Rewarded for Receiving - Matthew 10:40-42

Kim Alexander

The Gospel of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted 3 months ago • Presented 3 months ago

Matthew 10:30–42

Reward

Receive

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There will be rewards to all those who receive God’s messengers.

Notes

Transcript

Introduction: We have finally reached the end of Matthew Chapter 10. Perhaps some of you were thinking, will we ever get past this tenth chapter? The answer is, yes!

In his wonderful book, Exalting Jesus in Matthew, Pastor David Platt provides a succinct overview of what we have walked through in Matthew 10. He calls it, The Commission of Jesus Christ. Platt provides the outline, and I am going to provide the verses that go along with these points.

1. Go to great need (lost sheep)– Matthew 10:1-15

2. Go to great danger (wolves) – Matthew 10:16-20

3. We will be betrayed (by family) – Matthew 10:21

4. We will be hated (world) – Matthew 10:22

5. We will be persecuted (for the gospel) – Matthew 10:23-25

6. Fear will tempt us (to remain silent) – Matthew 10:26-28

7. The Father will take care of us (divine protection) – Matthew 10:29-31

8. Confess Him publicly (before the world) – Matthew 10:32-33

9. Love Him supremely (first place)– Matthew 10:34-37

10. Take the ultimate risk (carry your cross) – Matthew 10:38-39

11. Find the ultimate reward (receive) – Matthew 10:40-42[1]

As we approach these final verses what we are going to be looking at is: The Reward for Receiving a Kingdom Worker. God is going to reward everyone who welcomes and receives one of His sent ones (His apostles and disciples).

Here is how Jesus describes the process of the coming reward… You must…

I. Receive the Apostles – 10:40

40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

Here is a truth we as the followers of Jesus Christ must not forget. We are the MESSENGERS of Jesus Christ. In the same way as John the Baptist was only a messenger, or for that fact, Moses. You and I are forerunners of the King of Kings. It’s not about us, but it is all about HIM. And when the people we approach receive our message, they are receiving the one we represent.

Paul understood this when he penned in 2 Corinthians 5:20,

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

That is our message – receive Jesus Christ!

The apostles were God’s ambassadors. You and I are God’s ambassadors. We are representing Jesus Christ here on earth – how are we doing?

We see this played out all the time with the ambassadors of the United States or even State Department figureheads that are sent to represent the United States. Receiving nations open their doors to these representatives, and they are receiving them as if they were receiving the President of the United States, which they are representing.

How are we doing in representing Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world? Does Jesus shine through us? Are we being life-giving representatives of Jesus Christ? Are we the REAL thing? I’m not talking about being perfect, but I am talking about the necessity of being REAL. Are you a Christian living for Jesus Christ?

Look closely at what Jesus taught here. He says,

“He who receives you receives Me”

What do we have in those few words? We have He, You, and Jesus.

The word “receives” is a very important word. It means to welcome someone into your house. To invite someone to come in (3 John 8). To have an open door.

Next, Jesus says,

“and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

What do we have now in those few words? We have He, Jesus, God the Father. You see, ultimately It’s about a personal relationship with Jesus and God the Father.

You see welcoming Jesus’ apostles was tantamount to welcoming Jesus Himself, and ultimately welcoming God into your life.

Jewish culture understood this concept of receiving. Jews always felt that to honor a person’s representative was the same as to honor the person who had sent the representative.[2]

On the other hand, the opposite is also true. If people reject you, it is not you that they are rejecting, but Jesus Christ, and ultimately, they are rejecting God the Father

Visiting the Community/Door-knocking

For years as a young pastor, I used to go out into the community and knock on doors, introducing myself, sharing the gospel, and inviting people to church. There were occasions when I had people slam the door in my face. Now, on those occasions, I could have taken it personally. I chose not to, instead I saw it as they wanted nothing to do with Jesus Christ. They were not rejecting me, they were rejecting the one I represented, and ultimately, they were rejecting God.

And how will people be rewarded? They must…

II. Receive the Prophet – 10:41a

41a He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward.

The word “prophet” means mouthpiece. A prophet was a servant to God. Prophets spoke what God placed in their heart. In a sense, we are all prophets. Jesus says that if you receive the message of a prophet, you are receiving the message of God, and you will receive a future reward.

Those in the Old Testament who received the message of the prophet will receive the reward of that prophet. The Old Testament prophets spoke about the coming of the Messiah. Those who received (welcomed) their message will receive the same reward that the prophet will receive based on their faithfulness in delivering God’s message. What is the reward? A kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:11-14). This is the reward given to all who receive a prophet.

A List of Old Testament Prophets

Here is a small sampling of some of the Old Testament prophets:

· Moses the first Prophet – led Israel out of slavery.

· Elijah the Prophet – caught up to God.

· Jeremiah the Prophet – called the weeping prophet.

· Isaiah the Prophet – spoke of judgment and hope.

· Ezekiel the Prophet – spoke of the destruction of Jerusalem and the restoration of the land of Israel. He was a watchman who warned God’s people.

