Matthew 10:12

And when ye come into an house, salute it.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) When ye come into an house.—The English indefinite article is misleading. We must read “into the house,” i.e., the dwelling of the man who had been reported as worthy. The salutation, as the words that follow imply, was the familiar, “Peace be with thee—Peace be to this house” (Luke 10:5).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:5-15 The Gentiles must not have the gospel brought them, till the Jews have refused it. This restraint on the apostles was only in their first mission. Wherever they went they must proclaim, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. They preached, to establish the faith; the kingdom, to animate the hope; of heaven, to inspire the love of heavenly things, and the contempt of earthly; which is at hand, that men may prepare for it without delay. Christ gave power to work miracles for the confirming of their doctrine. This is not necessary now that the kingdom of God is come. It showed that the intent of the doctrine they preached, was to heal sick souls, and to raise those that were dead in sin. In proclaiming the gospel of free grace for the healing and saving of men's souls, we must above all avoid the appearance of the spirit of an hireling. They are directed what to do in strange towns and cities. The servant of Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behoves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase their condemnation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And when ye come into a house, salute it - The word "house" here evidently means "family," as it does in the following verse.

See also Matthew 12:25, and John 4:53; "And himself believed and his whole house." The apostles were directed to salute the family - to show them the customary tokens of respect, and to treat them with civility. Religion never requires or permits its friends to outrage the common rules of social contact. It demands of them to exhibit to all the customary and proper tokens of respect, according to their age and station, 1 Peter 2:12-25; 1 Peter 3:8-11; Philippians 4:8. For the mode of salutation, see the notes at Luke 10:4-5.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

12. And when ye come into an house—or "the house," but it means not the worthy house, but the house ye first enter, to try if it be worthy.

salute it—show it the usual civilities.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Matthew 10:15".

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when ye come into an house,.... Or the "house"; that is, the house of an hospitable man, when, upon inquiry, found out:

salute it; meaning the inhabitants of it; or, as the Persic version reads, those of the household, especially the master of the family. Some copies add, saying, peace be to this house, as in Luke 10:5 and so read the Vulgate Latin, and Munster's Hebrew Gospel; and is a very just, and proper explanation of saluting: for the usual form of salutation among the Jews was in such words; of which See Gill on Matthew 5:47 by which is meant all kind of happiness, and prosperity, temporal, spiritual, and eternal.

Geneva Study Bible

And when ye come into an house, salute it.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Matthew 10:12. Εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν] This does not mean the house at which you arrive (de Wette), but that which belongs to him whom, on inquiry, you find to be worthy of you (Matthew 10:11), and where, if the owner is worthy, you are to stay until you remove to another locality. The article is definite as referring to κἀκεῖ.

ἀσπάσασθε αὐτήν] Euth. Zigabenus: ἐπεύχεσθε εἰρήνην αὐτῇ, the usual form of salutation, שָׁלוֹם לְךָ, Genesis 40:23; Jdg 19:20; Luke 10:5.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Matthew 10:12. τὴν οἰκίαν, the house selected after due inquiry.—ἀσπάσασθε, salute it, not as a matter of formal courtesy, but with a serious mind, saying: “peace be with you,” thinking the while of what peace the kingdom can bring.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. when ye come into a house] Translate, when ye are entering into the house, i. e. the house of him who is indicated as “worthy.” The injunction to remain in the same house was, perhaps, partly to avoid feasting from house to house, partly for the sake of secrecy—a necessary precaution in after times. Such “worthy” hosts of the Church afterwards were Lydia at Philippi (“If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there.” Acts 16:15), Jason at Thessalonica, Gaius perhaps at Derbe, see Romans 16:23. This kind of general hospitality is still recognised as a duty in the East, where indeed it may be regarded as a necessity.

salute it] Saying “Peace be unto you,” (shalom l’cha,) the usual salutation at this day.

Bengel's Gnomen

Matthew 10:12. Ἀσπάσασθε, salute) i.e. say שלום, peace, mentioned in Matthew 10:13, i.e. salvation. Our Lord adopted formulæ and ceremonies already observed, but He elevated them to a higher use.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 12, 13. - Parallel passage: Luke 10:5, 6 (the seventy). Your very entrance is to be an occasion of imparting spiritual blessing if the house be receptive of it. Verse 12. - And when ye come; and as ye enter (Revised Version), synchronous with the moment of your entrance (cf. Luke 17:12). Into an house; the house (Revised Version); i.e. of him who is worthy. Salute it. With the usual greeting of "Peace" (Judges 18:15; 1 Samuel 25:5, 6). Observe that Christ practised what he preached (John 20:19 [Luke 24:3]). Matthew 10:12

Vincent's Word Studies

When ye come into (εἰσερχόμενοι)

The Greek indicates more distinctly the simultaneousness of the entrance and the salutation: as ye are entering. Rev., as ye enter. So of the departure, as ye are going forth (ἐξερχόμενοι, Matthew 10:14).