Matthew 10:40-42

 

•          Anyone Who Welcomes You Welcomes Me (10:40) – This lesson brings closure to the missionary theme that began the missionary discourse and the introduces the great gift of hospitality that should be shown itinerant ministries.    If non-acceptance was all too often experienced (Mt. 10:14), then hospitality is now elevated and valued as a true mark of discipleship. 

•          Didache (ca 90)– Concerning Teachers, Apostles, and Prophets:  Let every apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord.  But he shall not remain more than one day; or two days, if there’s a need.  But if he remains three days, he is a false prophet . . . if he asks for money, he is a false prophet . . . whoever says in the Spirit, “Give me money or something else,” you shall not listen to him.

•          A Righteous Man (10:41-42) – A righteous man most likely refers to a traveling Christian who is not a prophet, that is, whose reason for traveling is not the same as a prophet’s.  While all Christians were expected to preach the word, not all felt called to be wandering missionaries.

•          When have you been on a trip—an oversees trip especially—that involved a guest/host relationship?

•          Brother Jeremiah --  We always treat guests as angels—just in case.[1]

•          Didascalia (3rd c) --  If a destitute man or woman, either a local person or a traveler, arrives unexpectedly, especially one of older years, and there is no place, you, bishop, make such a place with all your heart, even if you yourself should sit on the ground, that you many not show favoritism among human beings, but that your ministry may be pleasing before God.[2]

•          Comment From the 4th Century – “These two are equal [receives a prophet and receives a righteous person], both the one who suffers for God’s sake and the other who gives refreshment for God’s sake.”[3] 

•    The Yearning – God-shaped vacuums, guests, strangers, being welcomed, welcoming: we all yearn to experience such hospitality, but few realize that the yearning is God-implanted.  Even God yearns to be welcomed and included in our lives and in creation.

Welcoming God – happens when we welcome one another / when we welcome the outsider, / when we welcome the new seeker of God / when we welcome the life-long Christian.

_________________________________
[1] Cited in Thomas Long, Beyond the Worship Wars: Building Vital and Faithful Worship (Washington DC: The Alban Institute, 2001), page 35.
[2] Ibid, page 34.
[3] Migne, Patrologia Latinae Supplementum: 56:77; cited in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture Ia (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001), page 214.