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SCRIPTURE: Matthew 10:40-42
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CONCISE EXEGESIS:
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You can access the following sermons on this text FREE:
• "Encouragement," by the Rev. Dr. James D. Kegel
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40"Whoever welcomes (Greek: dechomenos –– receives) you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple––truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."
CHAPTER 10: THE CONTEXT
To appreciate fully our brief three-verse Gospel lesson, we must know the context. In this chapter, Jesus summons the twelve disciples and gives them healing powers and authority over unclean spirits (10:1-5). He then gives them their marching orders (10:5-15). He warns that they will face persecution (10:16-25). He tells them not to fear the person who can kill the body, but rather to fear God who has power over body and soul (10:26-28). He assures them of God's love (10:29-31). He promises to acknowledge before the Father anyone who acknowledges Jesus before people (10:32-33), and warns that he has not come to bring peace, but a sword (10:34-39).
Therefore, when Jesus promises rewards to those who welcome a prophet or a righteous person, the context is high-risk –– a spiritual war-zone.
VERSES 40-42: WHOEVER WELCOMES ME
For the past two Sundays, we have heard Jesus commission the disciples. He told them, "Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food" (10:9-10). He spoke of the dangers they would face, including rejection by their own families.
"Whoever welcomes (dechomenos –– receives) you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me" (v. 40). Now Jesus tells the disciples that he will reward those who receive them –– thereby revealing a part of his plan for provisioning ministry.
He establishes a four-way partnership between God, Jesus, disciple, and host:
–– God initiated the partnership by sending Jesus.
–– Jesus then sends the disciples.
–– The disciples take the third step by going.
–– Those who welcome the disciples take the final step by providing support.
Jesus says that welcoming (receiving) the Son is the equivalent of welcoming the Father–– and welcoming the prophet earns the host a prophet's reward. This is the Jewish concept of shaliah, which regards the king's emissary as if he were the king.
"Whoever welcomes a prophet…; and whoever welcomes a righteous person…; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones" (vv. 41-42). Prophets –– righteous persons –– little ones: The movement is from high to low:
–– Prophets were revered as spokespersons for God. Who is a prophet today? The term would apply to anyone called by God to speak God's message. The promise is that the person who welcomes a prophet receives a prophet's reward.
–– Righteous persons are those who obey God.
–– Little ones can have various meanings –– children –– the poor –– those who are vulnerable. In this context, it refers to ordinary disciples. A cup of cold water is a small but precious gift to a thirsty person. God rewards even the smallest contribution.
"Whoever welcomes a prophet" (v. 41). What does it mean to welcome (receive) a prophet? It can mean providing necessary support, such as food, clothing and shelter –– or money to allow the prophet to purchase those things.
The stories of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-24) and a Shunammite couple (2 Kings 4:8-27) are instructive. In both, the host provided for the basic needs of a prophet. Each received a gift of life.
Receiving a prophet would seem also to imply accepting the prophet's message.
"Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous" (v. 41). Jesus uses "In the name of" to make the application specific. "'In the name of' is a Semitic expression meaning 'because one is'" (Boring, 263). The welcome is extended because the welcomed person is a prophet –– or a righteous person –– or a disciple. No doubt Christ will reward us for kindness to any vulnerable person, but the emphasis in these passages is hospitality to disciples.
There are costs associated with receiving prophets, righteous persons, and little ones. One cost is financial. Another is personal –– to invite someone to live in our home can be stressful. Another is danger. Those who serve Christ are often persecuted, and those who welcome them might be subject to persecution as well.
There is good news for us in these words of Jesus. We will be rewarded for service to Christ's disciples as if we were serving Christ. Even small gifts (a cup of cold water) count. We are not all required to be prophets, but can receive rewards just for welcoming prophets.
And so we come to the conclusion of the Sermon on Mission (9:35 - 10:42).
–– Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Barclay, William, Gospel of Matthew, Vol. 1 (Edinburgh: The Saint Andrew Press, 1956)
Bergant, Dianne with Fragomeni, Richard, Preaching the New Lectionary, Year A (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 2001)
Blomberg , Craig L., New American Commentary: Matthew, Vol. 22 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992)
Boring, M. Eugene, The New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. VIII (Nashville: Abingdon, 1995)
Brueggemann, Walter; Cousar, Charles B.; Gaventa, Beverly R.; and Newsome, James D., Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV –– Year A (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995)
Bruner, Frederick Dale, Matthew: Volume 1, The Christbook, Matthew 1-12 (Dallas: Word, 1987)
Craddock, Fred B.; Hayes, John H.; Holladay, Carl R.; Tucker, Gene M., Preaching Through the Christian Year, A (Valley Forge: Trinity Press International, 1992)
Gardner, Richard B., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Matthew (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 1990)
Hagner, Donald A., Word Biblical Commentary: Matthew 1-13, Vol. 33a (Dallas: Word, 1993)
Hanson, K. C., Proclamation 6: Pentecost 1, Series A (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995)
Hare, Douglas R. A., Interpretation: Matthew (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1993)
Harrington, Daniel J., S.J., Sacra Pagina: The Gospel of Matthew (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1991)
Holwerda, David E. in Van Harn, Roger (ed.), The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sunday's Text. The Third Readings: The Gospels (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001)
Johnson, Sherman E. and Buttrick, George A., The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 7 (Nashville: Abingdon, 1951)
Keener, Craig S., The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Matthew, (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1997)
Long, Thomas G., Westminster Bible Companion: Matthew (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997)
Morris, Leon, The Gospel According to Matthew (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1992)
Niedenthal, Morris and Lacocque, Andre, Proclamation, Pentecost 1, Series A (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1975)
Pfatteicher, Philip H., Lectionary Bible Studies: The Year of Matthew, Pentecost 1, Study Book (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1978)
Senior, Donald, Abingdon New Testament Commentaries: Matthew (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998)
Soards, Marion; Dozeman, Thomas; McCabe, Kendall, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993)
Tiede, David L. and Kavanagh, O.S.B., Proclamation 2: Pentecost 1, Series A (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981)
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