· Daniel the Prophet – interpreter of visions and dreams.

Time doesn’t allow me to mention all the prophets of the Old Testament (some list 17, some 24, and some up to 50 prophets). However, those who heeded the message of the prophets will receive a prophet’s reward. Praise God for the prophets who spoke God’s Word faithfully.

Also, make sure you understand that a prophet today is anyone who speaks forth the truth of God’s word. Many very gifted men are God’s prophets today – endowed with the spiritual gift of a prophecy (1 Corinthians 12:10; Romans 12:6). When they teach God’s Word receive it – receive their message from God. And as you receive it you will also receive their future reward.

However, the same is also true if you reject the message of the prophet (God’s mouthpiece), you will also lose out on the future reward, and you will face future judgment.

How will people be rewarded? They are to…

III. Receive the Righteous – 10:41b

41b And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

The righteous man is another example. A man is not righteous by his own accord (self-righteousness is not God’s righteousness). No, a sinner is declared righteous by what Jesus Christ has done for him (Philippians 3:9). Jesus Christ who knew no sin, took our sin, that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

You are a righteous man (or woman) if you have decided to follow Jesus Christ. You know Him as your Savior and Lord. You have been born from above by the Holy Spirit (see John 3).

Now, if you receive the message of a righteous man, you will receive the same reward that he will receive in glory. Here is what the prophet Daniel penned,

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousnesslike the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:3).

However, if you reject the righteous man and the Word of God that he shares with you, you are not rejecting him, but Jesus Christ. And, if you reject Jesus Christ, you will not receive a future reward, but a future judgment. And what is that coming judgment? Well, we read in Revelation 20:11-15, we read,

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

How will people be rewarded? They are to…

IV. Receive the Little Ones – 10:42

42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Who are the “little ones”? Many believe that Jesus was talking about His disciples. Jesus was saying that if you take care of His disciples you shall be rewarded. Others believe that Jesus was speaking about all believers (perhaps here, new believers, or very young followers). Jesus was saying, take care of my sheep and you shall be rewarded. Many times, little ones are unable to care for themselves.

Several weeks ago, at Ladies' Bible Study, I heard my granddaughter, Reghan outside my office door saying, “I need a drink, I need a drink, I need a drink.” Most of the moms were talking and they didn’t even hear her repeated requests. Since she was right outside my office door I got up, opened my door, and I lifted her to the water fountain so that she could get a drink. Now, please hear this – that is a perfect example of what Jesus was saying.

Look at the two words: “whosever gives”.What do we have here? I see three ideas in this verse. Here they are:

First, receivers must learn to give.

Larry Brotzman, Linda Gehrig, and Sheryle Thompson’s father used to say, “Givers are gainers”. That is so very true, especially in the long term. What we share with God’s servants here on earth today has an eternal impact on us in the future.

In his book The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn says, “Send your Treasure ahead.”

Second, receivers must give a cup of cold water.

Giving a cup of cold water is a very small task and something that everyone can do.

Wall Drug of South Dakota

Have any of you traveled through South Dakota and seen the signs for Wall Drug? Wall Drug is a must-stop for all tourists. The signs are posted on the interstate for miles, and they read Free Ice Water. Back in the day before most cars had AC this was a must for travelers. The owners of Wall Drug give free ice water to people traveling from East to West or West to East on the I-90 corridor. And when you stopped you graciously received a cup of cold water.

What we are looking at here is REFRESHMENT! A cup of cold water on a hot day means so much to the recipient. But get this, when you give a cup of cold water to a “little one” God sees it as you are giving a cup of cold water to Him.

Third, receivers will not lose their reward.

Jesus says,

“assuredly, I say, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Please hear what I am about to say,

· You cannot be rewarded if you are unwilling to give.

· But you cannot lose what you have willingly given.

And what is Jesus talking about? Reward. Nothing of kindness goes without notice. Rewards are waiting for those who receive and those who serve through giving. It might be a word, or it might be a cup of water. Neither goes without notice and not without future reward.

We read in Matthew 25:33-46,

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Conclusion: So, we discover from these last few verses of Matthew 10 that there is a reward awaiting all those who receive God’s apostles, prophets, righteous, and little ones. Will you be rewarded? Have you received (taken in) God’s messengers? Don’t delay – do it today!

What are the takeaway truths from these final verses? They are:

1. Those who receive you, receive Jesus Christ, and those who receive Jesus Christ are receiving the one who sent Him, which is God the Father.

2. Those who are rejecting you are not rejecting you, but Jesus Christ, and God the Father who sent Him.

3. Those who receive a prophet and his message will receive the reward of a prophet in the future.

4. Those who receive a righteous man and his message will receive the reward of a righteous man in the future.

5. Simple acts of service are not overlooked for reward. Such as giving a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus Christ. This simple act will be rewarded in heaven.

6. In God’s economy to receive equals REWARD.

[1] Exalting Jesus in Matthew, David Platt [2]Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (Third Ed., p. 460). Saint Andrew Press.

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