Matthew 10:11
And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Ancient hospitality was sacred duty, especially in Jewish culture. Travelers depended on hospitality for survival. However, hospitality could be abused by opportunists. Jesus' instruction to stay with one worthy host avoided offense and demonstrated contentment. Moving between hosts suggested either dissatisfaction or seeking advantage. Staying put honored the host and created stable base for ministry. Early Christian missionaries followed this pattern (Acts 16:15, 40). The practice built relationships and allowed sustained teaching rather than hit-and-run evangelism.
Questions for Reflection
- What does seeking a 'worthy' host teach about wisdom in ministry relationships?
- How does staying with one host demonstrate contentment and honor?
- What is the balance between missionary mobility and local stability in Christian ministry?
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Analysis & Commentary
Jesus provides protocol: 'into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence' (εις ην δ αν πολιν η κωμην εισελθητε εξετασατε τις εν αυτη αξιος εστιν κακει μεινατε εως αν εξελθητε). 'Enquire who is worthy' (εξετασατε τις αξιος) means find someone of good reputation, likely meaning receptive to the gospel and able to provide hospitality. 'There abide' instructs staying put rather than moving between hosts. This prevents appearance of seeking better accommodation or offending first host by leaving. Stability in one location creates community center for ministry. The instruction balances missionary mobility (moving town to town) with local stability (staying with one host per location).