Matthew 10:40–42
Bible verses · Also called: Matthew 10:40-42, Mt 10:40–42, Matt. 10:40-42
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40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41 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.
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
The text is the New Korean Revised Version (1998), shown under a licence from the Korean Bible Society. Wording may differ slightly from the Korean Revised Version and the Revised New Korean Standard Version. Read in the Korean Revised Version
The closing section of the instructions Jesus gave when sending out the twelve disciples, declaring that whoever receives those he sends receives Jesus and, through him, God. Because of the phrase "a cup of cold water," the passage is often cited in sermons on small acts of service and on hospitality toward missionaries.
Context
Matthew 10 collects the teachings Jesus gave when he called the twelve disciples, gave them power, and sent them to the towns of Israel. It is commonly called the "Missionary Discourse," since it consists of Jesus's words in sending out the disciples. The earlier part of the chapter warns of the persecution and family conflict the disciples will face. Verses 40–42 conclude the discourse with a promise to those who receive the disciples. Matthew 11:1 then records that Jesus had made an end of commanding his disciples. Similar sayings appear in Mark 9, Luke 10, and John 13.
Interpretation
- The principle of sending: A widely accepted interpretation reads the passage against the background of the Jewish concept that one who is sent represents the one who sent him. Receiving a disciple thus amounts to receiving Jesus and, beyond that, receiving the God who sent Jesus.
- The meaning of "in the name of": Many commentators take "in the name of a prophet" as a Semitic idiom meaning "because he is a prophet," that is, receiving someone in recognition of that status.
- Who are the "little ones"?: Many scholars read the "little ones" (soja in the Korean Revised Version; jageun ja, "little ones," in the New Korean Revised Version) in context as the disciples themselves, particularly believers who appear insignificant. Other readings link the passage with "the least of these" in Matthew 25 and apply it to poor and vulnerable neighbors in general.
Questions of Application
- Reward and grace: The passage speaks of a "reward" that follows good deeds. Interpreters in the Reformation tradition explain this reward not as payment for merit but as something God gives by grace. The Catholic Church understands the passage within its doctrine affirming the merit of good works performed with the aid of grace.
- Scope of application: The saying originally concerns receiving disciples who have been sent out. Some therefore argue that citing it narrowly as applying only to hospitality toward ministers, or conversely broadening it into a general exhortation to almsgiving, misses the context.
In Korean Churches
The passage is frequently cited in sermons encouraging hospitality toward and support for missionaries, as well as small, unnoticed acts of service and charity. "A cup of cold water" is used idiomatically to describe service that may seem trivial but that God remembers.
Related Passages
- Mark 9:41
- Luke 10:16
- John 13:20
- Matthew 25:40
- Proverbs 19:17
See also 8
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