Matthew 10

Matthew 10:1-11

Exodus 18:17-18, “And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.” Numbers 11:17, “And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.” Jesus could not carry the burden alone. His passion to heal and deliver God’s people was so strong that He prepared His disciples to do the same. Therefore, in Matthew 10:1-42 Jesus calls twelve apostles and later seventy disciples who will help His carry this burden. This passage of Scripture can be divided into four sections in which Jesus calls the Twelve (Matthew 10:1-4), commissions them with the task (Matthew 10:5-15), warns them of pending persecutions (Matthew 10:16-39), and exhorts them to persevere based upon earthly and eternal rewards (Matthew 10:40-42). Outline: Note the following outline of Mat 10:1-42.

1. The appointment of apostles — Matthew 10:1-4 —
2. The commissioning of the apostles — Matthew 10:5-153. Many will Reject: Exhortation to fear God — Matthew 10:16-39a) The Gospel Brings Persecutions — Matthew 10:16-26b) Speak What the Lord Tells Us to Speak — Matthew 10:27-31c) Confessing Christ Before Men — Matthew 10:32-33d) The Gospel Brings Division, not Peace — Matthew 10:34-394. Some will Accept - The rewards of faithfulness — Matthew 10:40-425. Conclusion — Matthew 11:1 Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels – When we compare the parallel stories of Jesus sending out His apostles within the three Synoptic Gospels, we can easily recognize how they each emphasize their themes by the differences given in each account. We find Mark clearly emphasizing the proclamation of the Gospel by His disciples with signs and miracles accompanying them. This version is thus emphasizing the theme of the Gospel of Mark. Mark 6:12-13, “And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.” Luke’s Gospel emphasizes the fact that they took the Gospel to many towns and villages when it says, “(they) went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.”Luke 9:6, “And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where” Matthew’s Gospel makes no reference to the preaching of the disciples, but rather, gives us a lengthy discourse by Jesus. This is because Matthew’s Gospel is structured around Jesus’ five discourses. The Five Major Discourses: Similarities with the Structure of the New Testament – Besides the similarities between the Pentateuch and the Gospel of Matthew, we find similarities between the five major discourses and the structure of the New Testament writings. To begin with, we know that the nine Pauline Church Epistles establish the doctrines of the New Testament Church. The three Pastoral Epistles establish the order and ministry of the Church. The three General Epistles of Hebrews, James and 1 Peter establish the perseverance of the saints in regards to persecutions from without the Church. The five General Epistles of 2 Peter , 1, 2, 3 John and Jude establish the perseverance of the saints in regards to persecutions from false doctrines within the church. In a similar manner, we can compare the Sermon on the Mount to the Church Epistles in that they lay the foundation for the doctrine of the Kingdom of God and of the New Testament Church. The second discourse of Jesus sending out the twelve establishes the ministry and order of the Church, which can be compared to the Pastoral Epistles. The third discourse regarding the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven which reveals the ways in which men reject the preaching of the Gospel can be compared to the General Epistles of Hebrews, James and 1 Peter which deal with persecutions from without. The fourth discourse of dealing with offences and persecutions from the Jewish leaders can be compared with the General Epistles of 2 Peter , 1, 2, 3 John and Jude which discuss persecutions from false doctrine within the Church. The emphasis upon false doctrine in this narrative material is because the theme of this passage is about offences because of false doctrines in the Kingdom of God. These offences are not coming from the multitudes but from those who appear to be within the Kingdom of God, that is, the religious leaders. The fifth Eschatological discourse of the Second Coming of Christ can be compared to the book of Revelation, which deals with the glorification of the Church. The Five Major Discourses: Similarities With the Six Foundational Doctrines of the New Testament Church - If we compare the foundational doctrines listed in Hebrews 6:1-2 with the scheme of the five major discourses in Matthew’s Gospel, we can observe some parallels. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” The six foundational doctrines found in Hebrews 6:1-2 were laid down by Jesus Christ. It is these six doctrines upon which the Kingdom of Heaven is established:
3. repentance from dead works
4. faith toward God
5. the doctrine of baptisms
6. laying on of hands
7. resurrection of the dead
8. eternal judgment Jesus’ first discourse, the Sermon on the Mount, finds its parallel in the third foundational doctrine of the doctrine of baptisms. The second discourse, the Sending out of the Twelve, parallels the laying on of hands for Christian service. The third and fourth discourses emphasize the perseverance of the saints. The last discourse, the Eschatological Discourse, places most of its emphasis upon the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

