Matthew 10:42

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward.”

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ ὃς ἐὰν ποτίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων ποτήριον ψυχροῦ μόνον εἰς ὄνομα μαθητοῦ, ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ.

Transliteration

And whoever ean potisē one of-the mikrōn these potērion of-psychrou only into onoma of-mathētou, amēn legō to-you, no mē apolesē the misthon of-him.

Grammar Details

• *ean*: conditional particle - if/ever
• *potisē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - might give drink
• *mikrōn*: genitive masculine plural - of little ones/small ones
• *potērion*: accusative neuter singular - cup
• *psychrou*: genitive neuter singular - of cold [water]
• *onoma*: accusative neuter singular - name
• *mathētou*: genitive masculine singular - of disciple
• *amēn*: Hebrew transliteration - truly/verily
• *legō*: present active indicative, 1st singular - I say/tell
• *mē*: double negative with *ou* - by no means
• *apolesē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - might lose
• *misthon*: accusative masculine singular - reward

Word Meanings

• *potisē*: might give drink/provide with drink
• *mikrōn*: little ones/small ones/least ones
• *potērion*: cup/drinking vessel
• *psychrou*: cold [water]/cool [drink]
• *onoma*: name/title/character
• *mathētou*: disciple/student/follower
• *amēn*: truly/verily/certainly
• *legō*: I say/tell/speak
• *apolesē*: might lose/forfeit/be deprived of
• *misthon*: reward/payment/wages

Referenced Verses

• Matt 25:40 : 40 And the king will answer them,‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
• Heb 6:10 : 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.
• Matt 18:10 : 10 The Parable of the Lost Sheep“See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
• Mark 9:41-42 : 41 For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ’s name will never lose his reward. 42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.
• Luke 6:35 : 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.
• Matt 18:3-6 : 3 and said,“I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! 4 Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.
• Phil 4:15-19 : 15 And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need. 17 I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account. 18 For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent– a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
• Mark 12:42-43 : 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny. 43 He called his disciples and said to them,“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others.
• Prov 24:14 : 14 Likewise, know that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you have found it, you have a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
• Zech 13:7 : 7 “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Strike the shepherd that the flock may be scattered; I will turn my hand against the insignificant ones.
• Matt 18:14 : 14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.
• Mark 14:7-8 : 7 For you will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have me! 8 She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial.
• 1 Cor 8:10-13 : 10 For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience be“strengthened” to eat food offered to idols? 11 So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed. 12 If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.
• 2 Cor 8:12 : 12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.
• 2 Cor 9:6-9 : 6 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. 9 Just as it is written,“He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.” 10 Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, 12 because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God. 13 Through the evidence of this service they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone. 14 And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
• Luke 17:2 : 2 It would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
• Matt 8:5-6 : 5 Healing the Centurion’s Servant When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him asking for help: 6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible anguish.”