“He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.”
My Notes
What Does Matthew 10:40 Mean?
Matthew 10:40 establishes a chain of representation that elevates ordinary hospitality to cosmic significance. "He that receiveth you receiveth me" — Jesus tells His disciples that how people treat them is how they're treating Him. The verb dechomai (receiveth) means to welcome, to accept, to take in. It encompasses everything from offering a meal to embracing a message.
"And he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me" — the chain extends further. Welcoming Jesus means welcoming the Father. The disciple represents Christ; Christ represents the Father. A single act of hospitality toward a dusty, unknown messenger connects the host to the God of the universe through an unbroken chain of representation.
This principle of shaliach — the Jewish concept that a person's sent representative carries the full authority of the sender — is foundational to Jesus' commissioning of the Twelve. They aren't going out on their own initiative with their own message. They carry Jesus' authority, which carries the Father's authority. Rejecting them isn't a social snub — it's a theological decision. And receiving them isn't just politeness — it's an encounter with God mediated through ordinary human beings.
Reflection Questions
- 1.When was the last time you received someone — truly welcomed them — in a way that felt like an encounter with God?
- 2.How does knowing you might represent Christ to someone change how you show up in their life?
- 3.Is there someone you've been reluctant to welcome who might be carrying something from God for you?
- 4.What would your hospitality look like if you genuinely believed Jesus was standing in the person at your door?
Devotional
Jesus takes something ordinary — opening your door to a stranger — and makes it infinite. When you welcome one of His messengers, you're welcoming Him. When you welcome Him, you're welcoming the Father. Your kitchen table becomes a meeting place with God.
This works in both directions, and both are worth thinking about. If you're the one being sent — if you're carrying a message, showing up in someone's life with something from God — you're not just you. You represent something bigger than yourself. Your words carry weight beyond your own authority. That's not a reason for arrogance. It's a reason for faithfulness. What you carry doesn't belong to you.
And if you're the one receiving — if someone shows up at your door with a word, a need, an inconvenient request for your time and attention — this verse says be careful how you respond. The person standing in front of you might not look like much. They might be unimpressive, awkward, poorly timed. But Jesus says how you treat them is how you're treating Him. And how you treat Him is how you're treating the Father.
That changes everything about hospitality. It's not just being nice. It's not just social obligation. It's the possibility that God Himself is standing at your door in the form of someone you'd rather not deal with right now.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet,.... By "a prophet" is meant, not one that foretells things to…
He that receiveth you ... - In all these three illustrations Christ meant to teach substantially the same thing - that…
All these verses relate to the sufferings of Christ's ministers in their work, which they are here taught to expect, and…
The Reception of the Apostles and Ministers of Jesus Christ
40. receiveth In the sense of receiving as a teacher, and of…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture