And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward." Sermons
I. THE BROTHERHOOD OF CHRIST LEADS HIM TO REGARD KINDNESS TO HIS DISCIPLES EXACTLY AS THOUGH IT WERE OFFERED TO HIMSELF. He is not the Oriental monarch treating his subjects as a race of slaves. He is completely one with his people. Whatever hurts them hurts him; whatever cheers them pleases him. There is a Christian solidarity. The benefit or injury of one member affects the whole body (1 Corinthians 12:26). But if other members of the body are thus affected, much more will the Head, which is in direct communication with the whole, be affected. 1. This is meant as a great encouragement for the servants of Christ. They are not deserted by Christ; he is in all their work, and he feels keenly every kindness or unkindness offered to them. 2. This suggests how we may all have the unspeakable privilege of receiving Christ. Not only a prophet or an apostle, but a little child, may bring Christ to our home. Receiving the least of Christ's disciples for his sake, we receive him. II. THE CONDITION OF RECEIVING CHRIST IS RECEIVING HIS DISCIPLES IN HIS NAME. 1. Receiving Christ's disciples. He does not speak here of indiscriminate hospitality, nor of the neighbourly love which he elsewhere commends. Here is a specially Christian action. Much is made in the New Testament of brotherly love - love to fellow-Christians. It is a great privilege to be able to help one of Christ's own little ones. 2. Receiving them in Christ's Name. Thrice does our Lord refer to the conditions of "the name" - "the name of a prophet," "the name of a righteous man," "the name of a disciple." This points to a set purpose in the hospitality. The prophet is received as a prophet because we wish to honour prophets; the righteous man as a righteous man because we desire to help the righteous; the Christian disciple as a disciple, for Christ's sake. This is more than mere kindness; it is a distinct recognition of the claim of Christ. We are encouraged to show kindness for Christ's sake, that we may please him - receiving the envoy for the sake of the King. III. THEY WHO THUS RECEIVE CHRIST'S DISCIPLES ARE DOUBLY REWARDED. 1. In receiving, Christ. They are treated just as though they had shown hospitality to the Lord Jesus Christ himself. But the reward of such hospitality is in the very coming of Christ. When he entered the house of Zacchaeus salvation came there. To have Christ within us is to have a better blessing than could be got out of all the wealth of the Indies or all the joy of a Christless paradise. 2. In receiving God. This thought is nearly akin to the teaching of the Fourth Gospel (see John 14:9, 10). We do not merely receive Christ as a brother-man. Beneath the veil of the humanity of Jesus the very glory of God enters the soul. Thus he who receives a child lop Christ's sake is blessed by having God in his heart, and then his heart becomes a heaven. - W.F.A.
A cup of cold water. The doings of this life are had in remembrance: that no humble action in its relation to high principles is lost; but is retained in a future judgment.I. THE DUTY OF ACTING FROM CHRISTIAN MOTIVES. 1. Our Saviour points out this by three examples. 2. The duty derives its importance from God's omnipresence and omniscience. The cup of cold water comes under the Divine notice. II. THE INFLUENCE OF OUR ACTIONS UPON THE DESTINIES OF THE FUTURE. 1. The history of nations and individuals proves how the past acts upon the future. 2. The promise of reward by Christ shows how every simple act done with reference to Himself is made to react upon ourselves in a way we should not anticipate apart from revelation. 3. Things done out of Christ, having no connection with His love, will perish. (W. D. Horwood.) St. Martin, before he was baptized into the faith of Christ, and while still a soldier, showed a rare instance of love and charity. In the depth of winter, a beggar, clothed in rags, asked an alms of him for the love of God. Silver and gold he had none. His soldier's cloak was all he had to give. He drew his sword, cut it in half, gave one portion to the poor man, and was content himself with the other. And of him it may be truly said, "He had his reward." That night, in a vision, he beheld our blessed Lord upon His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right; hand and His left. And as Martin looked more steadfastly on the Son of God, he saw Him to be arrayed in his own half-cloak; and he heard Him say, "This hath Martin, unbaptized, given to Me."I. THE OBJECTS OF COMPASSIONATE REGARD ALLUDED TO.1. In their inherent depravity and their solemn destiny as intended for a state of unending being. 2. In their natural condition of helplessness and weakness amid the circumstances of peril to which they are exposed in their progress through the world. 