Gospel in Art: Whoever gives these little ones even a cup of cold water...

Glass of Water and Coffeepot by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, 1761 © Carnegie Museum of Art, Howard A Noble Fund

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 13 July 2026
Matthew 10:34-11:1

At that time: Jesus instructed his Apostles: 'Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

'Whoever receives you, receives me, and whoever receives me, receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.'

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Reflection on the painting

The recent spells of very hot weather here in the UK and large parts of Europe, reminded us how precious something as simple as a cool drink of water can be. When temperatures rise, we become much more aware of our dependence on the small things that sustain us. In the lands where Jesus lived and preached, such heat was a regular part of life, and a cup of fresh water offered to a traveller was a genuine act of hospitality and kindness.

It is against this backdrop that Jesus says in today's Gospel that whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of his disciples will not go without a reward. He refers to his followers as "little ones", suggesting the humility and trust that should characterise every believer. It is such a lovely, affectionate way Jesus describes us: 'little ones'. Elsewhere in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus teaches that we must become like children if we are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. To be a disciple is to recognise our dependence on God, like a child to a parent.

The Lord reminds us that, in God's eyes, no gesture of love is insignificant. A kind word, a helping hand, a listening ear, or something as simple as a glass of water offered in charity all have eternal value.

At first glance, Chardin's Glass of Water and Coffeepot appears to be almost too simple to draw our attention: a glass of water, a silver coffeepot, a few onions and flowers on a table. Yet the longer we look, the more extraordinary the painting becomes. Chardin elevates the ordinary into something extraordinary. The light dancing through the transparent glass, the reflections on the polished metal, and the quiet stillness of the scene invite us to pause and rediscover the beauty hidden within everyday life. Nothing dramatic is happening, yet everything seems charged with beauty.

It is a fitting image for today's Gospel. Jesus tells us that even the gift of a simple cup of cold water offered in his name will not go unnoticed by God. What appears small and insignificant in human eyes can possess immense value in the Kingdom of Heaven. Chardin understood this truth as an artist: that the commonplace objects we pass by each day are worthy of contemplation and wonder. Likewise, Christ teaches us that ordinary acts of kindness (offering refreshment, showing hospitality, caring for one another) become extraordinary when they are done with love. The Christian life is often built not upon grand gestures, but upon countless simple offerings, each one as clear, pure, and life-giving as a simple glass of cold water.

LINKS

Christian Art: www.christian.art
Today's image: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-10-34-11-1-2026/