Matthew 10:5-15

The Commissioning of the Twelve Apostles (Mark 6:7-13, Luke 9:1-6) – Matthew 10:5-15 gives us the story of Jesus commissioning His twelve apostles before sending them out. The Twelve are charged to preach the Gospel and heal the sick. They are to entrust the care of earthly provisions to divine providence and bless those who support their ministry. Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: Matthew 10:5 — Comments – Jesus would not have sent forth the Twelve apostles in Matthew 10:5 without first training and equipping them, an event that took place in the preceding narrative section of Matthew 8-9. Jesus trained them in the three aspects of ministering healing and deliverance while preaching the Gospel. First, Jesus taught the Twelve that it is God’s will to heal every child of God (Matthew 8:1-17). Second, Jesus demonstrated the authority of His name and He sent them forth in His name (Matthew 8:23 to Matthew 9:8). Third, Jesus showed the Twelve the necessity of the aspect of faith in the heart of the believer to receive healing (Matthew 9:18-34). Thus, Jesus equips His disciples for the work of the ministry by teaching them that healing is in the atonement, and that it is implemented through the authority of the name of Jesus Christ through faith in His name. Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10:6 — Comments – In Matthew 9:36 Jesus has just compared Israel to sheep having no shepherd, weak and scattered. In Matthew 10:6 He now calls them “lost sheep.” Matthew 9:36, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 10:7 — Comments – In Matthew 10:5-42 Jesus instructs His disciples to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom “as they go.” I can see them trying to come up with a sermon or the words to say before they went out into the villages and highways to preach to the people. They would have felt the need to prepare a message before leaving, but as God’s servants must learn that the Holy Spirit will always be faithful to inspire God’s servants and to anoint them in due season. This is why He had to tell them in this discourse not to worry about what to say, for God would give them the very words to say (Matthew 10:19). Mark’s Gospel, which places more emphasis upon the proclamation of the Gospel, says it better in its parallel passage, “But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.” (Mark 13:11) Mark had certainly seen Peter the apostle preaching under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 10:19, “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.” When we compare the verse where Paul gives young Timothy a similar charge to preach the Gospel, we are able to better understand what Paul meant by “being instant in season, out of season.” 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Thus, Paul’s phrase of “be instant in season, out of season” means to be always ready to speak under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit because He will be their every time to anoint him. Paul was simply telling this young preach from years of personal experience that God would be faithful to speak through him on all occasions and with all types of messages. Young Timothy must learn to let the Holy Spirit lead him on what needed to be said for each occasion, whether it was with reprove, rebuke, or exhortation with all longsuffering and doctrine. For we see Jesus Christ in the Gospel speaking different ways to different people. Some He instructed and encouraged because of their good hearts. Others He rebuked because of the hardness of their hearts. While others He corrected because of their simple ignorance. Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8 — Comments – Note that Jesus had been performing miracles of healing and casting out devils in chapters 8-9. Therefore, the disciples had been taught how to do it by this time in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus did not tell His disciples to pray for the sick, but rather, to heal the sick. They were to take the name of Jesus and take authority over every sickness and disease they encountered, without doubting any situation was too hard for the authority of the name of Jesus (Luke 10:17). Jesus Himself has been training the Twelve by demonstrating His authority over every realm of creation. He now expects these disciples to go do the same. Matthew 10:7-8 — Comments – We are Called to Set the Captives Free - Jesus called His disciples to do more than preach. They were to set the captives free. It is the same for us today as God’s servants. Note Jeremiah 23. Also: Ezekiel 34:4, “The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.” Matthew 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Matthew 10:9 — Comments – The currency of this time consisted of coins made of gold, silver and copper. Matthew 10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. Matthew 10:13 — Comments – In a similar way that the early apostles were instructed by Jesus to let their peace come upon the home of their host (Matthew 10:13), so did Paul the apostle opening every one of his thirteen New Testament epistles with a blessing of God’s peace and grace upon his readers. Matthew 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Matthew 10:14 — Comments – Jesus left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum because His home town rejected Him. Matthew 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Matthew 10:16-39

