Matthew 10:42Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Enough had been said above to persuade those who should have to entertain the Apostles. For who would not with all willingness take in to his house men who were so courageous, that they despised all dangers that others might be saved? Above He had threatened punishment to those who should not receive them, He now promises reward to such as should receive them. And first He holds out to those who should entertain them the honour, that in so doing they were entertaining Christ, and even the Father; He who receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. What honour to be compared to this of receiving the Father and the Son?

To prevent anyone from claiming they have nothing to offer, the Lord declares, "If you can provide even a cup of cold water to one of my disciples, you will be rewarded. Likewise, if someone instructs another who is consumed by anger and desire, leading them to become a follower of Christ, they too will receive a cup of cold water; and this person will not forfeit their reward."

The Lord when He sends forth His disciples to preach, teaches them that dangers are not to be feared, that natural affection is to be postponed to religion—gold He had above taken from them, brass He had shaken out of their purses—hard then surely the condition of the preachers! Whence their living? Whence their food and necessaries? Therefore He tempers the rigour of His precepts by the following promises, that in entertaining the Apostles each believer may consider that he entertains the Lord.

To prevent anyone from interpreting poverty in a certain way, notice how He frames His message. He refers to the disciples as insignificant, encouraging them to adopt a humble view of themselves. Additionally, He generally describes water as cold, as noted by Mark who states, ‘A cup of water’ (Mark 9:41).

Or; Seeing beforehand that there would be many who would only glory in the name of Apostleship, but in their whole life and walk would be unworthy of it, He does not therefore deprive of its reward that service which might be rendered to them in belief of their religious life. For though they were the very least, that is, the greatest of sinners, yet even small offices of mercy shewn them, such as are denoted by the cup of cold water, should not be shewn in vain. For the honour is not done to a man that is a sinner, but to his title of disciple.

You may be mistaken in your understanding of the Divine Scriptures. The expression ‘to give a cup of water’ pertains to those who possess little, rather than to those who are wealthy and can provide clothing for the hungry, the sick, and the needy. Do not be surprised if the one who offers water for this purpose is rewarded; for the merit of charity lies not in the quantity given, but in the intention behind it, especially when the action is accompanied by the right motivation. As it is stated, this intention is greater than the mere offering of material goods. Furthermore, it is noted that the intrinsic goodness resides in the individual who has the means to give. The evaluation is not solely based on the gift itself, but rather on the generosity and wisdom of the giver.

He says not, a reward from a prophet, or righteous man, but the reward of a prophet or righteous man. For the prophet is perhaps a righteous man, and the less he possesses in this world, the greater confidence has he in speaking in behalf of righteousness. He who hath of this world’s goods, in supporting such a man, makes himself a free partaker in his righteousness, and shall receive the reward of righteousness together with him whom he has aided by supporting him. He is full of the spirit of prophecy, but he lacks bodily sustenance, and if the body be not supported, it is certain that the voice will fail. Whoso then gives a prophet food, gives him strength for speaking, therefore together with the prophet he shall receive the prophet’s reward, when he shews before the face of God what bounty he shewed him.

Some understand by the prophet here, the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom Moses says, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you; (Deut. 18:18.) and the same also by the righteous man, because he is beyond comparison righteous. He then who shall receive a prophet or righteous man in the name of the prophet or righteous man, i. e. of Christ, shall receive reward from Him for love of whom he received Him.

To avoid justifying a lack of generosity, the Lord emphasized: Who among you, possessing nothing to offer, will honor one of the humble and insignificant in the eyes of society, who offers even a mere cup of cold water to those weary on their path? This act costs nothing to the giver. When offered in the name of a disciple, it signifies love for Me, your shared Teacher and Lord. Truly, I assure you, such a one will not lose his reward, for through this small gesture, he demonstrates his affection for Me. Therefore, the Lord values not merely the gift itself, but the intent, effort, and love of the giver; He held the two small coins of the widow in higher regard than the larger donations from the wealthy, which lacked true dedication (St. Isidore Pelusiot).

While offering guidance and solace to His disciples, Jesus Christ spoke of the blessings reserved for those who welcome them in His name: “Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. Those who greet you as prophets or acknowledge you as righteous individuals, affirming your divine calling or righteousness, will receive the same reward as a prophet or a righteous person. Even someone who provides you with a cup of cold water when you are parched, honoring you simply as My followers, will not miss out on their reward.”

Those who aspire to be genuine disciples of Christ must relinquish everything for His glory, must embrace their own crosses and walk in His footsteps. In encouraging them, He affirmed that they should be as He was while among humanity; that receiving His followers equates to receiving Him; that sacrificing one’s life for His sake is far greater than merely preserving it; and that even a simple act of kindness, such as offering cold water to the least of His little ones, will not go unrewarded in the kingdom of heaven.

In referring to “one of these little ones,” Christ is speaking specifically about His disciples, as emphasized in the subsequent phrases: “in the name of a disciple,” along with “in the name of a prophet” and “in the name of a righteous man.” By calling them little, He acknowledges their humility, their lack of worldly power, and everything that stands in contrast to societal notions of greatness. They were perceived as insignificant both by the world and in their own humility, which is a recognition shared by all genuine followers of Christ. It is in the name of the disciple that service is rendered, motivated not by personal gain but by the commitment to Christ.

In summary, he emphasized the blessings that await those who contribute to and support the proclamation of the Gospel; they are indeed partners and laborers in this sacred mission, which is designated by the Lord as entrusted to Him by God the Father (John 4:34; 17:4): He that receives you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me: he that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.