Matthew 12:9

 Matthew 12:9 says, And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:  Verse ten adds, And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.  Still on the Sabbath, Jesus went to the synagogue where He met a man with a withered hand.  The Pharisees asked Jesus if it was lawful to heal a man on the Sabbath.  The Pharisees didn't really care about the man, but were simply trying to trick Jesus.  Many people today will use any method possible to attempt to discredit Jesus.  Verse eleven declares, And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?  Jesus replied with a question of His own.  If the Pharisees, or anyone there, had one sheep and it fell into a pit on the Sabbath, would the person not lift it out.  This would be work under Jewish law and would be wrong.  We must never become too legalistic in our relationship to God, but must act out of love and concern for other people under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twelve adds, How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.  Jesus said a man was more important than a sheep, and therefore it was lawful to do good for him on the Sabbath day.  Verse thirteen continues, Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.  Jesus then told the man to stretch forth his hand, and when he did, it was made whole.  Jesus could have just said that the hand was made whole, but He required the man to act in faith that it would be.  Jesus came to save all people, but we must act in faith in order to accept that gift of salvation.  Verse fourteen states, Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.   Instead of rejoicing that the man had been healed, the Pharisees got together to try to figure out how they could destroy Jesus.  It is bad that the lost people of the world attempt to destroy Jesus, but it is even worse when those who call themselves God's people do.  Verse fifteen declares, But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;  When Jesus knew what the Pharisees were up to, He left the synagogue and great multitudes followed Him.  Hopefully, Jesus will not have to leave the places where we gather in His name today in order to keep us from preventing people from coming to Him.  Verse sixteen adds, And charged them that they should not make him known:  Jesus told the multitudes to not make Him known.  Verse eighteen states, That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,  This would also be the fulfillment of a prophesy of Isaiah,  Verse eighteen adds, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.  Jesus said that He was the Servant that Isaiah prophesied about, and that He would show God's judgment to the Gentiles.  Jesus came first to the Jews, but He came to save all people who would put their faith in Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse nineteen states, He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.  Verse twenty adds, A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.  Jesus did not come with great fanfare, but as lowly Servant to all.  Verse twenty-one concludes, And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.  Because of the actions of Jesus, and also partly because of the actions of the Jews, God's chosen people, the gospel would be spread to the Gentiles.  Unlike the people around Jesus then, we as His followers have the command to make Him known to the world.

Matthew 12:1

Matthew 12:1 says,  At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.  As Jesus and His disciples were travelling on a sabbath, they were hungry and began to pluck ears of corn to eat.  This was prohibited by Jewish law since it was work, especially the way it had been interpreted.  Verse two states, But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. The Pharisees, who were seemingly always watching Jesus to find fault with what His disciples and He did, told Jesus that what His disciples were doing was unlawful.  We need to be careful that we do not attempt to spend all our time trying to find fault with other Christians.  Verse three declares, But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;  Jesus answered the Pharisees by referring to the scripture, asking if they had not read about David when he was hungry.  If we question others, or they question us, the answer to determine who is right or wrong should be based on the scripture, the Bible.  Verse four adds, How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?  Jesus said that when David and those with him were hungry that he went into God's house and ate the shewbread, which was only lawful for the priests to do.  David was viewed as the greatest king, and yet he had done something that would be considered wrong when following the literal interpretation of the law.  We must not become too legalistic that we ignore the acts of faith under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse five continues, Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?  Jesus continued to refer to the scripture, asking if the Pharisees had not read in the scripture that the priests did what would be considered work on the sabbath, and yet they were blameless.  Jesus is much greater than any priest, so how could the Pharisees claim that what He was doing of necessity was wrong.  Verse six proclaims, But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.  The Pharisees were proud of the temple, but Jesus said that in that place was One greater than the temple, and that was Jesus Himself.  We need to be careful that we do not begin to hold the things associated with the church building as being more important than the people of the church.  Verse seven adds, But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.  Jesus asked the Pharisees if they knew the meaning of the scripture that God would have mercy over sacrifice.  Our sacrifices cannot bring us forgiveness, but only the mercy of God can.  Verse eight declares, For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.  Jesus stated that the Son of Man, the Messiah, Jesus Himself, was the Lord of the sabbath.  We cannot become so legalistic that we forget about God's mercy.  It is important to observe the sabbath, or the Lord's Day in our case, but we should never use observing it as a reason to condemn others.  

