TRANSLATION MATTHEW 10: 40

Whoever takes you by the hand, takes me by the hand and whoever takes me by the hand takes the one who sent me by the hand. Whoever takes a prophet by the hand because he is a prophet, will receive a prophet’s reward; whoever takes a just person by the hand because she is just will receive a just person’s reward; and whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because they are my pupils, amen I tell you, that one will never lose her reward.

Now when Jesus had finished equipping his pupils, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

I have opted for the most literal translation of the Greek dechomai because the physical reality seems to suit Jesus emphasis on basic kindnesses, like a cup of cold water. The kindness however springs from a recognition of the other person’s moral and spiritual allegiance; rather than of their common humanity. The alteration of masculine and feminine pronouns belongs to my translation rather than the original.

Jesus was not embarrassed to speak of rewards; or punishments. In liberal Christian circles such language has been more or less banished as crude and inappropriate to the almighy permissiveness of God. In this case, outsiders who welcome God’s representatives, prophets or just people, or indeed, messengers of Jesus, will be rewarded by God. This image of God as generous man of substance is contained also in Jesus ‘ parables of master and slaves.

in the final verse, Matthew marks the end of his second collection of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus’ words, like his actions, seem to come from beyond the concerns of human power, while being directed to the specifics of human need.