40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 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. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Matthew 10:40-42 (ESV)

Receiving line

In most Western Christian marriages, at the end of the wedding there is a receiving line where the bride and groom and family welcome and thank all the guests. Guests, in turn, get to bless and congratulate the bride and groom. 

Jesus gives us another receiving line.  This one is more of a process flow diagram. It starts with the common person. If they will receive (or welcome) a disciple of Christ, they receive Christ. Remember the context is He’s sending the disciples out to preach, teach and heal (Matthew 10:5-15). And if they receive Jesus, they, in turn, receive the Father who sent Him – like a package deal. “Christ and believers are so united, that what is done to them is considered as done to him; and he and the Father are so united, that what is done to one is done to the other.” (Family commentary)

Receiving rewards

Receive a prophet, get a prophet’s reward. Receive a righteous person, get a righteous person’s reward. And welcoming a disciple also has its benefit – not losing the reward. Note that this doesn’t mean that if a nonbeliever receives a believer they will receive a believer’s reward of salvation.

Receiving

But what does it mean to receive? Verse 42 gives us a practical example. Give practical help. In so doing, you are recognizing and even honoring the person being received. A cup of cold water in such an arid place as Israel would be a kind gesture and would be well received. What He’s telling us is that even the smallest kindness, if done in the name of Jesus, will have its reward. Jesus speaks about this when He talks about the end times judgment, the separation of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46).

RЯeflection

• Are you a prophet, one who boldly proclaims the Word of God? Hopefully we are righteous. Assuredly some of us are His followers, His disciples. 
• How can you receive another brother or sister in Christ? Or, as in the parable of the sheep and goats, how can we receive or minister to even those who aren’t believers…in Jesus’ name?