Matthew 11:16

Matthew 11:16 says, But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,  Verse seventeen adds, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.  Jesus asked who He could compare that generation to.  He said that they would claim that the people did not become festive when they said they should, nor did they mourn when others told them to.  Verse eighteen declares, For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.  Jesus said that John the Baptist came and did not eat or drink a lot of normal foods, and the people accused him of being demon possessed.  Verse nineteen adds, The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.  Jesus said He, the Son of Man, came and ate and drank and was accused of being a winebibber and a friend of the publicans and sinners.  God's people were attempting to judge John the Baptist and Jesus by their own standards instead of by their actions toward God and His word.  We cannot judge people as to their relationship to God by what they eat or drink, nor by whom they eat or drink with, but only by their relationship to Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty proclaims, Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:  Jesus began to unbraid the cities where His most mighty works were done because they still did not repent.  God's mightest work was given to us by providing a way to salvation through faith in Christ, but many people still refuse to accept Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-one adds, Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  Jesus said that if the works done in Chroazin and Bethsaida, two cities of the Jews, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, two cities of the Gentiles, that the people of those two cities of the Gentiles would have repented in sackcloth and ashes, but the cities of the Jewish people did not.  Verse twenty-two continues, But I say you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.  Jesus said that it would be more tolerable for those in Tyre and Sidon than it would be for those in Chroazin and Bethsaida.  We in America call ourselves a Christian nation, and have had access to the gospel for the whole time we have been a nation, so we will be found more responsible for our rejection of Christ if we reject Him than those who have not had easy access to the gospel.  Verse twenty-three declares, And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  Jesus said that Capernaum, which exalted itself as a city of God, would be brought down to hell, and that if the mighty works done in Capernaum had been done in Sodom that Sodom would still be standing. which implies that the people of Sodom would have repented.  Verse twenty-four adds, But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.   Though destroyed for its wickedness, Jesus said it would be more tolerable in Sodom on judgement day than it would be in some of the cities that called themselves cities of God.  Verse twenty-five states, At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.  Jesus said that He thanked the heavenly Father for making the way to salvation understandable to even the simplest of people whereas it was often hidden to those who thought themselves to be wise.  Salvation can never be based on anything other than a relationship with Jesus Christ by faith in Him as Savior and Lord, and for too many people, this is just too simple for them to accept.  Verse twenty-six continues, Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.  Jesus said that the plan of salvation was the plan of the heavenly Father.  Verse twenty-seven declares, All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.  Jesus said that the only way to know the heavenly Father was through faith in the Son, and the only way to know the Son was to know the Father.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One God, and we must accept this by faith if we are to be saved.  We do not have to be able to fully explain the triune nature of God in order to be saved,  Verse twenty-eight states, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Jesus called on those weighed down by the burdens of life to come to Him to find rest.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  Jesus said that if people would yoke themselves with Him that they would find rest, and that He was meek and lowly of heart.  If we are truly following Christ, we must take on the nature of Christ, which means that we should be meek and not think too highly of our self.  Verse thirty concludes, For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  The burden that Jesus puts on us is simply to put our life in His hands through faith and then to live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  As long as we live by faith, the problems that we face in life will always be easy, because we are already a part of the kingdom of God through our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.

Matthew 11:1

 Matthew 11:1 says, And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.  After Jesus gave His command about how they were to go about proclaiming the gospel, He Himself went to teach and preach in the cities around Him.  We, as followers of Christ, have His command to go into the world and proclaim the gospel, and it is not just the responsibility of the preachers to do so.  Verse two states, Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,  John the Baptist was in prison by this time, but he heard of the work of Jesus and sent two of his disciples to Jesus.  Verse three adds, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?  John asked Jesus if the was the Messiah, or if they should look for another one to be the Messiah.  Ultimately, this is the question that everyone must ask, and the answer is that Jesus is the only Messiah, or Savior, that ever was, is or will be.  Verse four declares, Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  Jesus told John's two disciples to return to John and tell him what that had seen Jesus do.  It was still up to John whether he believed that Jesus was the Messiah or not, just as it is up to each individual today.  Verse five adds, The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  Jesus told them to tell John what He had been doing, including preaching the gospel.  What evidence would we offer today if we were asked to give proof that we are truly a Christian?  Verse six proclaims, And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.  If we are not ashamed of being a follower of Christ today, we will be spiritually blessed.  Verse seven says, And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?   When the two disciples of John left, Jesus asked the people why they had gone into the wilderness to see him.  Verse eight adds, But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.  Jesus asked if they went because they thought John would be somewhat weak and dressed in finery, and then He warned them against putting their faith in those such people.  Verse nine continues, But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.  Jesus said that they went to see a prophet, and someone who was much more.  When we go to hear someone preach today, it should be because they are proclaiming the gospel and not because of how they may be dressed.  Verse ten continues, For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.  Jesus said that John was the messenger sent to tell the people to prepare for the coming Messiah.  Verse eleven declares, Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  Jesus said that there was no greater man than John the Baptist, except Jesus Himself of course, and yet the least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than John.  Verse twelve adds, And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.  Jesus said that since the coming of John, the kingdom of God had been under attack, so we shouldn't be surprised if it is today.  Verse thirteen continues, For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.  Verse fourteen continues, And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.  Jesus said that all the prophets before John had prophesied about the coming Messiah, and that John was the one who had proclaimed that He was here.   Verse fifteen concludes, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.  We today must hear and believe in Jesus as the Savior of the world if His coming is to have any effect in our lives.

