTH OF CHRISTIAN COURTESY. The kindly greeting, "Peace be to this house," was to be addressed to every family into which the seventy might enter.

II. THE DEPTH OF CHRISTIAN COURTESY, the reality and meaning of their greeting, are brought before us in verse 6. Christ is telling them that their words are not to be a mere formal salutation; He suggests that an influence of peace shall actually go out from them, to "rest upon" the house that receives them; returning to them if rejected. The soul of Christian courtesy is faith; our greetings are prayers. Trust in God is the animating principle of social kindness; graciousness of disposition rests Upon the grace of God.

III. THESE ARE THE TWO FOUNDATIONS OF GENUINE CHRISTIAN COURTESY:

1. The sense of our Christian mission.

2. The certainty that we shall find many prepared for the Lord.

1. Christ sent His disciples to " heal the sick," to "cast out devils," and to say to all, "the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." Could they doubt whether they would be received? Would not the sick man hail them from his couch? and the demoniac come trusting them to heal him? Their confidence that they were come on a blessed errand, that it was given to them to comfort the sorrowful, to sustain the sinking, to still the restless, and to proclaim the blessed name of Christ, would fill them with a confidence, a frankness, and a tenderness, that would secure them a welcome. With what words could they enter any house but those which Christ bade them first to speak? they were full of peace, they were charged and laden with peace; peace was the light of their eye, it was the spring of their footstep, it must breathe in their every tone. It would come forth from them because it was so fully in them; the messengers of peace could say no other words, no words before these, in whatsoever house they entered, "Peace be to this house." It is just this sense of a mission which Christ has entrusted to us, a holy, blessed message He has given us to utter, which is needed to make us frank and courteous to all men. Selfishness is the root of all moroseness and ungeniality.

2. The assurance that we shall find a people prepared for the Lord. Some households would reject the disciples, but not all; the son of peace would be beforehand with them in many a house, their prayer should be answered, and their peace should rest upon it.

IV. I have already anticipated somewhat I had designed to say under our fourth head — THE BLESSEDNESS OF CHRISTIAN COURTESY. "If the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it"; rest upon the household, and on you too while you are in it. The unforeseen welcome given you by many who return your cordial greeting; the humility, the heartiness, the joy with which they listen to your words; God's answer to the prayer of your greeting; in all this, you and they will share together. But look for a moment at the last clause of the verse, "If not, your peace shall turn to you again." Christ tells His disciples that some will reject them; not all our hope will be fulfilled. "If," you ask, "if my frank intercourse with the ungodly does not bless them, will it not injure me? But I fear lest I shall be depraved by too great frankness with worldly men, some of whom will continue worldly. Shall I not be charged with inconsistency?" To all these questions we have Christ's answer, "your peace shall turn to you again." No man is ever degraded by his love for the ungodly. Christ's name is not disonoured by the tender, gracious association of His people with the lost souls to whom He sends them. You know of whom it was said, "this Man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." You may be misjudged by your fellow-Christians, but you will not be misjudged by your Lord.

(A. Mackennal, D. D.)

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KJV: And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

WEB: Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.'