Shake The Dust Off Your Feet

[The Bible is an “Eastern” book. It was written many years ago in the “East” which today we refer to as “The Middle East.” As such, there are many customs and idioms that are not familiar to the “Western” mind.]

In the Gospels, you read of Jesus sending out the twelve to preach. One of the things he told them was that if people didn’t want to hear what they had to say they were to depart and, “shake off the dust of your feet.”

Paul and Barnabas in Acts, Chapter 13, “shook off the dust of their feet,” when they were expelled out of Antioch.

To our Western minds that sounds a little odd. In fact, it almost sounds a little arrogant. But, again, understanding the Eastern mind gives us great insight.

It Is Not Literal

First of all, it is not literal. They did not take off their sandals and shake the dust off. It is sandals an Eastern idiom. It has to do with what you walk away with in your mind, what you carry in your mind.

This Eastern idiom means to shake off any animosity or bitter feelings which you may have toward someone. In doing so, when you leave, you leave with peace in your heart and mind. You don’t take with you any resentment for others. In other words, don’t take any anger, hurt, blame or regret with you when you leave.

If Jesus sent you out to preach, then you would certainly want people to respond favorably to the message. But when people don’t respond favorably, you might be tempted to be upset with them. How could they refuse? What’s wrong with them?

Shaking the dust means that you don’t carry any of that with you. And the same is true if they treat you poorly. You don’t carry any of that with you either. You leave it all there and move on.

Leave It All Behind

Shaking off the dust means you leave all thoughts of ill feeling behind, and move forward with God’s peace in your heart and mind. It is the responsibility of those who hear the message what they do with it – accept it or reject it.

Sometimes Christians feel obligated to make people accept the Good News and obligated to make them believe something. When you share the Good News you are simply a messenger, like the twelve were, like Paul and Barnabas. You and I are not responsible for people’s response. And you really don’t want to allow people’s negative responses to weigh you down in your mind.

Shake the dust from your feet, and move on.

Matthew 10:14:
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.

Mark 6:11:
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.

Luke 9:5:
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.

Acts 13:51:
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

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Mike Verdicchio
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There are a number of books that you can read to get insight on customs, manners, idioms and meanings from the Eastern culture in which the Bible was written. The best I know of were written by by Bishop K. C. Pillai. I have had the pleasure of listening to recorded teaching by him.

He wrote three books, and they are hard to find, and are usually over priced. But, if you want to you can check this link to see what Amazon has to offer. Light Through an Eastern Window

Another great resource that I have used for years is a book called, “Manners and Customs of the Bible,” by James Freeman. Mine was printed in 1972 and I know they have newer additions. For the newest edition, just click the link and it will take you to Amazon. The New Manners and Customs of the Bible (Pure Gold Classics)

If you went to your friend’s house and you were greeted at the door by something like, “Hi! I’m glad you’re here. Come on in, take off your shoes, and I’ll wash your feet,” you would probably wonder what in the world was going on!

I went to a friend’s house once, right after they got new carpet, and for awhile, they insisted that all guests take their shoes off before walking on their new carpet. However, they never once offered to wash my feet.

The Last Supper

A lot of people are familiar with a foot washing incident that occurred during what is commonly called, “the last supper.” This event took place shortly before Jesus was arrested. And, while some understand the lesson regarding service, many fail to see an even greater impact that the lesson can have.

In the lands and times of the Bible, people wore sandals and walked on dusty roads. It was, therefore, very common to have your feet washed upon entering a friend’s house.

Who’s Job Was It?

The servant that would perform this lowly task was usually the lowest servant in the household. However, an exception to that was if the guest was someone of great importance, someone with a very high rank in society. On those occasions, it was the master of the house who would wash the feet.

In the Bible culture, if the master of the house washed your feet, it was his way of recognizing that you were a very important person. It was an extremely high compliment.

What A Lesson!

When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples that night, he was not only teaching them humility and service, but he was also teaching them about love. They knew that their own social status did not deserve that kind of treatment. That is why Peter objected and refused to have Jesus wash his feet.

When you look at the Scriptures through an “eastern eye,” many details and truths become apparent. And isn’t it just something that right before he was about to suffer and die for the whole world, Jesus Christ treated his disciples like they were royalty?

John 13:4-17
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

It really is quite a lesson, isn’t it?

Mike Verdicchio

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For other posts just click “The Eastern Eye” tab above.

There are a number of books that you can read to get insight on customs, manners, idioms and meanings from the eastern culture in which the Bible was written. The best I know of were written by by Bishop K. C. Pillai. I have had the pleasure of listening to recorded teaching by him.