Many Will Reject the Gospel: Jesus Exhorts His Disciples to Fear God Amidst Persecutions – The subject of Mat 10:16-39 is about rejection and persecution. Jesus exhorts His disciples to fear God rather than man because they will be persecuted (Matthew 10:16-26). They were to speak what He tells them to speak (Matthew 10:27-31). If they do not speak forth God’s Word from fear of man, Jesus will not speak of him before the Father (Matthew 10:32-33). The Gospel message was not intended to bring peace, but rather division (Matthew 10:34-39). This passage will be followed with Jesus’ promise that some will receive the Gospel message (Matthew 10:40-42). Outline - Here is a proposed outline: The Gospel Brings Persecutions — Matthew 10:16-26 Speak What the Lord Tells Us to Speak — Matthew 10:27-31 Confessing Christ Before Men — Matthew 10:32-33 The Gospel Brings Division, not Peace — Matthew 10:34-39 Matthew 10:16-26 — The Gospel Brings Persecutions (Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:12-17) – Matthew 10:16-25 gives us the warnings that Jesus gave to His twelve apostles about the persecutions that will follow as a result of preaching the Gospel. Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16 — Word Study on “wise” – Strong says the Greek word φρόνιμος (G5429) means, “thoughtful, that is, sagacious or discreet, implying a cautious character.” Zodhiates says it means, “to think, have a mindset. Prudent, sensible, practically wise in relationships with others.” Word Study on “harmless” – Strong says the Greek word ἀκέραιος (G185) literally means, “unmixed,” and figuratively means, “innocent”; thus, harmless, simple.” Zodhiates says it means, “without any mixture of deceit, without any defiling material.” Matthew 10:16 — “be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” - Comments - Before the Fall we are told that the serpent was the most cunning animal that God had made among the beasts of the field (Genesis 3:1). Hence, the term “wise” is used. We also know that a dove seems to be so pure and innocent and gentle among birds. My wife and I were given two white doves during our wedding ceremony. As we took them in our hands and released them into the room in a customary Filipino wedding fashion, the birds did not struggle to be free, nor did they try to bits us. They were gentle and harmless, pure and innocent of what was taking place.

Thus, the primary characteristic of the serpent is his mental wisdom to outsmart his opponent, while the dove reflects innocence and purity of heart. Thus, we see Jesus taking two characteristics of animals in order to illustrate a point. Comments - As children of God we are to walk with integrity; however, the world deals with us in a clever manner. Please let me explain what an American goes through in the early years on the mission field. When an American first moves into the mission field, he or she goes through several phases of adjustment. The first phase happens in the first few months of an assignment when everything is new and exciting. The local people are trying to make friends with these new missionaries; however, this friendship is often an effort to gain financial support. This excitement soon fades away when a young missionary engages with the culture and confronts corruption and dishonesty everywhere he turns.

Then, for the first several years, a missionary goes through what is commonly known as “culture shock.” The foods are foreign, the behavior of the local people is confusing, they miss home and the strong support of a local church, etc. In this phase, a missionary can withdraw himself somewhat from the local people in order to feel protected and safe.

This is the time when missionaries often return home, simply because they are not willing to crucify the flesh and follow their calling. In order to remain in the mission field, they must experience a painful process of dying to one’s own will and relinquishing oneself to the will of God. Not everyone is willing to go through this process. Because of culture shock, a missionary new to the mission field, fresh from the love and support of a strong Christian fellowship back home, often feels like returning home to this warm embrace of loving saints. This phrase of culture shock is a time when it becomes hard for a missionary to be open and transparent and friendly with the local culture. If a missionary endures this phase of culture shock, and he accepts his fate (or calling) of living overseas in a foreign land, he begins to understand this new mindset of the culture in which he now lives.

