Monday Reverb – 03July2023

SPEAKING OF LIFE

• Title:  Therefore
• Presenter:  Greg Williams, GCI President
• Text:  Romans 6:12-14

Small Group Discussion Questions

Psalm 13:1-6 • Genesis 22:1-14 • Romans 6:12-23 • Matthew 10:40-42

The theme for this week is implications of belonging to God.

• Psalm13:1-6 is a prayer for deliverance from enemies that turns into a prayer of rejoicing because of God’s response.
• Genesis 22:1-14 recounts the story of Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice his son Isaac only to be interrupted by God’s provision.
• Romans 6:12-23 provides some detailed ethical implications of our union with Christ.
• In Matthew 10:40-42, hospitality and mercy extended to a disciple is, in effect, extended to Jesus himself.

SERMON REVIEW

The Reward of Receiving

Matthew 10:40-42 (ESV)

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.  ⁴¹ The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.  ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”  

Our text today comes at the end of Matthew 10 making this the third Sunday in a row covering the instructions Jesus gives his disciples for mission.  If you have been following the Matthew selections in the lectionary you would probably have noticed a theme emerge from Jesus’ instruction to the disciples.  Jesus and his disciples are in union together.  What Jesus does, the disciples do.  What Jesus faces, the disciples can expect to face.  The disciples are instructed to go out just as Jesus did, proclaiming the news of God’s kingdom while healing and casting out demons.  Jesus sends the disciples out to do the same ministry he has been doing.  In addition, Jesus prepares his disciples to face the same rejection and persecution he did.  They should not expect a warm welcome everywhere they go and in fact they will encounter some people who will be outright hostile.  They are being sent out “as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16).  Jesus tells the disciples, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Matthew 10:24).  Jesus also prepares them to anticipate painful division within their most intimate relationships where loyalty to Jesus and his mission will be tested.  But Jesus promises in Matthew 10:39, one verse before our chosen text today, that, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”  In the end, the reward for being a follower of Christ is worth it.

That sets up the final few verses Matthew gives us in this section which will conclude Jesus’ instruction to his twelve disciples.  After all the talk of persecution and division that will come to those on mission with Christ, ending on a positive note would be a good idea.  So, Matthew includes Jesus’ words in these last three verses continuing the theme of the union of Jesus and his disciples, but on a positive note.

Before we look at the text more closely, you will notice one word repeated eight times in these three short verses.  Receive.  That seems to be the orientation of being a disciple, one who receives.  That would make sense on the ground that Jesus’ ministry and mission are all an act of grace.  Jesus is the Grace of God to us.  We are not called to achieve something for Jesus that he does not accomplish himself.  We are to receive God’s grace and participate in it.  Part of that grace will be the calling to participate in ministry and mission with Jesus.  So, even participating in ministry and mission becomes a way to receive more and more of Jesus.  We come along and share in what he is doing, and by doing so we come to know the Lord a little more along the way.  Jesus is more interested in us coming to know and trust him than he is in us accomplishing some tasks.  That’s what Jesus and the Spirit are up to in our participation in ministry and mission.  It’s a real participation in the very life and relationship within the Trinity.  Like a mom or dad who takes the kids to work, not so much because the child will do the work, but so they can spend time together, and the kids can come to know their parent a little more.  That’s why we are called into ministry and mission.

On that basis, all disciples are included in the call to “go to work” with their Father in Jesus.  For most of us that will not amount to vocational ministry or becoming a life-long missionary.  Ministry and mission take place every day “as we go” into our neighborhoods, into our workplaces, into our schools, and yes, into our churches as well.  We are always looking for opportunity to share with others what Jesus is sharing with us.  And that may be a proclamation of the kingdom of God or an encouraging word.  It may also entail some act of service, all in the name Jesus.

