Matthew 10:40-42

Rewards

10:40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. ¹  10:41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever ²  receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 10:42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, ³  he will never lose his reward.”

Matthew 18:3-5

18:3 and said, “I tell you the truth, ⁴  unless you turn around and become like little children, ⁵  you will never ⁶  enter the kingdom of heaven! 18:4 Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 18:5 And whoever welcomes ⁷  a child like this in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 18:10

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

18:10 “See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Matthew 25:40

25:40 And the king will answer them, ⁸  ‘I tell you the truth, ⁹  just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters ¹⁰  of mine, you did it for me.’

Luke 9:48

9:48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes ¹¹  this child ¹²  in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.” ¹³ 

¹ sn The one who sent me refers to God.

² tn Grk “And whoever.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

³ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

⁴ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

⁵ sn The point of the comparison become like little children has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit, as well as willingness to be dependent and receive from others, than any inherent humility the child might possess.

⁶ tn The negation in Greek (οὐ μή, ou mh) is very strong here.

⁷ tn This verb, δέχομαι (decomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).

⁸ tn Grk “answering, the king will say to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

⁹ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). In this context Jesus is ultimately speaking of his “followers” (whether men or women, adults or children), but the familial connotation of “brothers and sisters” is also important to retain here.

¹¹ tn This verb, δέχομαι (decomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).

¹² sn Children were very insignificant in ancient culture, so this child would be the perfect object lesson to counter the disciples’ selfish ambitions.

¹³ tn Grk “among you all, this one is great.” The absence of a comparative term here makes the point that comparison should not be done.