He learns to relax and engage with the culture without so much stress. He can behave normally again, friendly, and communicating with the people because he understands that they think differently, and he has stopped expecting them to behave like himself. Illustration - When I first became a missionary in Africa, I was naive about the way people thought and reasoned. I had entered a culture where people dealt with others through cleverness, having come from a Judeo-Christian culture where integrity was praised. I soon learned to conduct myself wisely, not believing everything someone told me. As a Christian, I could not respond to them in the same deceitful, clever manner that they were dealing with me. I had to walk in love and as harmless as a dove. The culture were like wolves in that they would like to devour all of my material assets. So, I had to protect myself by using wisdom while buying in the market place. Genesis 3:1, “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Matthew 10:18-20 — Comments - Our Testimony Before Leaders – In Matthew 10:18-20 Jesus tells us how to conduct ourselves when men rise up against us and ask us for a testimony of our faith in Him. The idea of being wary of men continues the thought from the preceding verse to be wise as serpents. We are to have use prudence in our dealings with others, since some men will try to take advantage of us and persecute us. However, in purity and innocence as doves, we are to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us. We find that Paul the apostle is the best illustration of how God places His children before kings and leaders for a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul stood before Felix and Festus, the Roman governors over Judea and he stood before the Roman Emperor in Rome. It appears from Paul’s opening statement in Acts 23:1 that he had prepared a strong defense and was ready to deliver it unto the Sanhedrin. However, a slap in the face can be intimidating and cause one to lose his focus, concentration, and composure. However, in Acts 23:6 the Spirit of God intervenes and gives Paul a new strategy when the Scripture says, “But when Paul perceived…” This is a perfect example of what Jesus told the apostles in Matthew 10:18-20 Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. Matthew 10:23 — Comments - Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:23 that the disciples will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man returns. We now understand this to be a reference to Christ’s Second Coming. It is a puzzling statement none the less. Benny Hinn suggests that the Christians fled the land of Palestine in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus, the Roman Emperor, and was not inhabited again until recent years when the nation of Israel was reborn. He says that this verse may be referring to the evangelism of the people of Israel immediately before His Return.[429] If we then refer to the previous verses where Jesus refers to intense persecutions coming upon believers and that “he that endureth to the end shall be saved,” we get a sense that Jesus is speaking about the end times immediately before His Return, and not just the first century of the early Church. [429] Benny Hinn, This is Your Day (Irving, Texas), on Trinity Broadcasting Network (Santa Ana, California), television program.Joyce Meyer understands this statement to mean that the disciples will have plenty of cities to go to and will not run out of cities by the time Jesus Christ returns again.[430] In this case, Israel would simply represent the first phase of the Great Commission to go into all the world, as is seen in the book of Acts. [430] Joyce Meyer, Life in the Word (Fenton, Missouri: Joyce Meyer Ministries), on Trinity Broadcasting Network (Santa Ana, California), television program.Matthew 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. Matthew 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Matthew 10:25 — Scripture Reference - Note: Luke 6:40, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” Matthew 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. Matthew 10:27-31 — Speak What the Lord Tells Us to Speak (Luke 12:2-7) – In Matthew 10:27-31 Jesus tells His disciples that they must speak what He tells them to speak. Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. Matthew 10:27 — Comments - Note these similar words from Frances J. Roberts: “Write those things which I say unto thee. Write and hold back nothing of all that I shall say unto thee. For I shall speak unto thee in the darkness and shall make thy way a path of light. I will cry unto thee out of the confusion round about, and thou shalt hear My voice and shall know that which I do. For My way is hid from the rebellious and from the disobedient, and from them that seek to walk in their own wisdom.”[431] [431] Frances J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved (Ojai, California: King’s Farspan, Inc., 1973), 41.Matthew 10:32-33 — Confessing Christ Before Men (Luke 12:8-9) – In Matthew 10:32-33 Jesus tells His disciples the results of either obeying Him or denying Him. If we confess Jesus before men, Jesus will confess us before the Father. But if we deny Him, He will deny us before the Father. The parallel passage in Luke’s Gospel entitles Jesus Christ as “the Son of Man”, which fits the theme of His Gospel. Luke’s Gospel says that Jesus is confessing before the angels of God rather than the Father. Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 10:34-39 — The Gospel Brings Division, not Peace - (Luke 24:26-27) – Jesus continues His exhortation to His disciples by explaining that the proclamation of the Gospel did not bring immediate peace, but rather conflict and division among people. This is a spiritual battle for the souls of men, which will not be done without a battle. Jesus was the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6, Daniel 8:25). At His birth the angels announced peace on earth and goodwill towards men to the shepherds in the field (Luke 8:14). However, Jesus’ first coming was to bring revolution, and not peace. It would be a time when the powers of darkness that held men in blindness and sin would be challenged and defeated.

