Jesus does not mean the typical greeting in the ancient Near East (peace be upon you
), but rather the greeting of peace that the disciples convey on the authority of the One who sends them. Such a greeting is a blessing from the Sender, Jesus himself, but this blessing of Christ is conditional, for it stays only upon believing houses, while it returns from the unbelieving house to the apostles. This does not mean that the rejected apostle loses the peace, but only that the unbelieving house does not keep it.
The peace conveyed here includes rest, prosperity, and material and spiritual blessings. If it becomes clear that the house is unworthy of this blessing, however, then it returns to the apostle. Thus, if the apostle, under a false impression of the home, wrongly proclaimed Jesus’ peace over it, he is given the chance to proclaim it again elsewhere.
Jesus commands the apostles to greet the house as they enter it. What Jesus has in mind here is not the typical greeting in the ancient Near East, (that is, peace be upon you
), but rather a distinct greeting of peace that the disciples convey on the authority of the One who sends them. As such, the greeting constitutes a blessing transmitted from the Sender, Jesus himself. Jesus thereby conveys powerful promises to the house that receives his apostles. Yet, this blessing of Christ is not unconditional, for it continues to rest only upon believing houses, while it returns from the unbelieving house to the apostles. This does not mean that the apostle who has been rejected himself loses the peace, but only that the unbelieving house does not retain it.1
The peace conveyed here entails rest, prosperity, as well as material and spiritual blessings, and in the context in which it is proclaimed by the apostle must be understood in a holistic sense. If it becomes evident that the house is unworthy of this blessing, however, then it automatically returns to the apostle. In other words, if the apostle, being under a false impression of the home, wrongly proclaimed Jesus’ peace over it, they are given the opportunity to proclaim it again elsewhere. Here we can think of the image of light being reflected back, so as to allow the apostle to eventually find the hospitality and blessed rest he longs for.2
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.