Matthew 10:40-42
To receive Christ’s messengers is to receive Christ, and even the smallest mercy given in His name matters before God.
40 He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
42 Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward.”
To receive Christ’s messengers is to receive Christ, and even the smallest mercy given in his name matters before God.
Matthew records Jesus concluding the mission discourse by teaching that receiving his messengers is receiving him and the One who sent him, and that even the smallest act of kingdom hospitality will not lose its reward.
Jesus speaks to the Twelve at the close of the mission discourse before they carry out the kingdom mission.
The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ
Jesus sends authorized workers into the harvest with kingdom authority, warning them that faithful witness will require dependence, discernment, courage, endurance, and supreme allegiance to him.