Salutation

From BibleEncyclopedia.Net

sal-ū́-tā´shun (ἀσπασμός, aspasmós):

A greeting which might be given in person, orally (Luke 1:29, Luke 1:41, Luke 1:44), or in writing, usually at the close of a letter (1 Corinthians 16:21; Colossians 4:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; compare use of χαίρειν, chaírein, “greeting,” “joy” in James 1:1). The Pharisaic Jews loved salutations in public places (Matthew 23:7; Mark 12:38, the King James Version “greeting,” the Revised Version (British and American) “salutation”; Luke 11:43; Luke 20:46). Often these salutations were very elaborate, involving much time in prostrations, embracings, etc. When Jesus therefore sent out the Seventy, He forbade salutation by the way (Luke 10:4), though He ordinarily encouraged proper civilities of this sort (Matthew 5:47; Matthew 10:12).

“Eastern modes of salutation are not infrequently so prolonged as to become wearisome and a positive waste of time. The profusely polite Arab asks so many questions after your health, your happiness, your welfare, your house, and other things, that a person ignorant of the habits of the country would imagine there must be some secret ailment or mysterious sorrow oppressing you, which you wished to conceal, so as to spare the feelings of a dear, sympathizing friend, but which he, in the depth of his anxiety, would desire to hear of. I have often listened to these prolonged salutations in the house, the street, and the highway, and not infrequently I have experienced their tedious monotony, and I have bitterly lamented useless waste of time” (Porter, Through Samaria, etc.). The work on which the disciples were sent forth was one of urgency, which left no time for empty compliments and prolonged greetings (Luke 10:4).