Doc110 Loc: York PA

10/21/2017 Why Does Jesus Say To "Shake The Dust Off Your Feet" ? An Intriguing phrase from Bible gets clear explanation
http://www.wnd.com/2017/10/why-does-jesus-say-to-shake-the-dust-off-your-feet/

It’s among the most intriguing statements ever spoken by Jesus, and yet it’s rarely ever discussed, let alone explained, in church.

The instruction by the Son of God to “shake the dust” off our feet has had countless believers wondering what He was really talking about.

Now, a brand-new book championing the truth of the Bible and surprising readers with stunning statements in Scripture is proffering a clear explanation of the mysterious declaration.

“When people read the Bible, it is important to connect the dots between Scriptures, because the Bible explains itself,” says Joe Kovacsy.”

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“We cannot expect to understand the meaning of something cryptic by making wild guesses.

It’s important to read the Bible, and by that I mean the ENTIRE Bible, and accept the words on the page to develop a good grasp about what its terms and symbols mean.”

The command about shaking the dust off of feet is found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and comes as Jesus is dispatching His disciples to spread the Good News about the kingdom of God to other locations.

Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.
As you enter the home, give it your greeting.

If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. (Matthew 10:11-14 NIV)

And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. (Mark 6:11 NIV)

“Clearly, the command from Jesus to shake the dust off your feet is to be used as a witness or testimony against the people who have rejected His message.

This is what Jesus has declared outright in His own words,” says Kovacs.

“But what exactly is that warning they’re meant to broadcast?

And why would Jesus use the seemingly odd phrase of shaking the dust off their feet?

It’s quite an unusual saying. But the answers can be deciphered when we take the rest of the Bible into consideration.”


“We have to remember that mankind was created from dust, and God actually told the very first man, Adam, that he would return to dust.

‘For dust you are and to dust you will return.'” (Genesis 3:19 NIV)

“Now keeping in mind that God declares ‘the end from the beginning,’ as He states in Isaiah 46:10, the command from Jesus to shake the dust off your feet has to do with the end of the story, as in what eventually happens to those who absolutely refuse to follow the instructions of their Maker.

They are thrown into a furnace and become incinerated into dust and ashes, as Scripture indicates over and over.

Hhell lake of fire gehenna flame fire water reflection.

“So here we have Jesus talking about the result of a future event, and He has told His students to shake the dust off their feet as a witness against the obstinate people alive during His human ministry.

And why would His followers have dust on their feet at that time in the future?

Because those who are granted eternal life in the future will, in fact, be trampling with their feet upon the dust and ashes of the wicked! God has said so:

The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed – roots, branches, and all. (Malachi 4:1 NLT)

Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty. (Malachi 4:3 NLT)


“So when the disciples of Jesus shook dust off their feet, they were issuing a dire warning to the people who refused to accept the truth.

The message was, in effect: ‘If you sinners don’t repent, you’re going to be incinerated into ashes and dust, and we’re going to trample on your ashes! So get with the program!’

It’s simply another way of saying this more direct warning that Jesus issued twice: ‘Unless you repent, you too will all perish.'” (Luke 13:3,5 NIV)

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Nothing ambiguous about that warning Doc! Great article. Thanks.

mwdegutis Loc: Illinois

Contrary to your convoluted post the answer is quite simple...
Shaking the dust off one’s feet conveys the same idea as our modern phrase “I wash my hands of it.” Shaking the dust off the feet is a symbolic indication that one has done all that can be done in a situation and therefore carries no further responsibility for it.

The command to “shake the dust off your feet” appears only four times in the New Testament. In each case the command is spoken by Jesus to His disciples when He sent them out two by two (Matthew 10:14; Luke 9:5). In Mark 6:11 Jesus says, “And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” In the Matthew 10 account, Jesus clarifies His meaning: “Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town” (verse 15).

Shaking the dust off one’s feet conveys the same idea as our modern phrase “I wash my hands of it.” Shaking the dust off the feet is a symbolic indication that one has done all that can be done in a situation and therefore carries no further responsibility for it. In the scriptural examples, Jesus was telling His disciples that they were to preach the gospel to everyone. Where they were received with joy, they should stay and teach. But where their message was rejected, they had no further responsibility. They were free to walk away with a clear conscience, knowing they had done all they could do. Shaking the dust off their feet was, in effect, saying that those who rejected God’s truth would not be allowed to hinder the furtherance of the gospel. Even the dust of those cities that rejected the Lord was an abomination and would not be allowed to cling to the feet of God’s messengers.