3. In their influence for good or evil upon the world, and the final account they shall give at the bar of God. II. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THOSE WHO, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIAN MOTIVES, SHALL MAKE THE YOUNG THE OBJECTS OF THEIR DEVOTED CARE. 1. They shall have their reward in the lovely and appropriate fruits with which the objects of their compassionate regard shall be adorned. 2. In the beneficial influence they shall thus originate and perpetuate. 3. In the approbation of their Saviour and their God. (H. Madgin.) Some few years ago, three small children — a boy and two girls, aged respectively ten, seven, and four — arrived in St. Louis, having travelled thither all the way from Kulin in Germany, without any escort or protection beyond a New Testament and their own innocence and helplessness. Their parents, who had emigrated from the Fatherland and settled in Missouri, had left them in charge of an aunt, to whom, in due time, they forwarded a sum of money sufficient to pay the passage of the little ones to their new home across the Atlantic. As the children could not speak a word of any language but German, it is doubtful whether they would ever have reached their destination at all, had not their aunt, with a woman's ready wit, provided them with a passport, addressed, not so much to any earthly authority, as to Christian mankind generally. Before taking her leave of the children, the aunt gave the elder girl a New Testament, instructing her to show it to every- person who might accost her during the voyage, and especially to call their attention to the first leaf of the book. Upon that leaf the wise and good woman had written the names of the three children, and this simple statement: "Their father and mother in America are anxiously awaiting their arrival at Sedalia, Missouri." This was followed by the irresistible appeal — their guide, safeguard, and interpreter throughout a journey over sea and land of more than 4,000 miles — "Verily I say... unto Me." Many were the little acts of kindness shown to the little travellers, many the hands held out to smooth their journey, by those who read that appeal; and at length they reached their parents in perfect health and safety.1. Because they often have great results. A cup of cold water is mentioned here; we can hardly mention a service which one would more naturally think of as a little service, than the giving of a cup of cold water; and yet it may be great in its results. It may allay the fever, and drive away the coming madness of the man who is consumed by thirst — there may be life in a cup of cold water. The fainting traveller in the desert, where the greedy sun has licked all the water up, would die but for the cup of cold water which a provident pilgrim brings to him. Many a castaway on the ocean, drifting on his raft — many a wounded soldier, writhing among the heaps of the smitten on the battle-field — has spent his last breath in crying for a cup of cold water; and a cup of water given at a critical moment would have saved life.2. When they are the best a man can render. 3. When they are truly rendered to Him. The giving of the cup of cold water, you observe, acquired its character of moral worth from its being given "in the name of a disciple" — given for Christ's sake. It is possible to work in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and not serve Christ at all. A soldier may go out in his country's wars, and make for himself, by his courage and success, an imperishable name, and yet never really serve his country or his king, but only himself; his one impulse throughout may be not loyalty, not patriotism, but the desire of fame, the desire of power, a motive which never takes the man out of himself. (A Hannay.) 1. Slight services are often all we have it in our power to render. What can I do for Christ?2. Slight services are sufficient to show love for the Saviour. 3. Slight services, after all, may be invaluable services — trivial — "cup of cold water." 