And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
Into whatever house they entered, Christ's messengers were first to speak peace upon it, using the customary greeting of the East in blessing to begin their work in that home. This was part of His sacred directions for mission, first given to the twelve and then repeated to the seventy, to be followed carefully without entering into controversy. The greeting prepared the way for Jesus Himself to follow, announcing that God's kingdom had come near and inviting each household to receive Him and the blessings within reach. It belonged to a work that joined preaching the kingdom with healing the sick, carried out two by two in little companies through house-to-house visits rather than by one laborer alone. That same appointment is the present work of gospel medical missionary evangelists, calling for immediate, wholehearted labor for unbelievers in the great centers today before open doors are forever closed.
Greeting and Commission
Into whatever house they entered, the messengers were to speak first, Peace be to this house, following the customary Eastern greeting used when entering a friend's house, a form also used in the same words when leaving. They were to begin their work in each house by offering peace, greeting every home entered with a blessing and benediction of peace. That greeting carried peace into the home where the message was given, blessing the household and the family circle through prayer, songs of praise, and reading of Scripture. The peace Christ gave at farewell was of another order, His own enduring gift, not the ordinary greeting and not the peace the world offers.
This greeting of peace belonged to sacred directions for the mission, to be followed carefully and without entering into controversy. Those first directions were given to the twelve and then repeated to the seventy, establishing the pattern for gospel workers. The seventy were sent after the twelve to go everywhere preaching the kingdom of God and the gospel of truth. They went under His direction to work as He worked, and He Himself was to follow afterward in every place where they were sent.
Their greeting belonged to preparing people to receive Jesus and the truths He would teach. With the message of peace they announced that God's kingdom had come near. That announcement invited hearers to receive Christ and His message and to accept the blessings brought within their reach.
Preaching, Healing, and Harvest
The greeting belongs to a mission that joined proclamation of the word with practical ministry to the sick and afflicted. As the seventy went forth preaching the kingdom of God, power was given them to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits and demons. In that work teaching and healing are never to be separated, and those whom God is seeking to make one are to allow no separation, despite every device to divide them.
The verse shows the original plan that workers go out two by two in little companies rather than one man beginning and carrying a work entirely himself. One carries his part of the work as far as he can, and then another workman is sent to do another essential part. Each is gladly to cooperate with other gifts and other laborers for the conversion of souls. That mission was carried out through house-to-house visits, greeting each home entered with a blessing of peace. Prayer, songs of praise, and reading of Scripture in the family circle would bless the home and bring peace where the message was given. Judgment was to be used about where to spend time and instruction, with the houses that received them providing for their needs.
The sending of the seventy proclaimed the truths of God's kingdom not for Jews only but for the whole world. That light is to continue until it reaches every part of the world. It was a sending into fields already white to harvest. Peter's preaching that added three thousand souls was taking up that same harvest work.
Present Work and Application
The appointment to enter houses with peace is the present work of gospel medical missionary evangelists, to be taken up at once without spending years in preparation. Doors now open to the truth will soon be forever closed, and the enemy must not be allowed to take possession of open fields. Those sent labor as evangelists, scattering publications and talking of the truth to those they meet, while also serving people's needs. They pray for the sick, minister to their necessities not with drugs but with nature's remedies, and teach them how to regain health and avoid disease.
Those instructions direct work in the great centers today with even greater necessity than in His time. Strong men are to be appointed, with many young men and women associated with them, to labor in a humble manner. They are to present the words of eternal life with ingenuity so that souls are reached and converted. They must themselves be thoroughly converted, so they present the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness that wins hearts.
The chapter calls for serious work with the whole being, heart, mind, soul, and strength. That labor is not to be confined to believers, for there is duty to the world and to unbelievers. Workers are to become acquainted with them and place truth before those living up to all the light they have, reaching precious souls in cities such as Melbourne. This is driven by love to God that loves those for whom He gave His only begotten Son, since Christ died to redeem human beings from sin and has set an open door to bring others into fellowship with the saints.
Every person is to be treated as a neighbor, including the bitterest opponent, with deference and respect while truth is shared. The light of the kingdom is not for one people only but for the whole world, and is to continue until it reaches every part of the world. Christ's greeting of peace to a house is a benediction and blessing. That blessing is not fitting upon gatherings absorbed in frivolous amusement and pleasure and lacking sacred reverence for Him. There it would be deeply out of place and unwelcome, because His presence would restrain mirth and recall neglected duty and sin.
