The Red-Letter Words of Yeshua ~ Part 65

Yeshua Sends Out His Emissaries ~ Part 5

In our last post, we continued to examine the topic of Yeshua Sends Out His Emissaries. In this post, we learned that Yeshua Instructs the Talmidim about Rewards.

Rewards

⁴⁰ “Whoever receives you is receiving me, and whoever receives me is receiving the One who sent me.

“Whoever receives you is receiving me… Welcoming Yeshua’s messengers is tantamount to welcoming Yeshua Himself since they bear His message and authority (see Matt 10:11–14). Receives the One who sent me… Receiving Yeshua amounts to receiving the Father.

⁴¹ Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive the reward a prophet gets, and anyone who receives a tzaddik because he is a tzaddik will receive the reward a tzaddik gets. ⁴² Indeed, if someone gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my talmid – yes! – I tell you, he will certainly not lose his reward!”  ~ Mattityahu 10:40-42.

One of these little ones likely indicates a low social status as we see Yeshua ministering to them throughout the Gospels.

The Emissaries In Action

[1] ¹After Yeshua had finished instructing the twelve talmidim; He went on from there to teach and preach in the towns nearby. [2] ⁶ They set out and went through village after village, healing and announcing the Good News everywhere.

Herod is Curious About Yeshua

[3] ¹⁴ Meanwhile, King Herod heard about this, for Yeshua’s reputation had spread. Some were saying, “Yochanan the Immerser has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” ¹⁵ Others said, “It is Eliyahu!” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the old prophets.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard about it, he said, “Yochanan, whom I had beheaded, has been raised.” [4] ⁷ Herod, the governor, heard about all that was going on and was perplexed because it was said by some that Yochanan had been raised from the dead, ⁸ by others that Eliyahu had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. ⁹ Herod said, “I had Yochanan beheaded, so who is this about whom I keep hearing such things?” And he began trying to see Him. (Yes, the last two sections did not contain any Red-Letter Words, but I thought they were essential to the story.)

Mark hasn’t yet mentioned Yochanan’s death; it is reported in Mark 6:17–29. Herod’s fear suggests that he saw a link between Yochanan and Yeshua and perceived both as political threats. It is Eliyahu! 2 Kings 2:11 records that the prophet Eliyahu did not die but was taken up into heaven alive. As a result of this and Malachi’s prophecy, many Jews believed he would return someday (Mal 4:5–6; compare Mark 9:11; 15:35–36). Herod was anxious to learn about the identity of Yeshua.

In our next post, we will conclude our series on He Sends Out His Emissaries, beginning in Luke 9:10.

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[1] Mattityahu 11:1.
[2] Luke 9:6 (see also Mark 6:12-13).
[3] Mark 6:14-16
[4] Luke 9:7-9.