Understanding the Prophet’s Reward

“Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward.‬‬ - Matthew‬ ‭10:41‬a

I have heard different ideas concerning what the Bible calls a “prophet’s reward.” Some believe it to refer to the distinct giftings that prophets walk in as though in response to an act of kindness toward God’s prophets, preachers, or anointed servants, people are allowed to receive a measure of those divine abilities or experiences. This idea, while arguably rooted in some truth, is not what the Bible is actually signifying through the term “prophet’s reward.” It is important that we don’t try to define this or any other biblical concept without scripture being our lens and reference for confirmation of meaning. This usually means that our interpretation of a given principle or concept of biblical truth ought to be confirmed by 2 or 3 witnesses (examples) in the biblical text (ie. 2 Cor. 13:1). So let’s dive in to find out what it is and therefore to understand how to receive it.

The prophet's reward, which Jesus spoke about in Matthew 10:41-42, is a blessing from God stemming from the prophet’s special relationship with Him. In essence, it is something that God gives his prophets grace to release into the lives of those who help them out of sincere faith toward the God they serve. As we see in the examples of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath, Elisha’s Double Portion Blessing, Elisha and the Widow with 2 Sons, and Elisha and the Shunammite Woman, those who ministered to the prophets received miraculous answers to their desires and needs flowing out of the prophets’ favored position with God based on the fact that they (or their husband in the case of the Widow with 2 Sons) ministered to the needs of the prophets.

In the case of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:7-16), the widow gave food when he was hungry. Despite the woman’s lack, notice how Elijah insisted that she first give him a cake to satisfy his hunger. In response, she was blessed with a supernaturally replenishing endowment of flour and oil for the well-being of her family. Now, here’s where the prophet’s reward gets more interesting. Take note that Jesus stated emphatically in Matthew 10:41-42 that the person who received and ministered to the needs of His prophets and disciples would “CERTAINLY NOT lose their reward” or “BY NO MEANS lose their reward.” The Widow’s son in this case later became ill and died but was then brought back to life supernaturally by the same prophet whom God has used to bless her with the prophets reward. This shows us that although the enemy may come for our reward, the promise of heaven will stand.

In 2 Kings 2:1-15, when Elijah—Elisha’s master in ministry and spiritual father—was about to be carried away to heaven, he asked Elisha what he could do for him. This was in response to Elisha’s faithfulness in serving him and ministering to the needs of his ministry. Elisha answered that he wanted a double portion of the spirit that rested on Elijah. His prophet’s reward was granted, and he went on to walk in a double portion of the already powerful anointing that Elijah walked in. This example is contrasted with the case of Gehazhi, Elisha’s double-minded servant during his prophetic ministry. He first appears in 2 Kings 4:12.

Because Ghehazi was unfaithful and burdensome to the prophet because of his self-centered and unbelieving heart, he received no reward. Again, Jesus’ words concerning heaven’s backing were confirmed in this example by the fact that Gehazi’s foolishness did not negate the fact that Elisha performed twice as many miraculous works as Elijah during his prophetic ministry. Because he believed, he received. And not only did he receive a prophet’s reward, He also walked in it faithfully through the power of God’s promise despite the morally instability of a vital component of his prophetic ministry. Now that’s encouraging! All in all, when looked at in combination with the Widow of Zarapheth’s example, Ghehazi’s example shows us that faith and faithfulness—both to God and the ministry of God’s anointed ones—are essential to acquiring and maintaining a Prophet’s Reward.

In the case of Elisha and the Widow with 2 Sons (2 Kings 4:1-7), the woman’s husband had served Elisha’s ministry as one of the sons of the prophets, who were basically disciples of whichever prophet was the divinely appointed leading prophet of the day. Based on his faithfulness to Elisha, even though her husband was deceased, the widow received a miraculous deliverance from her debt and the harsh penalty that loomed. This shows us that the prophet’s reward can result in a blessing upon a whole family rather than just the individual who helps the prophet. This is why the wife was able to cash in on it. It also shows us that not even death can negate the promise of the prophet’s reward. This means that there are some supernatual blessings that we as believers today receive strictly because our parents or grandparents served or at one time ministered to a true man or woman of God in their time of need.

Lastly, in the case of the Shunammite Woman (2 Kings 4:8-37), she and her husband prepared a room for Elisha to rest, study, and pray in whenever he passed that way during his ministerial travels. In response to their kindness (which was led by the Spirit, from the heart, in worshipful reverence of God, and not by force or pressure on the part of the prophet), the Widow received a much desired son. And once again, in accordance with Jesus’ prophetic promise of heaven’s resolute support, the Shunammite Woman’s son died but was then miraculously brought back to life. Hell simply cannot curse what God has blessed.

