Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward,
and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person
will receive a righteous person's reward.
And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of water because he is a disciple,
truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Matt. 10: 40-42
This passage has puzzled me for years. What does it mean?
It is tucked into a chapter of Matthew where Jesus sends out his Apostles to learn ministry. In the context, Jesus gives them a mission with instructions (vss. 5-15). He then tells them they will face persecution (vss. 16-25), but they should not worry because whoever acknowledges him before men He will acknowledge before the Father (vss. 26-33). Then he concludes with the promise that He came to bring not peace, but a sword (vss. 34-39). (This is another tough passage!) His final instructions are included in our passage. They are a promise that whoever does receive the disciples will get a reward.
This is one tough passage! How do we interpret and understand it?
It is tucked into a chapter of Matthew where Jesus sends out his Apostles to learn ministry. In the context, Jesus gives them a mission with instructions (vss. 5-15). He then tells them they will face persecution (vss. 16-25), but they should not worry because whoever acknowledges him before men He will acknowledge before the Father (vss. 26-33). Then he concludes with the promise that He came to bring not peace, but a sword (vss. 34-39). (This is another tough passage!) His final instructions are included in our passage. They are a promise that whoever does receive the disciples will get a reward.
This is one tough passage! How do we interpret and understand it?
In this passage, the controlling verse is 10:40 "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me." After affirming that His person and message would cause divisions even within families, Jesus promises that those to receive the truth of His person and message will share in the blessings of God. In other words, receiving the disciples illustrates folks received their message.
Here is where I find the passage extremely interesting. Why would Jesus say such a thing?
The obvious answer is that His disciples will be telling about and performing miracles to prove the Kingdom of God is here in the person and message of Jesus. Thus, to receive them means to believe them. At the very least it means to affirm an openness to listen. To such openness, Jesus promises blessing and reward.
The obvious answer is that His disciples will be telling about and performing miracles to prove the Kingdom of God is here in the person and message of Jesus. Thus, to receive them means to believe them. At the very least it means to affirm an openness to listen. To such openness, Jesus promises blessing and reward.
We are a blessing in society when we live and declare the reality of the Kingdom as we found it in Christ. Some will be shocked and dismayed by this testimony. Jesus says fear not for I am with you! Such a testimony might cause division. Jesus tells us that such division is part of the game if you wish to be part of the growth of the Kingdom! He tells us,
"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Matt. 10:38-39.
In other words, why are you protecting your reputation with others and not concerned with your faithfulness to Jesus? He is worth some division and persecution! In fact, as we testify to the reality of His Kingdom, we will find true life as we take our reputation from His love for us.
When we declare who Jesus is with love and integrity, most people respond favorably. Some do not, but most will listen. Particularly those who know you! As they listen with openness, God will call some to faith. The promise of this passage is that you will be a blessing. You will be salt and light.
Do you wish your life to count for something in building the Kingdom of God? Be open to declaring what God has done in Christ! Fear not for He will go with you!
In 10:41-42 the emphasis is on the reward of the one who receives a certain kind of person (a prophet, righteous man, or disciple). Earlier, Jesus told his disciples as they went out to towns, they should take no provisions with them but depend on the hospitality of a household in the town (10:8-11). If a house is worthy (and welcomes them and their mission and message), the peace of the disciples becomes the peace of that house (10:12-13). But if any one will not receive them or listen to their words, the future of that one on the day of judgment will be frightful (10:14-15). So Jesus is emphasizing the present and future consequences of those who receive--or don't receive--his needy disciples. Disciples should press on, knowing that their difficult mission is decisive for the eternal future of those they encounter. Even if they are hated by all, disciples who endure to the end and do not give up their mission, will be saved (10:22). Thus their faithfulness to this lowly mission also affects their own future; if they lose their life now by means of such difficult, lowly mission for Christ, they will gain their life in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe final judgment of all the nations at the end will separate the sheep and goats, depending on how they responded to (received, or didn't receive) the least of these lowly, needy brothers, as they went on mission to the nations. The cup of cold water for a thirsty disciple in 10:42 reappears in giving a drink to thirsty "brothers" of Jesus in 25:35. (In 12:49, Jesus says his disciples are his brothers.) The climax of Matthew then has Jesus sending his disciples to all the nations, making new disciples, baptizing, and teaching them to do everything Jesus commanded.
Our very lives--and the lives of those we go to, near and far--depend on being faithful to Jesus and his difficult mission.
Thanks for the comment jesusandthebible. I appreciate your thoughts. I do believe we are saying the same thing.
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