And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Parallel translations
- WEB If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you.
- KJV And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
- BSB If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it; but if it is not, let your peace return to you.
- NKJV If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
- NASB If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.
- NLT If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If a household welcomes the messengers, God's peace rests on it; if not, that peace returns to them. The response to the gospel determines the blessing received.
Overview
Jesus explains that the disciples' blessing of peace is effective where it is welcomed and withdrawn where it is rejected. The 'worthiness' in view is openness to the gospel, not moral merit. The verse underscores that receiving Christ's messengers means receiving the peace He alone secures by His work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Luke 10:6If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
- Ps 35:13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
- 2 Cor 2:16to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 10:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.