Hospitality, a duty of God’s people (2)

Hospitality is commanded by God

Hebrews 13:2 NASB 2020

2 Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

See also Is 58:6–7; Jn 13:12–15; Ro 12:13; 1 Pe 4:9

Hospitality is a responsibility of leaders

1 Timothy 3:2 NASB 2020

2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

See also 1 Ti 5:9–10; Tt 1:8

Hospitality indicates true discipleship

Job 31:32 NASB 2020

32 “The stranger has not spent the night outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler.

See also Mt 25:35

Hospitality crosses social barriers

Of race

Leviticus 19:33–34 NASB 2020

33 ‘When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.

See also Ex 22:21; Ex 23:9

Of class and status

Luke 14:12–14 NASB 2020

12 Now He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “Whenever you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor wealthy neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you to a meal in return, and that will be your repayment. 13 But whenever you give a banquet, invite people who are poor, who have disabilities, who are limping, and people who are blind; 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

See also Jas 2:2–4

Hospitality is to be offered to Christian ministers

Romans 16:1–2 NASB 2020

1 I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea, 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.

See also Col 4:10; 3 Jn 5–10

Hospitality is to be refused to false teachers

2 John 10–11 NASB 2020

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

Hospitality as a picture of salvation

Ps 23:5–6; Re 3:20 Jesus Christ comes as a willing guest to the repentant, as a sign of renewed fellowship.

See also Is 25:6; Mt 22:1–14; Lk 14:15–24; Lk 19:1–10; Jn 14:2–3

Warnings against inhospitable behaviour

Deuteronomy 23:3–4 NASB 2020

3 No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, may ever enter the assembly of the Lord, 4 because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.

See also Mt 10:14; Mt 25:41–45