The concept of "receives" in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing themes of hospitality, acceptance, and the reception of divine gifts and teachings. The act of receiving is often portrayed as a virtue, reflecting one's openness to God's will, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of believers.

Hospitality and Acceptance

In the context of hospitality, receiving others is a significant biblical theme. In the Old Testament, Abraham's reception of the three visitors in Genesis 18:1-8 exemplifies the virtue of hospitality. Abraham's eagerness to welcome and serve his guests is seen as an act of righteousness and reverence.

In the New Testament, Jesus emphasizes the importance of receiving others in His teachings. In Matthew 10:40-42 , Jesus states, "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me." This passage highlights the interconnectedness of receiving Christ's messengers and, by extension, receiving Christ Himself and God the Father. The act of receiving is thus elevated to a spiritual level, where it becomes a means of participating in the divine mission.

Receiving Divine Gifts and Teachings

The Bible frequently speaks of receiving divine gifts, such as the Holy Spirit, grace, and salvation. In Acts 2:38 , Peter instructs the crowd, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Here, receiving the Holy Spirit is contingent upon repentance and baptism, signifying a transformative acceptance of God's promise.

The reception of God's word is another critical aspect. In James 1:21 , believers are encouraged to "humbly receive the word planted in you, which can save your souls." This reception is not passive but involves an active engagement with the teachings of Scripture, leading to spiritual growth and salvation.

Faith and Belief

Receiving is also closely linked to faith and belief. In John 1:12 , it is written, "But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." This verse underscores the necessity of receiving Christ through faith as the pathway to becoming part of God's family. The act of receiving here is synonymous with believing, illustrating the intimate connection between faith and acceptance.

The Role of the Community

The early Christian community is depicted as a place where receiving one another is vital for unity and growth. In Romans 15:7 , Paul exhorts, "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God." The mutual reception among believers is a reflection of Christ's acceptance of each individual, fostering a community that glorifies God through its unity and love.

Warnings Against Rejection

Conversely, the Bible warns against the rejection of God's messengers and teachings. In Matthew 10:14 , Jesus instructs His disciples, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet." This act symbolizes the seriousness of rejecting the message of the Gospel and the consequences that follow.

In summary, the biblical concept of "receives" encompasses a range of actions and attitudes that reflect one's openness to God, His teachings, and His people. It is a theme that underscores the importance of acceptance, faith, and community in the life of a believer.2816. kleronomeo -- to inherit
... assigned (alloted) by the Lord. [The believer receives their opportunity
and reward for inheritance by divine-lot (cf. Eph 1:11, Gk ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2816.htm - 8k

3335. metalambano -- to partake of
... Word Origin from meta and lambano Definition to partake of NASB Word Usage find
(1), receive his share (1), receives (1), share (1), take (2), taking ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3335.htm - 7k

3661. homothumadon -- with one mind
... cf. 2 Pet 1:1,2). Here they "have the same mind" (the Lord's thoughts)
because each receives the same revelation of His Word. See ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3661.htm - 7k

1067. geenna -- Gehenna, a valley W. and South of Jer., also a ...
... Each of the unredeemed receives one at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev
20:11-15), ie a body that "matches" their capacity for torment relating to their ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1067.htm - 7k

4059. peritemno -- to cut around, circumcise
... Definition to cut around, circumcise NASB Word Usage circumcise (4), circumcised
(10), circumcision (1), receive circumcision (1), receives circumcision (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4059.htm - 8k

3858. paradechomai -- to receive, admit
... Word Origin from para and dechomai Definition to receive, admit NASB Word Usage
accept (3), receive (1), received (1), receives (1). receive. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3858.htm - 7k

4327. prosdechomai -- to receive to oneself
... pros and dechomai Definition to receive to oneself NASB Word Usage accepted (1),
accepting (1), cherish (1), looking (3), receive (2), receives (1), waiting (5 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4327.htm - 8k

4712. stadion -- a stadium (a Gr. measure of length), by impl. a ...
... receive . 1 Cor 9:24: "Do you not know that those who run in a ('stadium-length,'
4712 ) all run, but only one receives the prize? Run ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4712.htm - 7k

2065. erotao -- to ask, question
... 2065 ("to ask on , intimacy") requests from a "preferred position" (E. Abbot, ,
467,8). Such requesting receives because of the special relationship involved. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2065.htm - 9k

1209. dechomai -- to receive
... verb Definition to receive NASB Word Usage accept (2), accepted (3), receive (16),
received (12), receives (15), take (3), taken (1), took (1), welcome (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1209.htm - 8k

