Verse 41. He that receiveth a Prophet in the Name, &c.]
Though, haply, he be no Prophet. This takes away the excuse of such as say, They would do good, if they knew to whom, as worthy.
Both actively that which the Prophet shall give him, by teaching him the faith of the Gospel, casting pearls before him, &c. And passively, that reward that God gives the Prophet, the same shall he give his host. Gaius lost no∣thing by such guests as Iohn; nor the Shunamite or Sareptan by the Prophets. Of such, Christ seems to say, as Paul did of Onesimus, If he owe thee ought, put that in mine account: I will repay it: And* 1.1 he, I can tell you, is a liberall pay-master. Saul and his ser∣vant* 1.2 had but five-pence in their purse, to give the Prophet: The Prophet, after much good chear, gives him the Kingdom. Such is Gods dealing with us. Seek out therefore some of his receivers, some Mephibosheth to whom we may shew 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Though not a Minister, if for that he is righteous, and for the truths sake that dwelleth in him, 2 Ioh. 2. The Kenites in Sauls time, that were born many ages after Iethro's death, receive life from his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and favour from his hospitality. Nay, the AEgyptians, for harbouring (and, at first, deallng kindely with) the Israelites, though without any respect to their righteousnesse, were preserved by Ioseph in that sore famine, and kindely dealt with ever after by Gods speci∣all command.