What does Luke 9:4 mean?

Jesus continues His instructions to the Twelve as they branch out on their own for the first time. They are commissioned to works of healing and teaching people about the kingdom of God. After telling them to travel light and allow God to provide for their needs (Luke 9:3), Jesus now tells them to find one place in each city and stay there until they move on.

The practice of hospitality was extremely important in their culture. To refuse to house a guest was dishonorable unless the guest was particularly offensive. History suggests some wandering scholars would switch hosts often to take greater advantage of the custom.

Matthew gives more detail. In his account, Jesus tells the disciples to find who is worthy to receive them (Matthew 10:11). In this case, that means a home receptive to their message about the kingdom of God (Matthew 10:13–14). When Jesus sends out the seventy-two, He will call such a host a "son of peace" (Luke 10:6).

Hospitality is a subtle theme in Luke 9. Here, the disciples are welcomed. When a crowd interrupts the disciples' retreat, Jesus shows them hospitality (Luke 9:10–11). When the disciples find a man performing miracles in Jesus' name, they reject him, but Jesus welcomes him (Luke 9:49–50). The first village in Samaria they reach rejects them, but the second accepts them (Luke 9:51–56). Finally, Jesus explains that as we follow Him we may have to leave our families to travel in His service (Luke 9:57–62).