§109. F. Rewards for Assisting the Ministry(Mat. 10:40–42)

Introduction

Discipleship is very costly and it even demands our own life.

Disciple will receive nothing but rejection, shame and persecution

Why a good God allows His disciple t undergo such suffering?

its answer is important to the integrity of Jesus

Exposition

10:40.

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

1. receives you
   1. We are ambassadors of Christ or agents of bringing salvation
   2. We cannot forgive sin, but can announce the forgiveness in Christ
2. receives Me
   1. Messianic claim that the Father has sent Him.
   2. Faith in God is impossible without faith in Jesus.
   3. See the progression: Father, Jesus, Prophet, Righteous, and Little ones.

10:41.

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

1. Receive a Prophet:
   1. Prophet is a messenger of God, not necessarily telling future.
   2. Indirect reference to John the Baptist: He never performed any miracle nor any future prediction.
   3. John's life and ministry is a proof to the Messianic fulfilment in Jesus.
   4. These disciples are future apostles and prophets.
   5. Receiving prophet means, giving hospitality to them because they belong to Jesus, especially in the time of persecution.

2. Reward:
   1. If there is reward for such a small thing, what will the reward for great things?
   2. Everything, even the insignificant things done by insignificant disciple will be counted for reward.
   3. God keeps an account of every minute details of our ministry.
   4. Persecution is an immediate reality while the Reward is an eternal hope

3. Prophet's reward
   1. What an encouragement to those who are not prophets!
   2. John Calvin was banished from Geneva for preaching the full truth from WoG. In response he said, “Most assuredly, if I had merely served man, this would have been a poor reward. But it is my happiness that I have served Him who never fails to reward His servants to the full extent of His promise.”

10:42.

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.”

Whoever

1. Lord is gracious and He is eager to give reward
2. The reward is much higher than the work

little ones

1. believers who are insignificant to the human eye

cup of water

1. No one can give an excuse that he is not able to do this

Reward

1. Doctrine of eternal reward is essential to understand the Love of God

Application

1. Expecting reward from the Lord is a reflection of faith because the reward is now invisible

2. Work hard for the Lord because the reward is proportional to the work

3. Realize the suffering involved in following Jesus is actually an advantage in eternity

4. In God’s magnificent grace, even the least believer can share the blessings of the greatest, and everyone's good work will be rewarded

About this document ...

Compiled by tfrdn7@gmail.com on 2026-09-13 19:18 for the glory of the Lord