In sending out his disciples, Jesus instructed them, upon entering a town or city, to seek those who were of good repute and abide with them during the time in which they labored in that locality; for the influence of such persons would be beneficial to the cause. But if the disciples were not received by those to whom they went, they were to shake off even the dust from their feet against the house that was closed against them, or the city that refused to hear their message. This act was calculated to impress the people with the importance of the gospel message, and with the fact that it could not be slighted or rejected with impunity. The great Teacher declared to his disciples, with startling emphasis, that it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment than for the city that refused to hear them. {2SP 256.1}

Idet Jesus udsendte disciplene, underviste han dem og sagde, at når de kom ind i en by eller stad, så skulle de opsøge sådanne, som havde godt rygte og opholde sig hos dem, medens de arbejdede på den egn; thi sådanne personers indflydelse ville være gavnlig for sagen. Men dersom disciplene ikke blev vel modtaget, så skulle de (257) afryste støvet af deres fødder mod det hus, som de blev lukket for dem, eller den stad, som undlod at tage imod deres budskab. Hensigten med denne handling var at minde folket om hvor vigtigt evangeliets budskab var, at det ikke kunne tilsidesættes eller forkastes ustraffet. Den Store Lærer erklærede for sine disciple på det bestemteste, at det ville gå mere tåleligt med Sodoma og Gomorra på dommenes dag end med den stad, som nægtede at høre dem.