Matthew 10:29

 Matthew 10:29 says, Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  Jesus was still talking about God providing for the needs of the disciples while they were out sharing the gospel.  Jesus said that not even a sparrow could fall to the ground without God knowing it.  Verse thirty adds, But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Jesus then told the disciples that God even knew the number of hairs on their head.  Verse thirty-one then declares, Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.  Jesus then told the disciples to not be afraid to go as God directed them, because they were more valuable than many sparrows.  We today can be certain that when we are doing what God calls us to do as followers of Christ that He will meet our needs everyday.  Verse thirty-two proclaims, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  Jesus tells us that if we declare Him before men, which would happen after we accepted Him as our Savior and Lord, then He would confess for us before the heavenly Father.  Verse thirty-three adds, But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.  Jesus then states that if we do not accept Him and declare that to the world that He will deny us before the heavenly Father.  Verse thirty-four declares, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  Jesus said that He didn't come to bring peace in the world, but to bring a sword.  We are called on to live at peace with the world as much as possible, but we need to realize that proclaiming the truth of God is always going to put us at odds with the world.  Jesus is not the cause of the world being at war with Him, but it is their actions toward those who follow Him that cause the problem.  Verse thirty-five declares, For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  If we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and our family members have not, then Jesus tells us that we will be at variance with them.  Our values will no longer be the same as theirs.  Verse thirty-six adds, And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.  Jesus said that if we follow Him and members of our household do not, then they will be our foes.  Verse thirty-seven continues, He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  Jesus tells us that He must come first in our lives, above even the closest family relationships.  Verse thirty-sight declares, And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  The cross brought the death of Jesus in this earthly body, and we are to likewise die to the flesh by placing our life on the line for Jesus daily.  We are to die to the earthly desires and to live by faith in Jesus.  Verse thirty-nine adds, He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  If we place our life above a relationship with Christ, then we will ultimately lose our spiritual being, or our soul.  If we put our relationship with Christ first, then we will have everlasting life with Him.  Verse forty states, He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.  Jesus told the disciples that if someone received them as they were sharing the gospel that  they received Him as well.  I believe that this is because those who did not believe in Christ would not accept those who were witnessing for Him.  Verse forty-one adds, He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.  Again. I believe this means that if they accept the disciples, those made righteous because of their faith in Christ, then they too would have the reward of the righteous.  I believe this is more than just accepting the disciples into their homes, but also means accepting Jesus as their Savior and Lord and acting from faith in their belief.  Verse forty-two concludes, And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.  Jesus did not nor does not expect us to make those who proclaim His word, or even those who have simply put their faith in Him, to be made rich, but He does expect us to give what we can to help spread the gospel. 

