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.
Ver. 42. Unto one of these little ones] So the saints are called, either because but a little flock, or little in their own eyes, or little set by in the world, or dearly respected of God, as little ones are by their loving parents.
A cup of cold water] As having not fuel to heat it, saith Jerome, nor better to bestow than Adam's ale, a cup of water, yet desirous some way to seal up his love to poor Christ. Salvian saith, that Christ is mendicorum moximus, the greatest beggar in the world, as one that shareth in all his saints' necessities. Relieve him therefore in them; so shall you lay up in store for yourselves a good foundation against the time to come; yea, you shall lay hold on eternal life,1 Timothy 6:19. Of Midas it is fabled, that whatever he touched he turned into gold. Sure it is that whatsoever the hand of charity touch, be it but a cup of cold water, it turns the same, not into gold, but into heaven itself. He is a niggard then to himself that is niggardly to Christ's poor. If heaven may be had for a cup of cold water, what a bodkin at the churl's heart will this be one day! Surely the devil will keep holiday, as it were, in hell, in respect of such.
Verily, I say unto you, he shall in no wise, &c.] By this deep asseveration our Saviour tacitly taxeth the world's unbelief, while they deal by him, as by some patching companion or base bankrupt, trust him not at all, without either ready money or a sufficient security. But what saith a grave divine? Is not mercy as sure a grain as vanity? Is God like to break, or forget? Is there not a book of remembrance written before him, which he more often peruseth than Ahasuerus did the Chronicles? The butler may forget Joseph, and Joseph his father's house; but God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shown toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister, Hebrews 6:10 .