Teks -- Matthew 10:41 (NET)

10:41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Mat 10:41 - In the name of a prophet

In the name of a prophet ( eis onoma prophētou ).

"Because he is a prophet"(Moffatt). In an Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 37 (a.d. 49) we find onomati eleutherou in virtue of being free-born. "He that receiveth a prophet from no ulterior motive, but simply qua prophet ( ut prophetam , Jer.) would receive a reward in the coming age equal to that of his guest"(McNeile). The use of eis here is to be noted. In reality eis is simply en with the same meaning. It is not proper to say that eis has always to be translated "into."Besides these examples of eis onoma in Mat 10:41 and Mat 10:42 see note on Mat 12:41 eis to kērugma Iōnā (see Robertson’ s Grammar , p. 593).

Robertson: Mat 10:41 - Unto one of these little ones

Unto one of these little ones ( hena tōn mikrōn toutōn ).

Simple believers who are neither apostles, prophets, or particularly righteous, just "learners,""in the name of a disciple"(eis onoma mathētou ). Alford thinks that some children were present (cf. Mat 18:2-6).

Wesley: Mat 10:41 - He that entertaineth a prophet

That is, a preacher of the Gospel: In the name of a prophet - That is, because he is such, shall share in his reward.

JFB: Mat 10:41 - He that receiveth a prophet

One divinely commissioned to deliver a message from heaven. Predicting future events was no necessary part of a prophet's office, especially as the word is used in the New Testament.

JFB: Mat 10:41 - in the name of a prophet

For his office's sake and love to his master. (See 2Ki 4:9 and see on 2Ki 4:10).

JFB: Mat 10:41 - shall receive a prophet's reward

What an encouragement to those who are not prophets! (See Joh 3:5-8).

JFB: Mat 10:41 - and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man

From sympathy with his character and esteem for himself as such

JFB: Mat 10:41 - shall receive a righteous man's reward

For he must himself have the seed of righteousness who has any real sympathy with it and complacency in him who possesses it.

Clarke: Mat 10:41 - He that receiveth a prophet

He that receiveth a prophet - Προφητην, a teacher, not a foreteller of future events, for this is not always the meaning of the word; but one commissioned by God to teach the doctrines of eternal life. It is no small honor to receive into one’ s house a minister of Jesus Christ. Every person is not admitted to exercise the sacred ministry; but none are excluded from partaking of its grace, its spirit, and its reward. If the teacher should be weak, or even if he should be found afterwards to have been worthless, yet the person who has received him in the name, under the sacred character, of an evangelist, shall not lose his reward; because what he did he did for the sake of Christ, and through love for his Church. Many sayings of this kind are found among the rabbins, and this one is common: "He who receives a learned man, or an elder, into his house, is the same as if he had received the Shekinah."And again: "He who speaks against a faithful pastor, it is the same as if he had spoken against God himself."See Schoettgen.

Calvin: Mat 10:41 - He who receiveth a prophet // Shall receive a prophet’s reward

41.He who receiveth a prophet He begins with the prophets, but at length comes down to the lowest rank, and embraces all his disciples. In this manner he commends all, without exception, who truly worship God and love the gospel. To receive a person in the name of a prophet, or in the name of a righteous man, means to do them good for the sake of honoring their doctrine, or of paying respect to piety. Though God enjoins us to perform offices of kindness to all mankind, yet he justly elevates his people to a higher rank, that they may be the objects of peculiar regard and esteem.

Shall receive a prophet’s reward This clause is variously interpreted by commentators. Some think that it denotes a mutual compensation, or, in other words, that spiritual benefits are bestowed on the prophets of God instead of temporal benefits. But if this exposition is admitted, what shall we say is meant by the righteous man’s reward? Others understand it to mean, that those who shall be kind to them will partake of the same reward which is laid up for prophets and righteous men. Some refer it to the intercourse of saints, and suppose it to mean, that as by our kind actions we give evidence that we are one body with the servants of Christ, so in this way we become partakers of all the blessings which Christ imparts to the members of his body.

I consider it simply as denoting the reward which corresponds to the rank of the person to whom kindness has been exercised; for Christ means that this will be a remarkable proof of the high estimation in which he holds his prophets, and indeed all his disciples. The greatness of the reward will make it evident, that not one kind office which was ever rendered to them has been forgotten.

By way of amplification, he promises a reward to the very meanest offices of kindness, such as giving them a cup of cold water, He gives the name of little ones not only to those who occupy the lowest place, or are held in least estimation in the Church, but to all his disciples, whom the pride of the world tramples under foot.

TSK: Mat 10:41 - that receiveth a prophet // a righteous man’ s

that receiveth a prophet : Gen 20:7; 1Ki 17:9-15, 1Ki 17:20-24, 1Ki 18:3, 1Ki 18:4; 2Ki 4:8-10,2Ki 4:16, 2Ki 4:17, 2Ki 4:32-37; Act 16:15; Rom 16:1-4, Rom 16:23; 2Ti 1:16-18; Heb 6:10; 3Jo 1:5-8

a righteous man’ s : Mat 6:1, Mat 6:4, Mat 6:6, Mat 6:18, Mat 16:27, Mat 25:34-40; Isa 3:10; Luk 14:13, Luk 14:14; 1Co 9:17; 2Th 1:6, 2Th 1:7; 2Jo 1:8

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Mat 10:40-42 - And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, he shall in no wise lose his reward

Ver. 40-42. He that receiveth you receiveth me, &c. we have the same Luk 10:16 , only there it is, he that heareth you heareth me; and there is added, and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. In Joh 13:20 , it is, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. As great princes account what favour is shown to their ambassadors, who represent their persons, shown unto themselves, and whatsoever indignities or affronts are done unto them as done to themselves, so doth Christ.

