O3
We are not to preach the Word of God to those who are closed to it.
Category: Evangelizing & Preaching
Type: Negative
Form: Implied
Source dataset: Old Testament
Uniqueness: Not unique
Classical commandment: No
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Not specified
Literal Application: Not specified
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
- Matthew 10:11-14
- Matthew 15:12-14
Supportive NT Scriptures
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Luke 8:4-14
- Matthew 7:6
- Matthew 10:16-17
- Matthew 13:12-14
- Matthew 13:19-23
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Matthew 15:22-28
Supportive OT Scriptures
-
Proverbs 2:1-5
Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent
Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
One assumes that preaching holiness to persons closed to it is a waste of time, but Scripture goes beyond that and commands us not to do it because it is actually dangerous ( Matthew 7:6 & 10:16-17 ). That does not mean that we should refrain from preaching the Word of God to groups and individuals in the hope that some who hear it are open. It does however mean that we are to exercise discernment regarding the response we get, and not pursue those whom it is clear are closed because the Holy Spirit has not prepared them. Matthew 15:22-28 illustrates that Yeshua himself abided by the principle of this Mitzvah by at first ignoring the pleas of the Gentile woman from Canaan whom Yeshua assumed was begging him to heal her daughter out of desperation and not out of godly conviction. That would have been the case of most Gentiles in those days and Yeshua, having divested himself of his powers of deity, did not have insight beyond that of other men. However, when the woman responded to his rebuff with godly wisdom, Yeshua realized that, despite her being a Gentile she was a woman of faith, and he granted her request. Yeshua's assumption that most Gentiles in those days were not yet ready to receive the things of God was why at first, Yeshua sent his disciples only to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" with the following instruction: Matthew 10:7-14: &nbps As you go, proclaim, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is near,' heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those afflicted with tzara'at, expel demons. You have received without paying, so give without asking payment. Don't take money in your belts, no gold, no silver, no copper; and for the trip don't take a pack, an extra shirt, shoes or a walking stick- a worker should be given what he needs. When you come to a town or village, look for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave. When you enter someone's household, say, 'Shalom aleikhem!' If the home deserves it, let your shalom rest on it; if not, let your shalom return to you. But if the people of a house or town will not welcome you or listen to you, leave it and shake its dust from your feet! Later on, closer to the time when Yeshua would be returning to the Father and sending back the Holy Spirit, he broadened his instruction to his disciples to include the Gentiles: Matthew 10:18b-20: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age. That notwithstanding, Yeshua's instruction in verse 14 " But if the people of a house or town will not welcome you or listen to you, leave it and shake its dust from your feet! " applied to the Gentiles as well.
Classical commentators
This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the classical commentators.
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2