Matthew 10:40-42 Summary

In Matthew 10:40-42 Jesus gave four points on hospitality. 1) Receive us, receive Jesus. We represent Christ wherever we go. Do we receive other believers as we would treat Christ? 2) Receive a prophet. The prophet speaks God’s word publicly. Salvation is a gift but those who have done more will be rewarded with more. 3) Receive a righteous person. In the New Testament righteousness is by faith. Do we welcome those who have faith in Christ? 4) Give little ones a friendly reception. How do we treat new converts? When others welcome us are we gracious guests? Our neighbors need the Gospel. If they welcome us, they welcome Jesus.

Little Ones

In Matthew 10:42 Jesus said, “whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Who is a little one? Is it left open to interpretation? Certainly new Christians are little ones in the faith, but also humble Christians can be little ones in their own eyes. A cup of cold water might be considered the minimum hospitality. Do we welcome “little” disciples as we might define them? What about disciples who are unrighteous and have not grown? If so, Jesus promises that we will surely be rewarded.

Prophets & Righteous People

In Matthew 10:41 Jesus said, “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward.” A prophet “is someone inspired by God to foretell or tell-forth (forthtell) the Word of God.” Jesus further said, “he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.” One preaches God’s word and the other acts upon God’s word. Bengel’s Gnomon [1] says, “A prophet is one who speaks, a righteous man one who acts, in the name of God, and is distinguished for his remarkable righteousness.” Welcome a preacher or righteous person, receive the same reward in heaven.

[1] Johann Albrecht Bengel. Gnomon Novi Testamenti, or Exegetical Annotations on the New Testament. 1742.

Receiving the Father

Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Seventh Day churches, some Baptists, some Calvinists and others all claim to be the one true church. How should we treat people of other denominations? Would God call it a sin to exclude those who receive Jesus from sharing in a common communion? What would Jesus say about this? In Matthew 10:40 He said, “he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” Why would we not receive anyone who receives Jesus and our heavenly Father? If we receive those who receive Jesus, we receive our Father in heaven. Can we receive each other as fellow believers of the important things and not divide over lesser issues?

Receiving the Son

Sometimes we may be reluctant to allow others to bless us with a gift. Some people have even gotten angry when others give to them. We need to allow others the blessing of blessing us without rejecting their love. In Matthew 10:40 the disciples were taught this by Jesus, when He said, “He who receives you receives Me.” What that means is, when people receive Christians, they are in effect receiving Christ Himself. A compliment is a kind of gift. When someone pays us a compliment bragging is wrong, but so it rejecting it. Simply say, thank you. We need to learn to be thankful receivers as well as givers.

The Shunammite Woman

Background to the Gospel lesson in Matthew 10:40-42 is a wonderful story of hospitality (2 Kings 4:8-17). Shunem (Sulam) still exists today near Nazareth. A wealthy woman there invited the prophet Elisha to eat with her and her husband. Her home became a regular stopping place as Elisha passed by. Her hospitality was so rare and great that she and her husband went to considerable trouble and expense building a spare room for him to rest on his journeys. Asking his assistant Gehazi what he could do to repay the woman’s kindness, he learned that she was childless. The prophet said she would bear a child. God rewards hospitality.

Repay No Evil

How ought we react to hatred? Romans 12:17-21 says, “Repay no one evil for evil.” How are we to live among those who hate us? “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” What about revenge? “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves.” We are to give place for the wrath of God. Vengeance is not ours, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. What do we do with enemies? Proverbs 25:21-22 says, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink… heap coals of fire on his head.” We are to “overcome evil with good.”

The Cost of Discipleship

Is Matthew 10:38-39 too strong for us? Sugar-coated sermons are for baby Christians. Jesus said, “he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” We are at war against corruption and greed. Are we willing to be different, giving instead of taking, dying to selfishness, admitting that we cannot solve even our own problems, that only God can save us? Are we willing to sacrifice for others or are we too selfish to make a better world? Do we believe what Jesus said, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it?”

Family Opposition

Jesus explained that faith sometimes divides families. He warned his first students in Matthew 10:34-37 that they would have enemies right within their own families. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Family opposition is part of the journey. It was in faith that God allowed our first parents to choose an opposing way of life, and it is in faith that we allow dearly beloved family members to choose a way of life that conflicts with everything we stand for. If we follow Jesus, family conflict with those who do not is inevitable.

Openly Confess Christ

In Matthew 10:32-33 Jesus encourages us that, “whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” Fear robs us of life’s fullness. Bullies are basically cowards. Often times they will run from bold people who refuse to be terrorized. Even in the worst case scenario, where we are threatened with our lives for shouting Christ for all to hear, the most anyone can do is take our physical lives but not our eternity with God. Jesus wants us to acknowledge Him openly before others. Let’s not be the Christian who hides their faith. Let’s openly admit our faith in Christ before others.

Do not Fear Martyrdom

If we should ever have to pay the ultimate price for our faith, Jesus encourages us in Matthew 10:28-31, “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” Some people hate Christians. Jesus reassured his first students that even murderous persecutors could not touch their souls. So, where is God when Christians are persecuted and murdered? Jesus comforted us by saying, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Preach on the Housetops

In Matthew 10:27 Jesus explained what He meant when He said not to fear those who insult us for our faith. “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” In some parts of the world Christians are severely persecuted. Even in free countries Christians can be threatened by politics, harassed by a corrupt boss or criticized by others for their beliefs. Even church leaders can coerce people into violating their conscience. Jesus told his first disciples to do just the opposite of what bullies want, by shouting their faith from the rooftops for all to hear.

Do not Fear Insults

In Matthew 10:26 Jesus had spoken of Christians being slandered like He was. He was called Beelzebul (meaning lord of dung). Have we been bullied into silence? Jesus encouraged us, “Therefore do not fear them.” When people insult us are we tempted to take matters into our own hands and get revenge? What about anonymous deeds done in the dark? Let’s remember, “do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35) Let’s also remember, “there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”

Insults as Compliments

In Matthew 10:24-25, Jesus coached his first students, saying “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub [more accurately Beelzebul], how much more will they call those of his household!” Have we ever been insulted for our faith? Do we let disrespect make us angry? Jesus said that for the Christian an insult can actually be a compliment. Next time that we are insulted, let’s analyze why. Was it because we are a Christian? Hateful put-downs can be a litmus test of genuine Christianity in our lives. If so, take the slander as a wonderful compliment. Receive such verbal abuse as unwitting praise. Use it to be encouraged.

When Jesus says No

Never Quit

When Jesus says no are we reluctant to appeal? Remember the importunate Gentile woman in Matthew 15:10-28? Did you think I was going to say the importunate widow? That’s another example of being persistent with God. Could it be that God will sometimes test our faith in ways that make us think he is unfair, racist, bigoted, rude, arrogant or uncaring? Yet, in the end his mercy is just. Faith means not giving up. Jacob wrestled all night with God’s messenger. It seems that God wants us to learn to be unrelenting. Indeed, he that endures to the end shall be saved (Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13). Just as a wise parent will encourage a placid child to fight for themselves, perhaps God is trying to bring out the best in us by helping us to learn persistence.

Learning to be Gracious Receivers

We once gave a substantial gift to some dear friends who had given us help in a time of need. They became angry at us and distanced themselves from us. It really hurt us, but we have come to understand that sometimes people are reluctant to allow others to bless them. We need to allow others the blessing of blessing us without rejecting their love. The disciples were taught this by Jesus (Matthew 10:40). I remember when I was young playing a solo during a band concert and being very ungracious towards those who tried to pay me a compliment. One of my teachers leaned over to me and whispered a wonderful lesson; when someone pays you a compliment don’t reject it, but simply say thank you. We need to learn to be thankful receivers as well as givers.

Christian Hospitality

Jesus gave four points on hospitality (Matthew 10:40-42). 1) When people welcome us, they welcome Jesus. As we go are we welcomed or not? Are our words Christ's? We all represent Christ and bring his presence with us wherever we go. Do we treat other believers in the way we would treat Christ? 2) Welcome a prophet. The prophet speaks God’s word publicly in contrast to the little ones. Salvation is a gift but those who have done more will be rewarded with more. 3) Welcome a righteous person. In the New Testament righteousness is by faith. Do we welcome Christians? 4) Give little ones a cold drink, an act of hospitality. How do we treat new converts? When others care for us are we gracious guests? Our neighbors need the Gospel. If they welcome us, they welcome Jesus.

Receiving Each Other

Are there certain church teachings that you or I find rather repulsive? How do we treat others who hold doctrines we disagree with, yet follow Jesus? Sometimes it seems like there are large impenetrable barriers between churches. We tend not to like those who are unlike us, who may believe radically different things about Christianity. Yet what did Jesus say on this topic? He said that if someone receives Jesus, he receives our Father in heaven. If we receive a prophet, we receive the same reward. If we are receptive of righteous people, we receive a similar reward to them. And, he said that if we as much as give a cold drink to a newly converted believer, then we will be rewarded. Can we receive each other as fellow believers and not worry about lesser issues (Matthew 10:40-42).

Is a Prophet Welcome

Welcome Mat

At a Baptist conference in Pittsburgh the story was told of preachers forced out of their churches by political manipulations. With family members crying they were not welcome back, all because of vendettas by sometimes unseen but powerful people. It is not just a Baptist phenomenon. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not always popular. People often prefer hearing smooth things such as the notorious false gospel about how to become healthy and wealthy. In Matthew 10:40-42 Jesus proclaimed a blessing upon those who would welcome God’s messengers. When a preacher of the true Gospel is embraced, so is God. In our family church is a woman who has always shown support of the pastors. She does not tolerate fault-finding against them. Such people who receive righteous servants of God will receive the same reward and not lose it.

Respect in a Disrespectful World

Ours can sometimes be a disrespectful society, from the traffic on the road to the halls of politics. People constantly threaten each other with a deadly weapon by tailgating and otherwise driving recklessly. Even police officers get in on the act. Politicians vilify each other shamelessly setting a bad example which permeates our whole society. Rather than argue the issues many assassinate each other’s character. Granted, we have become jaded because far too many in business and political leadership are scoundrels. Even in the Church, bishops, priests and pastors are often seen as a joke or criticized as undeserving of respect and honor. Yet in Matthew 10:37-42 Jesus revealed his stance on the topic. Receive the one sent by Jesus, the prophet as a prophet, the righteous person as a righteous person, and by doing so we receive Jesus.