The phrase “shake the dust off your feet” comes from the Bible and refers to a symbolic act of leaving or moving on from a place or person that rejects the message about Jesus. Here is an in-depth look at the meaning, origins, and examples of this concept in Scripture.
Meaning
To “shake the dust off your feet” means to abandon and leave a place or person that refuses to receive the gospel message about Jesus. It is a demonstrative way to show that one is formally dissociating from and no longer holding responsibility over those who reject this saving truth.
The dust on the feet represented the dirt and contamination of those who had rejected the message. Shaking it off was a symbolic way for the messenger to show they were not taking any of that rejection or contamination with them. They had freed themselves from any further obligation or connection to the unbelievers in that place and were moving on.
Origins
Jesus first used this phrase when commissioning and instructing the twelve disciples before sending them out to preach the gospel and perform miracles. Jesus told them that when people rejected them and their message, they were to shake the dust off their feet in testimony against them.
Here are the key verses where this is found:
“And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” (Mark 6:11 ESV)
“And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” (Matthew 10:14 ESV)
The practice of shaking dust from one’s feet as a curse against those who reject God’s messengers likely had its roots in Jewish culture. Jews returning home from Gentile regions would often shake the dust off their sandals or feet to symbolically purge themselves of Gentile impurities and sins. Jesus was likely building on this concept to communicate that those who rejected him were no better than Gentile unbelievers.
Later Uses
The early church continued this practice when people rejected their message about Christ. The apostle Paul demonstrated it on his first missionary journey in Pisidian Antioch.
“But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.” (Acts 13:45-51 ESV)
Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet against these Jews who stirred up persecution and rejected their preaching. They freed themselves from further liability and moved on.
The apostle Paul refers to this practice again in his letter to the Corinthians, showing the serious nature of refusing God’s message and messengers:
“Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”” (1 Corinthians 5:6-13 ESV)
Paul says believers should dissociate and symbolically “shake off the dust” from so-called brothers in Christ who are living in unrepentant sin, just as they would an unbeliever. The church is to purge itself of any who claims to follow Christ but reject His ways through ongoing sin.
Purpose
Shaking dust from one’s feet serves several key purposes:
1) It is a prophetic warning and declaration of God’s judgment on those who reject His saving message (Mark 6:11). It is a physical act that seals the reality of their separation from Christ.
2) It demonstrates the messenger is innocent of the recipients’ blood and free from all responsibility for them (Ezekiel 3:18-21).
3) It provides a visual separation between the messenger and those who reject the message. The messenger is making it clear they are moving on.
4) It protects the messenger from the defilement of the city or home that rejects God’s Word. They are not taking any spiritual contamination with them.
5) It makes known that the work of preaching the gospel is finished in that place, freeing the messengers to take the message elsewhere.
6) It serves as a testimony that convinces observers of the certainty and severity of God’s judgment on the unrepentant. Even Gentiles would have understood the symbolism.
7) It makes the serious nature of rejecting Christ clear while offering an opportunity to still repent before the messengers move on (2 Peter 3:9).
So in summary, shaking the dust off one’s feet serves primarily to demonstrate God’s rejection of those who continually reject Him and to free the gospel messenger from any connection or responsibility to those unbelievers.
Examples in Scripture
Here are some key examples of shaking dust from feet in the Bible:
– Jesus instructs the 12 disciples to do it when leaving towns that won’t receive them (Mark 6:11, Matthew 10:14, Luke 9:5).
– Paul and Barnabas do it when expelled from Antioch (Acts 13:50-51).
– Paul commands the Corinthian church to dissociate from so-called brothers living in sin (1 Corinthians 5:2,11).
– Jesus pronounces woe and foretells judgment on various impenitent cities like Chorazin and Capernaum for rejecting him (Luke 10:13-15).
– Paul warns dissenters in the church to avoid divisions over secondary doctrines (Romans 16:17-18).
– Paul describes false teachers who “must be silenced” because of their heresy and deception (Titus 1:10-11).
– The epistle to Hebrews warns that it is impossible to restore to repentance those who have rejected Christ (Hebrews 6:4-6).
– The letters to the seven churches in Revelation contain several warnings to repent or Christ will come in judgment upon them (Revelation 2-3).
So Scripture contains many examples of God essentially “shaking the dust” off his feet and withdrawing any opportunity for repentance from those who continually reject him. This Biblical principle applies on an individual level to those who turn from Christ and at a corporate level to churches and towns that refuse His message generation after generation.
How Should This Principle be Applied Today?
While few Christians today literally shake dust from their feet, this ritual holds essential symbolic lessons for evangelism and ministry.
First, it is not our job to force people to accept the gospel or twist their arm to repent and believe. We are only called to faithfully share the truth in love and humility, trusting God to open hearts and draw people to Himself (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Those who continually reject the clear message, despite our best efforts, must be abandoned to God’s righteous judgment in His timing.
Second, we are not required to stay in ministry situations that are harming us or preventing the spread of the gospel. After making reasonable attempts to bring reform and repentance, we are free to “shake the dust off our feet” and move on when resistance becomes entrenched. Just as Paul and Barnabas left Antioch (Acts 13:51), so we may need to withdraw from spiritually dead churches, friendships, or workplaces at times to preserve our calling.
However, we should use discretion in withdrawing fellowship over disputable doctrines versus central truths. We can agree to disagree on secondary issues (Romans 14:1), but clear heresy or immorality may require us to “shake off the dust” for a clean break.
Third, our primary focus should be on new mission fields and people open to the gospel, not arguing with the hard-hearted. As Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their dead,” while we preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:60). When hearts become firmly closed, we must prioritize seeking the lost over rescuing the perishing.
In summary, this biblical principle contains wisdom for when further outreach becomes counterproductive and it’s time to move on. While we should make every effort to patiently minister to all, at times the most godly choice is to let the dust settle behind us. We have discharged our duty faithfully, though sorrowfully, and are free to sow seed in new ground. As we do this, we must remember that God alone grants the growth, so we do His work with pure motives, leaving outcomes in His sovereign hands (1 Corinthians 3:7-8).
Conclusion
To “shake the dust off your feet” is a concept Jesus taught his disciples when leaving towns that refused to receive their message. It involves symbolically cleansing oneself from the contamination of those who reject God’s truth and visibly moving on from them. This act demonstrates the serious nature of rejecting Christ while freeing His messengers from further obligation and enabling them to spread the gospel elsewhere. Though we may not literally shake dust today, this principle offers wisdom for when our evangelistic efforts become counterproductive and it is best to concentrate on new fields. As we faithfully sow and water, may God graciously grant His harvest in due time.