Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 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 (ASV)

Shall receive a prophet's reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

Just the same reward that God gives to prophets and righteous men, he will give to those who receive them in the name of a prophet or of a righteous man. A prophet's reward must be something great, and such will be the reward of those who generously receive the servants of God.

People may receive a prophet as a patriot or a poet—that is not the matter at hand. The prophet must be received in his highest capacity, in the name of a prophet, and for the sake of his Lord, and then the Lord Himself is received, and He will reward the receiver in the same way His prophet is rewarded. If we cannot do all the good deeds of a righteous person, we can still partake in his happiness by having fellowship with him and by uniting with him in vindicating the faith and comforting his heart.

To receive into our homes and hearts God’s persecuted servants is to share their reward. To maintain the cause and character of good people is to be numbered with them in God’s account. This is all of grace, since the deed is so little and the reward so large.

He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet –

That is, not as a gentleman, nor merely as a man, nor as a talented individual, but as a prophet of God–