Matthew 10:40
What does Matthew 10:40 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 10:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 10:40 means
Jesus now shifts to the precious privilege and reward of receiving His messengers: "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." This statement establishes a principle of identification. Those who welcome and show hospitality to the apostles are, in essence, welcoming Jesus Himself. Furthermore, by receiving Jesus, they are receiving God the Father, who sent Him. This elevates the significance of their mission and the honor due to those who genuinely respond, demonstrating that showing kindness to Christ's representatives is showing kindness directly to God.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He who gives honour to you gives honour to me; and he who gives honour to me gives honour to him who sent me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`He who is receiving you doth receive me, and he who is receiving me doth receive Him who sent me,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He that receiveth you, receiveth me: and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives him that sent me.
Context
Having concluded the challenging truths about the cost of discipleship and eternal consequences, this verse initiates a new section emphasizing the blessedness and reward for those who *receive* the apostles. It establishes the principle of identification between the messenger, Jesus, and the Father, setting the stage for specific examples of rewards for those who support the kingdom work.
v.39He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
v.40This passage
v.41He 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 9:37
Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
- Luke 10:16
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me.
- Galatians 4:14
and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 2:10
that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth,
- 2 John 1:9
Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.
- John 20:21
Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
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