It would be a time of battle for the souls of men, culminating in the seven-year Great Tribulation Period that would usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. True peace would come when Jesus returns to rule and reign from Jerusalem; but mankind would have to wait two thousand years for such peace to come upon earth. Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Daniel 8:25, “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” In world religions it is normal for children to follow their parents in their beliefs. A proselyte is often enticed into a new religion by offering earthly benefits. I have seen in Africa that cults easily attract members by offering food and clothing to the poor. But in Christianity, serving the Lord comes at a great cost. This is because mankind is naturally depraved and resists the truth, and he persecutes those who obey the truth. Man’s depravity is not held back by family ties. Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34 — Comments - In Matthew 10:34 Jesus tells His disciples that He has come to send a sword. He speaks this within the context of warning His disciples about impending persecutions against them. This statement serves to forewarn the New Testament Church of pending persecutions. Jesus was not saying that He was coming as a rebel to revolt against the Roman oppression in Palestine; for Josephus described Judea as a place of much insecurity, with “ten thousand other disorders” and “full of robberies.” (Antiquities 17.10.4; 17.10.8; 20.6.1) There were numerous revolts among the Jews during this period of Jewish history. Rather, Jesus was telling His disciples that with the preaching of the Gospel comes persecutions. Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37 — Comments - F. F. Bruce explains that the Hebrew thought and speech is making an extreme contrast Matthew 10:37 for the sake of emphasis. He uses Luke 14:26 to illustrate this Hebrew way of saying that someone must love God far more than his earthly family.[432] [432] F. F. Bruce, The Books and the Parchments (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1963), 46.Luke 14:26, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” This is exactly what the parallel passage in Matthew 10:37 says when Jesus tells us that we must love Him more than our parents or children. Matthew 10:37, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Thus, God is saying that our love for Him must be far more than any earthly love that we should have. When God says that He loved Jacob and hated Esau, He was saying that He loved Jacob far more than his closest blood kin. This statement is meant to place emphasis upon the immeasurable love that God has for His people. Malachi 1:2-3, “I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.” Comments – In this passage of Scripture (Matthew 10:1-42), Jesus is sending out His twelve disciples to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is not saying that God does not care about our families when we must leave them in order to serve the Lord. As a missionary in Africa for thirteen years, I was willing to leave my family and go overseas. I watched God take care of my family through divine providence and provision through the course of those years. He loves our parents, brothers, wives, and children and longs to take care of them, but He needs those who are willing to make great sacrifices for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:38 — “is not worthy of me” - Comments – That is, “not worthy of fellowship with me and blessings” (Thayer), or “does not deserve to belong to Jesus (perhaps ‘is not suited for me’)” (BDAG). Matthew 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 10:39 — Scripture Reference - Note: John 12:25, “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

Matthew 10:40-42

Some Will Accept the Proclamation of the Gospel - The Rewards of Faithfulness - (Mark 9:41) – In Matthew 10:40-42 Jesus tells His disciples that some will accept the message of the Gospel and receive his reward. Matthew 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. Matthew 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. Matthew 10:41 — Comments - When a person receives and helps a prophet or a righteous man, he will receive the same reward that these men of God are receiving because they are of God Matthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. Matthew 10:42 — Comments - If someone gives even so much as a cup of cold water to the least of Jesus’ disciples, he will be rewarded in heaven for his kind deed. Jesus uses the example of a cup of cold water to say that if we are willing to do what we are able to do, even if it is little, we will receive a reward. Note: 2 Corinthians 8:12, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”