Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is declaring that the authority and divine connection of his messengers are inseparable from his own and, by extension, God the Father's. This means that rejecting a genuine messenger of Christ isn't just a personal snub, but a profound rejection of the divine delegation itself.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just spoken about the betrayal by one of his disciples, citing scripture to show it was foretold and not a failure of God's plan. He then assures his remaining followers that their message and ministry are not invalidated by Judas's treachery, emphasizing that receiving those He sends is receiving Him, and receiving Him is receiving God.
Imagine being called to represent someone incredibly important, only to have people dismiss you. Jesus addresses this head-on with His disciples.
Jesus isn't just sending out random people; He's sending those He has chosen. This is crucial because the effectiveness of the message doesn't rest on the messenger's perfection, but on the Sender's authority. Even when a chosen messenger (like Judas) fails, the divine appointment and the commission remain valid. The focus is on the divine source of the mission, not the flawed human carrying it out.
What happens when you welcome a messenger? Jesus reveals it's far more than just hospitality – it’s a profound connection to the divine.
This verse lays out a beautiful, layered connection::
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This creates a seamless chain of divine reception. It underscores that Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's will and presence in the world. To embrace His messengers is to open the door to Him, and to embrace Him is to be in communion with God.
Understand the original words
lambanō · Greek Verb
To accept, welcome, or take into one's life or company. In a spiritual sense, it involves embracing the message and the messenger sent by God, which is equivalent to receiving God Himself.
This saying, spoken just before Jesus' betrayal and death, reassures His followers. It emphasizes that receiving His messengers, even imperfect ones, is to receive Him, and receiving Him is to receive God the Father, highlighting the divine authority and interconnectedness of His mission.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus Calls and Commissions the Twelve Apostles
Jesus selects his closest followers, the Twelve Apostles, and commissions them to spread His message. This foundational act establishes the first layer of messengers who would represent Him.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus Predicts Judas's Betrayal
During the Last Supper, Jesus foretells that one of the Twelve, Judas Iscariot, will betray Him, referencing Old Testament prophecy.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet
In a powerful act of humility and service during the Last Supper, Jesus washes the disciples' feet, modeling a new commandment of love and service for them.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Identifies Judas as the Betrayer
Jesus directly identifies Judas as the one who will betray Him, setting the stage for Judas's departure from the supper.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Farewell Discourse
Following Judas's departure, Jesus delivers an extended farewell discourse to the remaining eleven disciples, offering them final teachings, comfort, and encouragement.
c. 30 AD
The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is arrested, crucified, and then resurrected, marking the central events of Christian faith.
c. 30-60 AD
The Apostolic Ministry and Spread of the Gospel
The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, carry out their mission, spreading the teachings of Jesus throughout the known world and establishing early Christian communities.
This passage directly echoes John 13:20, showing Jesus teaching his disciples that receiving them is equivalent to receiving Him, and by extension, the Father who sent Him.
Luke 10:16This verse further reinforces the idea that Jesus' messengers carry His authority, stating that rejecting them is the same as rejecting Him, and rejecting Him is rejecting God.
Galatians 4:14Paul's declaration that he was received as an 'angel of God, even as Christ Jesus' highlights the profound spiritual weight carried by those sent by Christ, aligning with the principle in John 13:20.
1 Samuel 16:7This verse speaks to God's focus on the heart and His divine election, which provides a backdrop for understanding Jesus' awareness of who He has chosen, even amidst betrayal, as discussed in John 13:18-20.
Psalm 41:9This Old Testament psalm, specifically quoted in John 13:18, foreshadows the betrayal Jesus experiences through Judas, demonstrating how Jesus' present suffering was part of a larger, divinely ordained narrative.
calvinJohn 13:18-20: "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me."
- I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He who eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 19. I tell you this now, before it happen, that when it shall have happened, you may believe that I am. [52] 20. Verily, verily, I tell you, if I send any one. he wh…
clarkeJohn 13:20: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."
He that received whomsoever I send - See similar words, Matthew 10:40 , etc. Our Lord spoke this to comfort his disciples: he showed them that, although they should be rejected by many, they would be received by several; and that whoever received them should reap the utmost benefit by it.
Jesus is declaring that the authority and divine connection of his messengers are inseparable from his own and, by extension, God the Father's. This means that rejecting a genuine messenger of Christ isn't just a personal snub, but a profound rejection of the divine delegation itself.
Jesus has just spoken about the betrayal by one of his disciples, citing scripture to show it was foretold and not a failure of God's plan. He then assures his remaining followers that their message and ministry are not invalidated by Judas's treachery, emphasizing that receiving those He sends is receiving Him, and receiving Him is receiving God.
Jesus has just spoken about the betrayal by one of his disciples, citing scripture to show it was foretold and not a failure of God's plan. He then assures his remaining followers that their message and ministry are not invalidated by Judas's treachery, emphasizing that receiving those He sends is receiving Him, and receiving Him is receiving God.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”" — Jesus is declaring that the authority and divine connection of his messengers are inseparable from his own and, by extension, God the Father's. This means that rejecting a genuine messenger of Christ…
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Last reviewed October 2026