He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Ver. 40. He that receiveth you, receiveth me] And who would not be glad to entertain the Lord Christ? Elizabeth held it a great matter that the another of her Lord should come to her, Luke 1:43. Behold, Christ comes to us in his servants, in his ministers especially. Receive them, therefore, as so many angels, yea, as Christ himself, Galatians 4:14, accounting their very feet (how much more their faces!) beautiful. We know with what great respect Cornelius entertained Peter. Non tanus sum, ut vos alloquar, said Tertullian to certain martyrs. He tells us also that it was a custom of some in those times, reptare ad vincula martyrum, to creep to the martyr's bonds in way of honour to them, which perhaps was more than was meet.
Receiveth him that sent me] The heathens held it a great honour to entertain their gods; and the poets tell us of much evil that befell those that refused to do so. "That which we have heard and seen," saith St John, "declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us," 1 John 1:3. But what so great matter is that might some say. You and your fellows are but men of low condition. True, saith the apostle, but as lowly as we are, our "fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ," who will also come in and sup with such as receive his servants. And may they not be glad of such guests?