Receiving is a general term, and capable of a large interpretation. That hearing is one branch of it, Luke tells us. The scope of the context, and the words that follow, do manifest that a giving entertainment to them in their houses is another thing here meant. There is another more inward, receiving of their doctrine by faith and love, to which undoubtedly there will be a great reward. But whether it be here intended, I doubt. Our Saviour was sending the twelve out, he had commanded them to take with them no gold, silver, nor brass, no scrip, &c.; but when they came into any city, to inquire who there were in that city who were worthy men, favourers to the gospel, and ready to entertain strangers, and to go to their house or houses, saluting them, and to abide there till they left the place. He furnisheth them here as it were with a ticket, or bill of exchange. He gives them an assurance, that whatsoever kindness should be done to them, he would account it as done to himself. And further hath assured both them, and all the world, that if any should come to them to reveal the will of God, (for that the term prophet signifieth), if they give him an entertainment upon that account they should be rewarded. What is here meant by the term, a prophet’ s reward, is variously guessed, whether it be,

1. The reward which God hath appointed for such as entertain his prophets; or;

2. Such a reward as such a prophet shall himself receive; or;

3. The reward which the prophet; will give him or them, viz. prayers and instruction.

That which appears to me most probable is, that no more is meant than a liberal reward, for such shall be the reward of those who turn many to righteousness, Dan 12:3 . Those words, in the name of a prophet, are both exclusive of those from the benefit of this promise who receive and entertain the ministers of the gospel upon any other account than this, that they are the Lord’ s prophets; and also encouraging to those who may discern they have been mistaken in their acts of charity of this nature; if they have been sincere in their designs and actions, they shall not lose their reward, though the pretended prophet so entertained prove but an impostor.

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, he shall in no wise lose his reward Christ will not only reward those who show love to his prophets, but those who show kindness to his members, whom the world counts contemptible, and calleth little ones; nor shall those only be rewarded who give them great entertainments, and make them great presents, but (if it be proportionable to what they are able to do) though it be a kindness of the most minute consideration, but a cup of cold water, they shall be rewarded. God rewards the love we show to him, and the good actions that flow from it. Here are three persons mentioned, for whose entertainment and reception God hath provided in this promise; a prophet, a righteous man, a little one: and a threefold reward promised; the reward of a prophet, the reward of a righteous man, and his reward. How to distinguish the righteous man and the little one I cannot tell, unless we understand by the righteous man one more perfect, more eminent in holiness; and by the little one, one that is sincere, though we cannot judge him so grown in grace and the knowledge of Christ. I should understand no more by the threefold rewards, than God’ s more particular value for his ministers, and for such as are more perfect in holiness; while in the mean time he will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax; and that every one shall be rewarded according to his works; which shall not be measured by the quantity of the gift, but by the obedience, and affection, and ability of the giver, Luk 21:2,3 Heb 6:10 .

Haydock: Mat 10:41 - The reward of a prophet

The reward of a prophet. That is, shall be partaker of the reward of a prophet, or shall receive the same reward as a prophet; as, according to the law of David, (1 Kings, Chap. xxx, ver. 24,) He who descended to the battle, and he who remained with the baggage, shared equally. So Saul, whilst he kept the clothes of those who stoned Stephen, stoned him by the hands of them all, as St. Augustine observes. (Menochius)

Gill: Mat 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 // he shall receive a righteous man's reward

He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet,.... By "a prophet" is meant, not one that foretells things to come, but a preacher of the Gospel; for as prophesying sometimes signifies preaching, so a prophet designs a minister of the word: and to "receive" him, is not only to embrace his doctrine, but to entertain him in a kind, and generous manner; and he that does this, "in the name of a prophet", not as coming in the name of another prophet, but upon this account, and for this consideration, because he himself is a prophet; so the phrase, לשם, "in the name", or on the account of anything, is often used in the Misnic writings ^s: he that regards such a person, and shows him respect, by an hospitable entertainment of him; not because he may be related to him after the flesh; or because he may be a man of good behaviour, of a singular disposition and temper, of much learning and eloquence, of great natural parts and abilities; but because he is a faithful minister of the Gospel; he

shall receive a prophet's reward: either a reward from the prophet himself, who shall interpret the Scriptures to him, preach the Gospel to him, lead him more fully into the truths of it, and guide him to the true, and more clear and distinct sense of the sacred writings; which is an ample reward for his kind entertainment of him: or else, that reward which God has appointed, prepared, and promised, to them who receive his prophets; and which indeed is no other, than what the prophets themselves shall receive, even the reward of the inheritance, the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world, a reward of grace, and not of debt; since both, in their way, serve the Lord Christ.

And he that receiveth a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man. He that is kind and liberal to any good man, whether he is a minister of the Gospel or not, who appears to have the work of grace upon his soul, and is justified by the righteousness of Christ, and expects eternal life on that account; if he shows respect to him, purely because he has the image of Christ stamped on him, and the righteousness of Christ imputed to him, and not on any natural, worldly, or civil accounts,

he shall receive a righteous man's reward; either from the good man himself, who will not fail to pray for his benefactor, to wish him well, and give him all the assistance he can in his Christian course; to exhort, comfort, instruct him as much, and as far as his Christian experience will furnish him with; or else the same reward of grace the righteous man himself shall have, namely, eternal life, as God's gift, through Jesus Christ our Lord.