He that receiveth you, receiveth me
This is said to comfort the disciples, lest they should conclude
from this account of the sorrows, afflictions, and persecutions
they were to meet with, that there would be none that would
receive them and their message; Christ therefore suggests, that
there would be some that would embrace the Gospel preached by
them, and receive them kindly into their houses, and entertain
them in a very hospitable manner: and, for the encouragement of
such persons, who would risk their own goods and lives by so
doing, he lets them know, that receiving of his disciples, was
interpreted by him, a receiving of himself; and what they did to
them, would be taken as kindly, as if done to him personally;
and, in like manner, would it be understood and accepted by his
Father:
and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent
me.
To which agrees, what the Jews say F16 of the angel, in (
Exodus
23:22 ) "If thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that
I shall speak": who observe, that it is not written, "that he
shall speak", but "that I shall speak"; intimating, that
(Mylbqm Mta yl wlak wnmyh Mta
Nylbqm) (Ma) , "if
ye receive him, it is all one as if you received me": and the
whole of this accords with a common saying among F17 them,
(wtwmk) (Mda lv wxwlvv) , "that a man's
messenger is as himself". The Jew F18, therefore, has no
reason to reproach Christ and his followers as he does, as if it
was the sense of these words of Christ, and which the Christians
give of them, that Christ and his twelve apostles were but one
person.
F16 Shemot Rabba Parash. 32. fol. 135. 3.
F17 T. Bab. Baracot, fol. 34. 2. Kiddushin, fol. 41. 2. 42. 1. & 43. 1. Bava Metzia, fol. 96. 1.
F18 R. Isaac Chizzuk Emuna, par 2. sect. 14. p. 404.