Embedded within this symbolic gesture was the implication that God also saw the dust-shaking and would judge people accordingly. There was a spiritual significance to a disciple of Jesus shaking the dust off his feet. It was a statement of finality about people who had been given the truth and who had rejected it. On their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas put Jesus’ words into practice. They had been preaching in Pisidian Antioch, but some of the Jewish leaders of that city stirred up persecution against the missionaries and had them expelled from the region. “So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium” (Acts 13:51). Antioch may not have welcomed the gospel as they should have, but that didn’t keep the message from spreading to other areas. Paul and Barnabas had done all they were sent to do, and the responsibility was now on the shoulders of those in Antioch. The apostles had proclaimed truth boldly. Some had accepted it eagerly; some had rejected it with violence. The apostles were not responsible for the Antiochians’ level of acceptance, only for their own obedience to God.

There are situations in our lives where God calls us to stand firm, proclaim truth, and give patient testimony. Sometimes we need to continue until we see the results of that testimony. Other times God gives us the freedom to move on. We figuratively “shake the dust off our feet” when, under the Holy Spirit’s direction, we surrender those people to the Lord and emotionally let go. We have the freedom then to move into the next phase of ministry. Jesus’ instruction to “shake the dust off our feet” reminds us that we are only responsible for our obedience to God, not for the results of that obedience.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

As I understand your comment, man has but one opportunity to accept Christ - that being the first time the Gospel and peace of Christ is presented to him? "It's now or never?", the workers in the vineyard came at different times and received the same pay. I know you don't believe a now or never ultimatum and it is insulting to even suggest you would. The parable about the Prodigal Son is not a parable about the Son but about the loving Father, God. In truth, this "dusting your feet" is a hard saying and I expect it was intended to be such. When do we as Christians literally say, "to hell" with someone, perhaps a son, a daughter, a friend or a neighbor? It's easy to do in anger, not so easy to do with love.

mwdegutis Loc: Illinois

I have never said that you have one opportunity to accept Christ. You have until your dying breath. As for one "preaching," there is only so much you can do then comes the time to "shake the dust from your feet," continue to pray for that person, and turn it over to God. I cannot save another person. It is my job to plant the seed and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. This is the best way i can explain it.

Yes we say many "incorrect" things in the heat of the moment. Unfortunately, like my wife says and I've learned from our interactions, our harsh words are like nails nailed into a fence. You can remove the nails by saying you're sorry but the "scar" is still there. Another analogy is our words are like shot arrows. Once released, you can't take them back.

You may or may not understand it, but thanks for the correction.

Doc110 Loc: York PA

All Hail Pope mwdegutis, Hail Pope mwdegutis,

"I have never hidden my Christian theology to you. I repeat, . . . I do NOT belong to ANY Christian or Protestant denomination, . . . I am a Bible-believing disciple of Jesus Christ."

A self-serving Bible-believing disciple of Jesus Christ.

Hail Pope mwdegutis.

mwdegutis Loc: Illinois

I am not self-serving. I am serving you even as we speak by trying to open your eyes.

Doc110 Loc: York PA

Thanks but no thanks, Your wrong and misguided on your self-decpricating misguided theology.

"Shake The Dust Off Your Feet," may God have pity on your reckless soul.

mwdegutis Loc: Illinois

Then I shake the dust off my feet.

Radiance3

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We all fall short of God’s glory. God’s wisdom is above all in everything. We could not fully understand His words, even if you’ve mastered the entire scriptures. They are mostly in parables. People have different human interpretations, that is why we have so many sects how to believe and interpret God’s words. Though there is only one right. But others claim they are wrong.

The arrogant mwdegutis claim he is right and others are wrong. “Shaking off the dust”. could be humanly interpreted on various ways even learning the entire Scriptures of the Holy Bible. It is up for God to decide. But judgement from another human frailty, is an arrogant stance. God wants us to try our best. And if we fall short, He will encourage us and learn further.
Arrogance is not the way to God. Humility is. This is how we understand, learn, grow, from the wisdom of God. Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."