And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest on it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
the Son.
1 Samuel 25:17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Ephesians 2:2,3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: …
it shall.
Psalm 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
2 Corinthians 2:15,16 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: …
your peace will rest on him
The peace mentioned here is not merely a greeting but a profound spiritual blessing. In biblical terms, peace is a gift from God, often associated with His presence and favor (Numbers 6:24-26). When Jesus sent out His disciples, He empowered them to extend His peace to others. This peace is a foretaste of the Kingdom of God, which Jesus proclaimed throughout His ministry. The resting of peace on a person signifies acceptance and the beginning of a transformative relationship with God.
if not, it will return to you
This phrase indicates that the peace offered is not lost if it is not accepted. Instead, it returns to the one who offers it, signifying that the responsibility of the messenger is to offer peace, not to ensure its acceptance. This reflects the broader biblical principle of free will and the individual's responsibility to respond to God's call (Deuteronomy 30:19). Theologically, it underscores the sovereignty of God in salvation, as seen in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23), where the seed is sown widely, but not all ground is receptive.
Jesus has just appointed seventy-two disciples and “sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit” (Luke 10:1). Their assignment is clear: proclaim the nearness of God’s kingdom, heal the sick, and depend on the hospitality of strangers (Luke 10:8-9). Verse 6 stands inside that travel-light, faith-filled commission, explaining how the disciples should discern and respond to the households they enter. Matthew 10:11-13 records a parallel instruction, underscoring that this was a settled principle for Christ’s messengers.
• “Man of peace” (literally “son of peace”) points to someone whose character and disposition welcome God’s message.
• Such a person shows receptivity—evidenced in hospitality, willingness to listen, and an openness to the gospel (compare Acts 16:14-15, where Lydia “opened her heart” and immediately provided lodging).
• The disciples were not to size up wealth, status, or influence; they were watching for spiritual readiness.
• Jesus says the disciples’ greeting carries real spiritual weight: “Peace to this house” (Luke 10:5). Where it meets faith, peace settles like a blessing.
• This peace is more than polite words; it conveys the shalom Jesus gives—wholeness, reconciliation, well-being sourced in God (see John 14:27; Romans 5:1).
• By staying in that house, the messengers reinforce fellowship and nurture new belief (Luke 10:7).
• Not every home will welcome Christ’s emissaries. Some will resist, ignore, or oppose the message (John 1:11).
• The disciples are not instructed to argue or force acceptance. Rejection reveals the heart condition of the hearers, not a failure of the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).
• The peace offered is never lost; it simply “returns” to the messengers, leaving them spiritually unharmed. God protects His servants from being diminished by rejection.
• Shaking off rejection echoes the later gesture of “shaking the dust off their feet” (Luke 10:11; Acts 13:51), symbolizing freedom from responsibility once the message has been faithfully delivered.
• By moving on, the disciples keep their joy and mission focus intact (Luke 10:17-20; Philippians 4:7).
• Look for receptive hearts—family, neighbors, coworkers—who show interest in spiritual things.
• Offer the peace of Christ confidently; the blessing is real, not theoretical.
• Do not be discouraged when some refuse. Continue in prayer and move forward, trusting the Lord to guard your heart and advance His kingdom elsewhere.
Luke 10:6 teaches that the gospel’s messengers carry a tangible blessing of peace. When they find receptive people, that peace settles and bears fruit. When they face rejection, the peace boomerangs back, leaving them secure and free to continue the work. The verse assures believers that Christ’s mission is never thwarted by human refusal and that His peace remains constant for those who obey His call.
Verse 6. - The son of peace. An Aramaic (Hebrew) expression. Although the language here is pure and fairly classical Greek, yet the presence of such expressions as this shows that the basis of this part of St. Luke's narrative was probably an Aramaic document.