3947. laqach -- to take
... 9), married* (6), marries (1), marry (5), obtain (1), placed (2), procured (2),
put (1), raise (3), receive (20), received (12), receives (3), receiving (1 ...
/hebrew/3947.htm - 6k

5375. nasa -- to lift, carry, take
... partiality* (8), pick (1), picked (1), picks (3), promoted (1), protest (1), put
(1), raise (5), raised (13), receive (2), receive* (2), receives (1), regard (1 ...
/hebrew/5375.htm - 8k

Q. Who, Then, Receives Such a Sacrament in a Worthy Way?
... I. The Ten Commandments: The Simple Way a Father Should Present Them to His Household
VQ Who, then, receives such a sacrament in a worthy way? ...
/.../luther/luthers little instruction book/v q who then receives.htm

Wesley Receives the Freedom of Perth
... Chapter 16. Windsor Park; Wesley as Art Critic; Glasgow and Perth; At 70, Wesley
Preaches to 30,000 People Wesley Receives the Freedom of Perth. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesley receives the freedom of.htm

Hyrcanus Receives the High Priesthood, and Ejects Ptolemy Out of ...
... From The Death Of Judas Maccabeus To The Death Of Queen Alexandra. CHAPTER 8. Hyrcanus
Receives The High Priesthood, And Ejects Ptolemy Out Of The Country. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 hyrcanus receives the.htm

You Know that Love Receives a Grandeur of Value and Esteem from ...
... THE SECOND CENTURY 85 You know that Love receives a grandeur of value and
esteem from the greatness of the person. You know that ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/85 you know that love.htm

Gregory, the Theologian, Receives from Theodosius the Government ...
... Book VII. Chapter V."Gregory, the Theologian, receives from Theodosius
the Government of the Churches. Expulsion of Demophilus ...
/.../chapter v gregory the theologian receives.htm

He Receives with a Kindly and Patient Feeling the Books of a Young ...
... A Treatise on the soul and its origin, Chapter 2 [II.]"He Receives with a Kindly
and Patient Feeling the Books of a Young and Inexperienced Man Who Wrote ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 2 ii he receives with.htm

Whence, Then, is a Man to be Cleansed who Receives Baptism...
... Book I. Chapter 2. " 3. Whence, then, is a man to be cleansed who receives
baptism? "3. Whence, then, is a man to be cleansed ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 2 3 whence.htm

Petilianus Said: "For He who Receives Faith from the Faithless...
... Book II. Chapter 4. " 8. Petilianus said: "For he who receives faith
from the faithless? "8. Petilianus said: "For he who ...
/.../chapter 4 8 petilianus.htm

We Ask, Therefore, Since He Says, "He who Receives Faith from the ...
... Book I. Chapter 5. " 6. We ask, therefore, since he says, "He who receives
faith from the faithless? "6. We ask, therefore ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 5 6 we.htm

The Preceding Quotation from Solomon's Proverbs Receives Further ...
... The preceding quotation from Solomon's Proverbs receives further explanation.? The
preceding quotation from Solomon's Proverbs receives further explanation. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter ix the preceding quotation.htm

Receives (43 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Receives (43 Occurrences). Matthew 7:8 For everyone who
asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. ...
/r/receives.htm - 17k

Welcomes (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Welcomes (5 Occurrences). Matthew 18:5 Whoever receives
one such little child in my name receives me, (See NIV). ...
/w/welcomes.htm - 7k

Sake (241 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Matthew 18:5 And whoever for my sake
receives one young child such as this, receives me. (WEY). ...
/s/sake.htm - 36k

Accepts (14 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Accepts (14 Occurrences). John 3:32 What he has seen and
heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. (See NIV). ...
/a/accepts.htm - 9k

Lowliest (3 Occurrences)
... Luke 9:48 and said to them, "Whoever for my sake receives this little child,
receives me; and whoever receives me, receives Him who sent me. ...
/l/lowliest.htm - 7k

Least (76 Occurrences)
... Luke 9:48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in my name
receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. ...
/l/least.htm - 31k

Greatest (45 Occurrences)
... Luke 9:48 and said to them, "Whoever for my sake receives this little child,
receives me; and whoever receives me, receives Him who sent me. ...
/g/greatest.htm - 20k

Whomever (22 Occurrences)
... John 13:20 Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives
me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me." (WEB NAS). ...
/w/whomever.htm - 13k

Receive (350 Occurrences)
... 9. (vi) To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on
Tuesdays. 10. ... (WEY NAS). Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives. ...
/r/receive.htm - 36k

Welcome (31 Occurrences)
... Mark 9:37 "Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever
receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me." (See NIV). ...
/w/welcome.htm - 15k

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