It is also important (and pretty cool) to realize that there is biblical precedent for the prophet's reward in the Old Testament--a precedent which applies to all believers. God told Abraham in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This shows God's intent to recompense with his favor those who treat God's people (prophet or not) favorably. This general truth is echoed by the fact that Jesus followed his mentioning of the prophet's reward with promises that rewards would also be doled out to those who blessed believers in general, whom he referred to in saying "a righteous person" in Matthew 10:41b. He also went on to say that those who blessed little children would be blessed themselves in Matthew 10:42.

All of these admonitions stem from the idea Christ shared at the start of his treatement of the matter in Matthew 10:40, where he says, "The one who welcomes you welcomes me, and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me." In essence, the prophet's grace in particular to bestow the prophet's reward through a prophetic utterance is God's way of confirming that He is faithfully involved in the life of the prophet, woven by covenant into the experiences of those who depend on Him, and willing to show His love for us through His actions toward those who treat us well. More than the temporary thrill of receiving a reward for your kind gesture, this notion regarding the promise of God's committed presence ought to stir faith and godly pursuit in the lives of those fortunate enough to receive the prophet's reward. For the prophet's reward, like any other miracle, is a sign ultimately pointing to Jesus, the need for a closer walk with Him, and His availability to all who call upon Him in sincere faith.

So how do prophets release the reward? The answer is the same for prophets as it is for all believers: Through Spirit-led prayer and declaration. The increased leeway of a prophet, however, to command grander blessings in the lives of the recipient is simply an outflow of the generally more elevated grace, faith, and authority inherent in their office as well as their deep and revelatory relationship with God. And how do we receive the prophets reward? Practical steps include regular tithing and giving offerings to support churches and leaders of Bible-believing, Christ-loving, Gospel-preaching, and Spirit-filled ministries. We often quote Philippians 4:19 out of context as we try to emphasize the reciprocity with which God blesses those who give. Let’s take a look:

Philippians 4:14-16, 18-19 - “Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship. And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided — a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

To be clear, the Apostle Paul in that verse is saying that in response to your finanical contributions to the work of his ministry, God will supply our needs. We cannot expect the windows of heaven to be opened over our lives in response to our giving if we are not giving to the the cause which moves God in such a way. Gifts to missions work is another means by which the prophet’s reward can be activated. For as we finance the Spirit-led evangelistic moves of God domestically and internationally, God ensures our financial well-being and ability to remain as a monetary resource for kingdom expansion by giving more “seed to the sower” (see 2 Corinthians 9:10).

Lastly, one must retain an open heart and ear before heaven for moments when the Lord inspires us to sow into budding works (seed investments) as we into the lives of ministers in momentary need. For example, God may quicken your spirit with a vision of the vitality and future importance of a church, ministry, or leader that is just starting out. It is not unlike God to then lead you give them a financial gift as a good faith encouragement, knowing that the gift has been sown into good soil and will eventually produce a harvest for the glory of Jesus Christ and the salvation of souls. Furthermore, should you be fortunate enough to catch an anointed man or woman of God at a point of thirst, where they need relief of some sort whether overtly expressed by them or keenly detected on your part, sowing into their lives in response to their need, as an act of obedience to God’s word and an appreciation for the gravity of their calling, could indeed situate you to receive a prophet’s reward.

And yet, 3 things must be stated in closing. First, Jesus has promised to supply the reward for those who qualify. So give as unto him rather than as one would a bank card into the mouth of an ATM machine. And your reward may or may not involve the anointed servant of God, such as in the case of Elisha and the Shunammite woman, asking what blessing the sower desires. And yet we know that even in those cases where the sower has no verbal say so in the divine exchange, one may still rejoice in knowing that God will choose the blessing that is best for the sower in that hour.

Secondly, allow God to lead, nudge, and prompt you into transactions that yield the fruit of the Prophet’s Reward. In other words, outside of your regular habit of tithing and offerings, one cannot haphazardly sow into anyone who calls themselves a minister and expect the blessed reward of which we speak. Elijah and Elisha, for example, were all sent to their kingdom clients. Upon meeting the prophet, the recipient simply agreed with God, obeyed the anointed servant’s instruction, and acted in faith to supply the need of the prophets. So shall it be with you that God will lead you at strategic times to be his vessel of material provision toward his servants and an eventual example of God’s willingness to recompensate those who find his work on earth.

Finally, while you may sow into the material needs of God’s servants, your reward may not always material in form. The Apostle Paul reveals in 2 Corinthians 9:8 the breadth of possibilities regarding God’s blessings of reciprocity when he states, “And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” 2 verses later he mentions that God will multiply our “harvest of righteousness.” Thus, rewards of the spiritual kind, which are ultimately more beneficial unto our eternal salvation and that of others, are also fair game to be released in response to our faithful generosity as a Prophet’s Reward.

I hope you have enjoyed this study on the Prophet’s Reward. At the appointed time and through he appointed vessel for your life, may God give you the grace to believe and receive a Prophet’s Reward, in Jesus’ name.

Jason Weathers

Prophet & Mentor

Kingdom Heritage Ministries USA