Into whatever house they entered, Christ's messengers were first to speak peace upon it, using the customary greeting of the East in blessing to begin their work in that home. This was part of His sacred directions for mission, first given to the twelve and then repeated to the seventy, to be followed carefully without entering into controversy. The greeting prepared the way for Jesus Himself to follow, announcing that God's kingdom had come near and inviting each household to receive Him and the blessings within reach. It belonged to a work that joined preaching the kingdom with healing the sick, carried out two by two in little companies through house-to-house visits rather than by one laborer alone. That same appointment is the present work of gospel medical missionary evangelists, calling for immediate, wholehearted labor for unbelievers in the great centers today before open doors are forever closed.
Greeting and Commission
Into whatever house they entered, the messengers were to speak first, Peace be to this house, following the customary Eastern greeting used when entering a friend's house, a form also used in the same words when leaving. They were to begin their work in each house by offering peace, greeting every home entered with a blessing and benediction of peace. That greeting carried peace into the home where the message was given, blessing the household and the family circle through prayer, songs of praise, and reading of Scripture. The peace Christ gave at farewell was of another order, His own enduring gift, not the ordinary greeting and not the peace the world offers.
This greeting of peace belonged to sacred directions for the mission, to be followed carefully and without entering into controversy. Those first directions were given to the twelve and then repeated to the seventy, establishing the pattern for gospel workers. The seventy were sent after the twelve to go everywhere preaching the kingdom of God and the gospel of truth. They went under His direction to work as He worked, and He Himself was to follow afterward in every place where they were sent.
Their greeting belonged to preparing people to receive Jesus and the truths He would teach. With the message of peace they announced that God's kingdom had come near. That announcement invited hearers to receive Christ and His message and to accept the blessings brought within their reach.
Preaching, Healing, and Harvest
The greeting belongs to a mission that joined proclamation of the word with practical ministry to the sick and afflicted. As the seventy went forth preaching the kingdom of God, power was given them to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits and demons. In that work teaching and healing are never to be separated, and those whom God is seeking to make one are to allow no separation, despite every device to divide them.
The verse shows the original plan that workers go out two by two in little companies rather than one man beginning and carrying a work entirely himself. One carries his part of the work as far as he can, and then another workman is sent to do another essential part. Each is gladly to cooperate with other gifts and other laborers for the conversion of souls. That mission was carried out through house-to-house visits, greeting each home entered with a blessing of peace. Prayer, songs of praise, and reading of Scripture in the family circle would bless the home and bring peace where the message was given. Judgment was to be used about where to spend time and instruction, with the houses that received them providing for their needs.
The sending of the seventy proclaimed the truths of God's kingdom not for Jews only but for the whole world. That light is to continue until it reaches every part of the world. It was a sending into fields already white to harvest. Peter's preaching that added three thousand souls was taking up that same harvest work.
Present Work and Application
The appointment to enter houses with peace is the present work of gospel medical missionary evangelists, to be taken up at once without spending years in preparation. Doors now open to the truth will soon be forever closed, and the enemy must not be allowed to take possession of open fields. Those sent labor as evangelists, scattering publications and talking of the truth to those they meet, while also serving people's needs. They pray for the sick, minister to their necessities not with drugs but with nature's remedies, and teach them how to regain health and avoid disease.
Those instructions direct work in the great centers today with even greater necessity than in His time. Strong men are to be appointed, with many young men and women associated with them, to labor in a humble manner. They are to present the words of eternal life with ingenuity so that souls are reached and converted. They must themselves be thoroughly converted, so they present the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness that wins hearts.
The chapter calls for serious work with the whole being, heart, mind, soul, and strength. That labor is not to be confined to believers, for there is duty to the world and to unbelievers. Workers are to become acquainted with them and place truth before those living up to all the light they have, reaching precious souls in cities such as Melbourne. This is driven by love to God that loves those for whom He gave His only begotten Son, since Christ died to redeem human beings from sin and has set an open door to bring others into fellowship with the saints.
Every person is to be treated as a neighbor, including the bitterest opponent, with deference and respect while truth is shared. The light of the kingdom is not for one people only but for the whole world, and is to continue until it reaches every part of the world. Christ's greeting of peace to a house is a benediction and blessing. That blessing is not fitting upon gatherings absorbed in frivolous amusement and pleasure and lacking sacred reverence for Him. There it would be deeply out of place and unwelcome, because His presence would restrain mirth and recall neglected duty and sin.