A Prophet's Reward

[Jesus said]  41 "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet 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." Matthew 10:41

There are reasons to believe that there are rewards in heaven that the believer in Christ will receive because of their faithfulness to Christ.  The words above could be a reference to such heavenly rewards, but I tend to think that rewards in this life are referenced above.

What exactly is a prophet's reward or a righteous man's reward?  We are not told.    I tend to think it could be what they have to offer as a prophet or a righteous man.  If one receives either, you receive what they have to offer:  you benefit from what is unique about their lives and ministry.

If you receive a missionary into your home, you get to have fellowship with them; you can hear their experiences.  It can be an enriching experience.  They can become lifelong friends, almost like family. There are different ways God may bless you in this life for receiving them.  

Jesus instructed the 12 Apostles on how to respond to people when he sent them out:  "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you." Matthew 10:11-13

To receive the truth about Jesus as the Christ will bring salvation, but as Jesus said to the Apostles, if the household is worthy and you stay with them, "let your peace come upon it."  That would be a present, temporal kind of benefit.

Jesus clearly spoke of temporal rewards or benefits for faithfulness and sacrifice in addition to persecution.  "So Jesus answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:29-30   

Faithfulness doesn't mean one can only expect persecution in this life or rewards in the next.  I might add that if the receiving of a prophet and righteous man can bring with it reward in this life, it is a reason to serve the Lord, because the kind of reward they bring may have the impact on your life that you need.   Have you ever heard the stories that the Gideons tell about the salvation of those who found a Gideon Bible?  Have you ever heard the stories of Bible translators who work for Wycliffe translators?  Inviting these people into your homes, spending time with them--maybe getting involved with them--may benefit you, change your life. They may become a part of your life as well.  Receiving such people has its rewards.