For most of us, the biggest mission field we will have will be our families.  Perhaps this is why Jesus focuses primarily on the divisions that will come within families because of the gospel.  Just a thought!  But certainly, we will have daily opportunities to share the gospel in word and deed to our spouses, our children, our parents, siblings, and so on.  Simply praying with your family will be one of the most powerful and effective ministries you will ever have.  And reminding fellow family members of God’s goodness, his mercy and grace, during their times of struggle will serve as a missionary journey even if it just means crossing the border of another room.  We often overlook all the little ways we share in what Jesus is sharing with others in our ordinary lives.  Remember, we are in the season of Ordinary Time.  It is in our “ordinary lives” that God’s extraordinary grace can be seen and shared.  And, as we will see, there is great reward in doing so.   

Let’s begin the conclusion of Jesus’ instructions to his disciples:

Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. (Matthew 10:40 ESV)

There’s that word “receive” dominating the opening verse.  In order for receiving to take place, there must first be giving.  In this verse, we see the giving comes first from the Father, then from the Son, and then in this context, from the Apostles.  We might put it this way: The Father gives himself through the Son and the Son gives himself through the Apostles and their mission of proclamation which was giving to them by Jesus.  So, it is a cycle of giving and receiving, a circle of grace.  However we describe mission or being a disciple, it has everything to do with receiving from another and then giving to another, everything to do with a life full of grace.  This pattern can be traced back to God’s original covenant with Abraham that says,

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:3 ESV)

That’s what Jesus is instructing his disciples to do.  To be a blessing.  And the biggest blessing we can be to others is to give them the message of good news that the Father has blessed them by giving them his Son.  In receiving the Father’s blessing, they too will become blessed to be a blessing.

Let’s take an important closer look at what we can observe from the first three words of this verse, “Whoever receives you…”  The “you” here refers to the original twelve disciples, which Matthew designates at the beginning of this section as the Apostles (Matthew 10:2).  And remember what the primary mission these original twelve disciples were sent out to do – proclaim the gospel in word and deed.  And primarily in word where the deeds confirm the words.  So, what does that mean for you and me today?  The Apostles are dead and gone, but the words they proclaimed, which have been written down for us, are still with us.

So, as a present-day disciple, when we read “whoever receives you receives me,” we are to understand that Jesus is not received just because someone receives  us  directly.  But he is received when we are participating in his kingdom work with him, or when we are sharing his word, as contained in the New Testament.  In other words, we share the Living Word, Jesus, by sharing the written word which the Apostles were instructed to proclaim.  So, that makes a huge distinction between Christian mission and other acts of charity.  Our mission, as disciples of Jesus, will entail, even in our charitable service and outreach, some form of sharing the proclamation of good news that comes from the scriptures.  This is what we share that is the true blessing the Father has given us by giving us his Son.

So, in a very real way, when we give others the written word, we are giving them Christ who has been given to us by the Father.  That’s why the passage can say “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”  That’s a lot of giving, but it is a very specific gift that we are giving.  Namely, Jesus!  That doesn’t mean we may not give other gifts.  But it does mean that the best gift, the one gift that is truly a blessing for “all the families of the earth,” is the gift the Father gives the world in his Son Jesus Christ. The Father gives his best, and as disciples, we are called to do no less.

Let’s move on to some more language about receiving.

The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. (Matthew 10:41 ESV)

The blessing wrapped up in receiving the disciples of Jesus, meaning the apostolic word they share, is further explained by using three references – a prophet, a righteous person, and a little one.  These three references are best understood as three references that all apply to what it means to be a disciple.  We find the first two, prophet and righteous person, here in verse 41.

A prophet was someone called to speak God’s word to his people.  They were often raised to call Israel back to righteousness by returning to the stipulations of God’s covenant with them.  This is a fitting reference for a disciple in the context of this passage.  The Apostles were to proclaim God’s good news of the kingdom of Jesus’ righteous reign.  As disciples today, we too are like the prophets, receiving the words of God from the Apostles, written in the Bible, and proclaiming it to our world today.

Closely tied to this proclamation is the response of righteousness.  In other words, just speaking or hearing the words did not mean the words were received.  The words must be obeyed.  This would be the reference to “a righteous person.”  So, it is also a fitting picture of a disciple, as disciples are not in name only.  They do not just proclaim a word that they themselves do not keep.  The good news for them is truly good news to orient their entire lives around.  This of course does not mean disciples are perfect.  In fact, we could say that true disciples are those who live a life of constant repentance, always turning again to the living Word they encounter in the written word and aligning their lives according to that word.  That would be truly one who “receives” the word spoken to them.  So, both the reference to a “prophet” and a “righteous person” serve to describe a little more what it means to be a disciple.

In addition to these two references, we are now introduced to a “reward” that comes with receiving these disciples.  But we will look at the last verse before speaking to that.

And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (Matthew 10:42 ESV)

In this verse, we are given Matthew’s third reference to round out what it means to be a disciple.  This reference is designated as “little ones.”  This designation comes up later in Matthew 18 where Jesus welcomes the little children.  Here we see the similar wording, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…”  Jesus would also note that those who are like “little children” are considered the greatest in the kingdom.  For a disciple to be likened to a “little one” is a reference to the childlike humility and self-effacing heart that we see in Jesus.  Disciples are those who do not fight over matters concerning position, power, or prestige.  They are not concerned about who is greatest in the kingdom, or even in the church for that matter.  They resemble Jesus in that they are servants of the kingdom.  They live in joyful submission as a response to the privilege of knowing the King.  As such, disciples are most likely the ones who are in need of a “cup of cold water.”  They are not the ones who play the games of the elites, getting rich and powerful by “lording over others.”  They serve for the good of the kingdom, and in this world, as Jesus has told us, that will often mean suffering for the gospel.  They are the ones in Matthew’s day that may be literally hungering and thirsting due to persecution for the faith in Jesus.  On a metaphorical level, these are the ones in Jesus’ beatitudes who “hunger and thirst for righteousness.”  We can say here that disciples too need to be fed and watered with the gospel.  When we disciples share the gospel with one another, reminding each other of who Jesus is and who we are in him, we are giving a “cup of cold water” to the little ones which we ourselves can identify with.  In this way, every week as we gather for worship, we also gather to encourage one another with the gospel, to feed each other’s faith by pointing once again to Jesus.  Fellowship is critical for the health and nourishment of disciples, or “little ones.”  We must not underestimate the critical importance of gathering together to worship and witness, not only to the world but to one another.

Before we close, we should say something about that lingering word we have not addressed yet.  Reward.  The word appears three times, one for each of the descriptions of a disciple.  It is clear that when one receives a disciple, he gets a reward. But there is no specific description of what this reward is.  What do we do with that?  The best way to read this is to read it descriptively and not prescriptively.  Meaning that we are not hoping to get some reward in addition to what we are receiving from a disciple.  What we receive from a disciple is the reward in and of itself.  And that would make perfect sense when we are talking about Jesus being the gift that is given.  This is what a disciple is sharing with the world.  This is what the Father has given to us. There is no greater reward than Jesus himself.  To receive Jesus is to enter into his kingdom reign of righteousness, knowing his Father in perfect communion in the Spirit.  It is to be giving to others all that the Father gives to us in his Son Jesus by the Spirit.  It would be nonsensical to want a reward for receiving the greatest gift ever given.  Jesus is the reward, and once received, Matthew indicates that we will never lose it.  That’s probably because once you receive Christ, you will only want more and more of him and his Father who sent him.  Knowing Jesus will be the most rewarding existence imaginable.

Small Group Discussion Questions

GOING DEEPER

Romans 6:12-23

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?  ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  ⁶ We know that our old self^[a] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  ⁷ For one who has died has been set free^[b] (Gk. – justified) from sin.  ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  ⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.  ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.  

¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.  ¹³ Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.  ¹⁴ For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.    

¹⁵ What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!  ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,^[c] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?  ¹⁷ But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.  ¹⁹ I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.  

²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  ²¹ But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed?  For the end of those things is death.  ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.     

John 14:20     In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.