Matthew 10:41 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.

NASB: The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward.

CSB: Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he's righteous will receive a righteous person's reward.

NLT: If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.

KJV: He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

NKJV: He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

Jesus is sending out the Twelve, His core group of hand-picked apostles (Matthew 10:1–4). Their current mission is to represent Him by teaching His message and performing His miracles in His name (Matthew 10:5–8). Christ has said that anyone who receives the apostles by believing in Jesus and offering hospitality also receives Jesus and the one who sent Jesus, God the Father (Matthew 10:40).

In addition, Jesus states that someone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet or a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a prophet or righteous person's reward. Put another way, someone who believes and helps a prophet or righteous person will have a share in the reward God will give to that prophet or righteous one.

This seems to put Christ's apostles on the same level as the prophets and righteous men of Israel's Old Testament history. A prophet was someone who was given a message by God to deliver to the people. Righteous people obeyed God by doing the specific work He assigned to them. The apostles, sent out by Jesus, both delivered God's message to the people and performed the righteous work of healing and casting out demons that He gave them to do.

The reward Jesus mentions includes eternal life in God's kingdom as well, perhaps, as special rewards that will be given to the apostles in that eternal home. The apostles will share those rewards with those who believed their message and offered hospitality to help them accomplish their work in Jesus' name.

Matthew 10:40–42 closes out Jesus' instructions to the apostles, as He sends them first to the people of Israel. He says any who receive the apostles, believing their message about Jesus, will also be receiving Him and the One who sent Him. They will share in the apostles' reward, as those who receive a prophet or righteous person share in their rewards. Those who give a cup of cold water to one of "these little ones," in this case meaning the apostles, will not lose their reward of eternity in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus gives His authority over disease, demons, and even death to His twelve hand-picked apostles. He gives them instructions in preparation both for a short-term trip to the towns of Galilee and their ministry after He has left the earth. First, they will preach His message of the kingdom in Israelite towns as they heal and cast out demons to demonstrate His power. Later, they will suffer great persecution as they represent Him before both Jews and Gentiles. They should not be afraid, though, and trust their Father to be with them and to reward them.

Jesus has recently expressed compassion for the people of Israel, who are spiritually lost. Matthew 10 is a record of Jesus' instructions to His twelve core apostles, as He sends them on a short-term trip to the towns of Galilee. He also includes warnings and encouragements about the persecution they will eventually experience. In chapter 11, Jesus will continue to proclaim truth to the people of Israel, leading to further conflict with local religious leaders.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.