Luke 9:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Where a town refuses the messengers, they are to leave and shake its dust from their feet as a solemn testimony against it.
What Does Luke 9:5 Mean?
Not every door will open. Jesus prepares the Twelve for refusal: when a city will not receive them, they are to walk out and shake even its dust from their feet. The gesture spoke without words, a visible sign that the town had been offered the kingdom and had declined it, and now answered for that choice.
The instruction is sober but freeing. The messengers are responsible to offer the word faithfully, not to force its acceptance; rejection is witnessed, grieved, and left with God, who judges justly. Those who speak for Christ today carry the same release: deliver the message with love, and when it is refused, move on without bitterness, leaving the outcome in hands wiser than their own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 9:5
What does Luke 9:5 mean?
Where a town refuses the messengers, they are to leave and shake its dust from their feet as a solemn testimony against it.