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. (Matthew 10:40-42 KJV)
Rewards for those kind to God’s people
Christ concludes this solemn and important address by assuring the apostles that he considers himself personally concerned in how they are received. Those who welcome them out of love for their message and a desire to obey it will be rewarded as if they had welcomed Christ himself. Likewise, those who receive him as their Savior are, in reality, receiving the Father as their God and Portion (Matthew 10:40; John 13:20).
Whoever receives a prophet or a holy messenger of God, recognizing him as such and honoring him for the sake of the One who sent him, will be blessed accordingly (Matthew 10:41). Similarly, whoever receives a righteous man, a true disciple of Christ, out of love for his character and Master will receive a reward fitting for a righteous man. Even the smallest act of kindness—giving a cup of water to one of Christ’s disciples, even the most obscure and lowly, simply because he is a disciple—will not go unnoticed or unrewarded (Matthew 10:42).
A biblical example of this principle is found in 2 Kings 4:8-10, where a Shunammite woman provided food and shelter for the prophet Elisha, recognizing him as a man of God. Because of her kindness, she was later rewarded with the miraculous birth of a son and, when the child died, he was restored to life (2 Kings 4:16-17, 35).
A historical example can be seen in the life of William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English despite great opposition. Many who supported and sheltered him, such as Humphrey Monmouth, a London merchant, risked persecution to ensure that God’s Word reached the people. Though Tyndale himself was martyred, his work bore fruit, influencing later translations and making the Bible accessible to millions.
No matter how great the persecutions or dangers of professing Christ, no one should fear receiving his disciples, for they will share in the same protection and reward. It will be as if they had entertained not only angels but Christ and God himself (Hebrews 13:2; Matthew 25:40). He who supports and enables a prophet to do his work will receive the same reward as if he had been sent to prophesy himself.
This serves as a great encouragement for others to show kindness to Christ’s ministers and faithful servants. Likewise, it urges his ministers to serve with a ready mind and utmost diligence in fulfilling their pastoral duty (1 Peter 5:2).