Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
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Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
Ambros., in Luc., 9. 5: The Apostles are not to choose carelessly the house into which they enter, that they may have no cause for changing their lodging; the same caution is not enforced upon the entertainer, lest in choosing his guests, his hospitality should be diminished. "When ye enter a house, salute it, saying, Peace be to this house.”
The Apostles, on entering a strange town, could not know of each inhabitant what sort of man he was; they were to choose their host therefore by the report of the people, and opinion of the neighbours, that the worthiness of the preacher might not be disgraced by the ill character of his entertainer.
One host is chosen who does not so much confer a favour upon him who is to abide with him, as receive one. For it is said, “Who in it is worthy,” that he may know that he rather receives than does a favour.
Also they shake off the dust as a testimony of the Apostles’ toil, that in preaching the Gospel they had come even so far, or as a token that from those that rejected the Gospel they would accept nothing, not even the necessaries of life.
Because to the men of Sodom and Gomorrah no man had ever preached; but this city had been preached to and had rejected the Gospel.
But if it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for that city, hence we may learn that there is difference o...
How then did Christ Himself abide with the publican? Because he was made worthy by his conversion; for this command that he should be worthy, had respect notto their rank, but to their furnishing food. For if he be worthy he will provide them with food, especially when they need no more than bare necessaries. Observe how though He stripped them of all property, He supplied all their wants, suffering them to abide in the houses of those whom they taught. For so they were both themselves set free from care, and convinced men that it was for their salvation only that they had come, seeing they carried nothing about with them, and desired nothing beyond necessaries. And they did not lodge at all places indiscriminately, for He would not have them known only by their miracles, but much more by their virtues. But nothing is a greater mark of virtue, than to discard superfluities.
Also observe that He has not yet endowed them with all gifts; for He has not given them power to discern who is w...
Otherwise; The feet of the disciples signify the labour and progress of preaching. The dust which covers them is the lightness of earthly thoughts, from which even the greatest doctors cannot be free; their anxiety for their hearers involves them in cares for their prosperity, and in passing through the ways of this world, they gather the dust of the earth they tread upon. They then who have despised the teaching of these doctors, turn upon themselves allthe toils and dangers and anxieties of the Apostles as a witness to theirdamnation. And lest it should seem a slight thing not to receive the Apostles, He adds, “verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.”
Ap. Raban.: Thus either the hearer, being predestined to eternal life, will follow the heavenly word when he hears it; or if there be none who will hear it, the preacher himself shallnot be without fruit; for his peace returns to him when he receives of the Lord recompense for all his labour.
The Lord therefore taught his disciples to offer peace on their entering into ahouse, that by means of their salutation their choice might be directed to aworthy house and host. As though He had said, Offer peace to all, they wills hew themselves either worthy by accepting, or unworthy by not accepting it; for though you have chosen a hose that is worthy by the character he bears among his neighbours, yet ought you to salute him, that the preacher may seem rather to enter by invitation, than to intrude himself. This salutation of peace in few words may indeed by referred to the trial of the worthiness of the house or master.
ap. Raban.: Or because themen of Sodom and Gomorrah were hospitable among...
He wants them to shake the dust from their feet to show that the apostles received nothing from that place because of the inhabitants’ unbelief; or, as a testimony to the great distance the apostles had walked, which nonetheless brought no benefit to the inhabitants. It will be more tolerable for the Sodomites than for the unbelievers because the Sodomites, having been chastised here in this life, will be punished less severely there in the next life.