Matthew 10:16

 Matthew 10:16 says, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  Jesus told His disciples that He was sending them forth as sheep among wolves, so if someone calls us a sheep today as followers of Christ, we should not see that as an insult.  I believe that Jesus meant that we are to be wise to the ways of the world, but that we are not to let that make us want to do harm to anyone.  Verse seventeen adds, But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;  Jesus did not tell the disciples to expect material wealth and happiness based on their worldly status, but to beware of the people of the world who would deliver them up councils, or worldly authorities, and synagogues, or religious authorities.  I often hear people say that Jesus wants me to be happy and have what I want in the world, but I do not find this in the Bible.  We are still His disciples and are no better than the first disciples.  Verse eighteen continues, And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.  Jesus said that they would be brought before governors and kings for His sake.  We may speak about how bad things are for Christians today, but in America, we still have not experienced real persecution like the first disciples and many Christians do in other parts of the world today.  Verse nineteen declares, But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  Jesus did not say if they were delivered up, but when they were.  They were not to be concerned what to say, because what they said would be delivered to them.  The first disciples did not proclaim God's word by their own abilities, but by the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit, and we must rely on the Holy Spirit to give us the words to say today.  Verse twenty adds, For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  When we speak in the world today as Christians, do we speak under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit?  I believe that if we do that what we say will always point people to Christ and bring honor to God.  Verse twenty-one proclaims, And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.  Jesus said that families would be divided because of the relationship with Him or the lack thereof.  Faith in Christ should separate us from the rest of the world, and sometimes it effects our relationship even with our closest family members.  Verse twenty-two adds, And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.  Once more, Jesus did not tell the disciples that they might be hated by the people of the world, but that they would be.  Jesus also promised that those that endured to the end would be saved.  I believe that if we have truly accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord that we will endure whatever the world throws at us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-three says, But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.  Jesus told the disciples that if they were persecuted in one city to flee to another and that they would not have gone over the cities of Israel before the Son of man had come.  At this point, the disciples still did not realize Who Jesus really was and the the Son of man, the Messiah, had already come.  Verse twenty-four declares, The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.  If we preach a prosperity gospel, we are saying that we are more important to God than Jesus is, and if we are Christians, then He is our Master.  Verse twenty-five adds, It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?  The disciple should never be above the Master, but we should not follow the leadership of the worldly master, but of the heavenly One, Who is Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-six declares, Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.  Jesus told the disciples then and tells us today as His disciples that we are not to fear the powers of the world, and that nothing can ever be hidden from God.  It is not enough to just claim to be a Christian, but we must truly put our faith in Christ no matter what.  Verse twenty-seven adds, What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.  Jesus told the disciple that what He was teaching was in darkness, or not yet revealed to the whole world, but that they were to listen to Him and then proclaim the gospel from the rooftops.  What they were to preach was to be given to them by the Holy Spirit I believe.  Verse twenty-eight concludes, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Jesus once again told the disciples not to fear those who could only destroy the body, but to fear those who could destroy the body and soul.  As Christians, we should never be afraid of the powers of the world as long as we are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit and are living under His power.  God does not call us to be fearful Christians.

Matthew 10:1

Matthew 10:1 says, And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.  When Jesus had called His twelve disciples, He gave them great power.  As followers of Christ today, we have also been given great power through the power of the Holy Spirit and for God's glory.  Whatever we do must be done by faith and must be in accordance with God's will.  Verse two states, Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;   Verse three adds, Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;  Verse four concludes, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.  Matthew simply gives us the names of the disciples and tells us a little about some of them.  Judas, who spent as much time with Jesus as the other twelve betrayed Him, and some today who profess to be a Christian will betray Jesus if the price is right or the cost of following Him becomes too great.  Verse five declares, These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:  Jesus told His disciples to not go to the Gentiles and the Samaritans at first.  Verse six adds, But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  The disciples were commanded to first go to the lost people of Israel, who were called to be God's people but who had ceased to follow God.  Verse seven commands, And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Then verse eight adds, Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.  The message of the disciples was to be that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.  The Jewish people had been awaiting the Messiah, and He was there.  The kingdom of heaven has been at hand every since.  The disciples were to have great power by their faith in Christ.  It may be that we need first to go to those who profess to be God's people today and call them to repentance and obedience before we can effectively reach the lost people of the world.  If we lack power in the world today, it may be because we lack faith.  Verse nine says, Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,  Verse ten adds, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.  The disciples were to go strictly by faith, relying on Jesus to provide for their needs.  We need that same kind of faith today, where we walk by faith and not by sight.  Verse eleven states, And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.  The disciples were to ask who was worthy of allowing them to stay with them and were to abide there when they went into a city.  Remember, the disciples were going to those who professed to be God's people, and putting up strangers should not have been viewed as an imposition but a requirement if not an honor.  Verse twelve says, And when ye come into an house, salute it.  The disciples were to be respectful to the ones who put them up.  We are not to act as though people owe us anything even if we doing God's will in our life, but we are to be grateful to those who help us along the way.  Verse thirteen declares, And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.  I believe this means that not everyone who claimed to welcome the disciples into their home would really want them there, and if they didn't the disciples were to leave.  Verse fourteen continues, And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.  If the people would not listen to the disciples, they were to simply leave.  These were God's chosen people that the disciples were being sent to, so they should have been familiar with God's word, and if they did not listen to the disciples, they were in effect rejecting Jesus as the Messiah.  Verse fifteen declares, Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.  Those who reject the gospel, especially those who profess to be God's people, will find their punishment to be worse than that of Sodom and Gomorrah.