And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward.”
- KJV And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
- NKJV And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
- NASB And whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
- NLT And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even a cup of cold water given to a lowly disciple will surely be rewarded. God notices and honors the smallest kindness done for Christ's sake.
Overview
Jesus closes His mission charge by promising that no act of kindness to His followers, however small, goes unrewarded. The 'little ones' are humble disciples easily overlooked, yet served in Christ's name. The verse assures that God's reward rests on grace-prompted love, encouraging tender care for the least of Christ's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Heb 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Matt 25:40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
- Mark 9:41–42Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.
- Matt 18:10See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.
- 2 Cor 9:6–15Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
- Phil 4:15–19And as you Philippians know, in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving.
- Luke 6:35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
- Mark 12:42–43Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.
- 2 Cor 8:12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
- Prov 24:14Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.
- Mark 14:7–8The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
- 1 Cor 8:10–13For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?
- Matt 18:3–6“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- Matt 8:5–6When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him,
- Luke 17:2It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
- Matt 18:14In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
- Zech 13:7Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 10:42 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.