4. Slight services shall be richly requited — "He shall in no wise lose his reward." (J. Gage Rigg, B. A,) In Bonar and MacCheyne's narrative of their mission to the Jews in Palestine (Edinburgh, 1839), an incident occurs, illustrative of this passage. "During our ramble" (near Gaza), "... a kind Arab came forward from his tent as we passed, offering us the refreshment of a drink of water, saying, 'Jesherhetu mole?' — 'Will you drink water?'" The promise of our Lord seems to refer to cases like this, where the individual, unasked, seeks out objects on whom to show kindness. The least desire to bless shall not lose its reward. We all know how precious a gift a cup of cold water may be, and what self-denial it may involve, from the well-known story of Sir Philip Sidney and the wounded soldier on the battle-field. Sidney, mortally wounded on the field of Zutphen, was about to drink a glass of water which some one had humanely brought him to assuage his agonizing thirst. Just, however, as he was about to press it to his lips, he saw a soldier, in like plight with himself, looking wistfully at it. Unable to resist the pleading eyes of his fellow-sufferer, Sidney handed the glass to him, exclaiming, "Thy necessity is greater than mine." It is well-known that in Western Australia there is a great want of water, the rivers in that part of the island-continent being few. Mrs. Millett, in her "Life in an Australian Parsonage," describes the feeling of distress, approaching to despair, experienced by a mother and her child who had missed their way in a remote part of the colony, and who had the dreary prospect, as night came on, of being many hours before they could hope to assuage their thirst; and. their astonishment and delight, when, in that remote region, they saw, suddenly emerging from the trees, a woman and a girl each carrying a bucket. "Perhaps," says Mrs. Millett, "my friend mentally compared the incident to that of all angel's visit, when the strangers showed her a spring at no great distance, whither they were already on their way to fetch water, having already walked two miles from their own home." We ourselves remember with pleasure a hot summer evening many years ago, when, tired with a long walk in the neighbourhood of Heidelberg, we asked the mistress of a picturesque German cottage for a glass of water. Readily was it brought, and the peasant-woman, on our thanking her, replied in a tone of true courtesy, "Masser haben wir genug." — "We have sufficient water." But, as Jeremy Taylor says, he will have no reward, who gives only water, when his neighbour needs wine or a cordial, and he could give it.People Alphaeus, Andrew, Bartholomew, Beelzebub, James, Jesus, John, Judas, Lebbaeus, Matthew, Peter, Philip, Simon, Thaddaeus, Thomas, Zabdi, ZebedeePlaces Capernaum, Gomorrah, SodomTopics Anyone, Certainly, Cold, Cup, Disciple, Drink, Gives, Lose, Ones, Reward, Solemnly, Truly, Truth, Verily, WiseOutline 1. Jesus sends out his apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles;5. giving them their charge, teaches them; 16. comforts them against persecutions; 40. and promises a blessing to those who receive them. Dictionary of Bible Themes Matthew 10:42 2045 Christ, knowledge of 5274 credit Library January 24. "Freely Ye have Received, Freely Give" (Matt. x. 8). "Freely ye have received, freely give" (Matt. x. 8). When God does anything marked and special for our souls, or bodies, He intends it as a sacred trust for us to communicate to others. "Freely ye have received, freely give." It has pleased the Master in these closing days of the dispensation to reveal Himself in peculiar blessing to the hearts of His chosen disciples in all parts of the Christian Church; but this is intended to be communicated to a still wider circle, and every one of us who has … Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth A Life Lost and Found [Footnote: Preached after the Funeral of Mr. F. W. Crossley. ] The Obscure Apostles The Widened Mission, Its Perils and Defences Like Teacher, Like Scholar The King's Charge to his Ambassadors The Greatest in the Kingdom, and their Reward Christ's Charge to his Heralds February the Second How to Approach a Crisis May the Sixteenth the Details of Providence Christ Bringing a Sword. On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. x. 16, "Behold, I Send You Forth as Sheep in the Midst of Wolves," Etc. Delivered on a Festival On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. x. 28, "Be not Afraid of them that Kill the Body. " Delivered on a Festival of Martyrs. Confessing Christ an Indispensable Duty. The Trial of Peter's Love to Christ. Enduring to the End Providence The Meteor Shower (Preached at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, Nov. 26, 1866. ) God's Works of Providence The Final Unmasking. The Disciple, -- Master, in These Days Some Learned Men and their Followers Regard Thy... The Completion of Our Saviour's Prophecies Confirmed Pagans in their Belief of the Gospel. After Prayer Jesus Selects Twelve Apostles. Nor do they Attend to This, that if Another Should Say... Links Matthew 10:42 NIVMatthew 10:42 NLT Matthew 10:42 ESV Matthew 10:42 NASB Matthew 10:42 KJV Matthew 10:42 Bible Apps Matthew 10:42 Parallel Matthew 10:42 Biblia Paralela Matthew 10:42 Chinese Bible Matthew 10:42 French Bible Matthew 10:42 German Bible Matthew 10:42 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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