Receiving a prophet in the name of a prophet –Matt 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 shall receive a righteous man's reward.”  Matthew 10:41

A while back I heard a man preach on this verse.  Unfortunately… his goal was to get people to “receive” him.  It was self-serving.  It reeked of pride.  And it almost caused me to get up and leave.

It is often when people misuse the Word of God that we begin to get a deeper understanding of what it really means… what it is really telling us.

I have heard many people use this verse out of respect… and that is a good thing.  A culture of honor and an atmosphere of humility go hand in hand and release the power of God.

But a hireling wants all the privileges of being a shepherd without any of the pain.

If the Word of God is good for exhortation, edification, and comfort (and it is) then we must look to see where this verse… or rather this passage… is providing the direction, correction, and affection we so desperately need from God.

What this passage is saying is that we need to receive the prophet – on who speaks on behalf of God – like our ministers, preachers, pastors, etc… in Jesus’s name.  Not in their own.

We are to receive them… don’t get me wrong.  And we are to acknowledge the gift that God has given them… but not to exalt them.

Receive a prophet in the name of a prophet and you get whatever that person can give you…

But if you do not receive them in the name of Jesus meaning, if you do not receive Jesus in them, you gain nothing.

I believe that what Jesus was teaching His disciples (then and now) is to realize that we are ambassadors of His kingdom.  Whoever receives us, by default, gives an open door for Him to walk through.

But if we forget that it is Him… if we try to go on our own strength and wisdom… if we want people to receive us… we are missing the point.

There are the prophets and the righteous that God will send to us.  If we think more of them than we do Him… what they give us will fade away.

But if we receive them in His name… to give Him the honor and the glory and the praise… whatever we give them (whatever we honor them with) will be counted as to Him and what they deposit to us from Him will be ours forever.

Honor one another in and for the name of Jesus and it will be counted as honor to Him.

And what you give to Him… He returns… pressed down, shaken, and overflowing.

SDG