Matthew 10:13

ἐὰν μὲν ᾖ ἡ ο. ἀξία : after all pains have been taken, a mistake may be made; therefore the worthiness of the house is spoken of as uncertain (ᾖ, in an emphatic position, so μὴ ᾖ, in next clause). ἐλθέτω ἡ εἰρήνη … ἐπιστραφήτω. The meaning is: the word of peace will not be spoken in vain; it will bless the speaker if not those addressed. It is always good to wish peace and good for others, however the wish may be received. There is a tacit warning against being provoked by churlish treatment. Matthew 10:14. ὃς ἐὰν μὴ δέξηται : Christ contemplates an unfavourable result of the mission in the host's house, or in the town or village generally. The construction of the sentence is anacolouthistic, beginning one way, ending another: rhetorical in effect, and suitable to emotional speech; cf. Luke 21:6 : “these things ye see days will come in which not one stone will be left upon another” (vide Winer, § 63, on such constructions). ἐξερχόμενοι : when an unreceptive attitude has once been decidedly taken up, there is nothing for it but to go away. Such a crisis severely tests the temper and spirit of promoters of good causes. ἐκτινάξατε τὸν κονιορτὸν : a symbolic act practised by the Pharisees on passing from heathen to Jewish soil, the former being regarded as unclean (Light., Hor. Heb.): Easy to perform, not easy to perform in a right spirit; too apt to be the outcome of irritation, disappointment, and wounded vanity = they did not appreciate me, I abandon them to their fate. Christ meant the act to symbolise the responsibility of the inhabitants for the result = leave the place, feeling that you have done your duty, not in anger but in sadness. The act, if performed, would be a last word of warning (εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς, Mark and Luke). Grotius and Bleek understand it as meaning: “we have nothing more to do with you”.