Come Be My Follower - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site

extend hospitality, which was a custom in Israel.—Luke
22:35.
12 Jesus also taught his disciples to avoid unnecessary distractions.
He said: “Do not embrace anybody in greeting
along the road.” (Luke 10:4) Was Jesus telling them to be
cool or aloof? Not at all. In Bible times, greetings often involved
much more than a simple hello. Customary greetings
included various formalities and lengthy conversation.
One Bible scholar states: “Salutations among the
Orientals did not consist, as among us, of a slight bow,
or extension of the hand, but [were] performed by many
embraces, and inclinations, and even prostrations of the
body on the ground. All this required much time.” By
telling his disciples not to engage in the customary greetings,
Jesus was, in a sense, saying: “You must make the
most of your time, for the message you bear is urgent.”
13 We take to heart the instructions that Jesus gave his
first-century disciples. In carrying out our ministry, we
place our complete trust in Jehovah. (Proverbs 3:5, 6) We
know that we will never lack the necessities of life if we
“keep . . . seeking first the kingdom.” (Matthew 6:33)
Full-time Kingdom preachers the world over can testify
that even during difficult times, Jehovah’s hand is never
short. (Psalm 37:25) We also recognize the need to avoid
distractions. If we are not careful, this system of things
The prophet Elisha once gave similar instructions. When sending
his servant Gehazi to the home of a woman whose son had died,
Elisha said: “In case you encounter anyone, you must not greet him.”
(2 Kings 4:29) The mission was urgent, so there was no time for needless
delay.
13. In what ways can we demonstrate that we take to heart the instructions
that Jesus gave his first-century disciples?
“The seventy returned with joy”
“GO...ANDMAKEDISCIPLES” 93