Tag: hospitality

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The gift of hospitality

two people shaking hands

The Bible is clear about commanding us to be hospitable. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” There is a play on words that we miss in English here. It says do not “forget” (epilanthanomai) to show hospitality. This means to lose out of one’s mind because of neglect. For some have entertained angels “unawares” (lanthano). This word means to escape notice unwittingly. Neglect means failing to care for or pay proper attention to something. Unwittingly means doing something without knowing or intending to–accidentally or unknowingly.

In other words, if we neglect to show hospitality, we also miss out on unwittingly (accidentally) having good blessings happen to us like entertaining angels. Romans 12:13 demonstrates the intentionality we must have when offering hospitality: “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” The word “seek” means to actively pursue or chase after something. We must actively seek opportunities to be hospitable. That means we go out of our way to do so. We have to leave our comfort zone and pursue people with whom we will show hospitality to.

Likewise, 1 Peter 4:9 says, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Our attitude towards strangers and guests matters too. If we do it begrudgingly, it’s worse than if we weren’t hospitable in the first place. God expects us to be kind, warm, and inviting to strangers. This is vital if we are going to carry out the great commission.

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Show hospitality

silhouette of man with angel wings during dawn

Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained anges unawares.” Right away, we think of Sarah and Abraham, who spoke to three men near the oaks of Mamre in Genesis 18. In the form of the three angels, the Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Genesis 18:9). Of course, Sarah laughed to herself thinking she was too old to have a child.

The angels proceded toward Sodom and that’s when things got very interesting. Men of the city attempted to break into Lot’s house where the angels were staying. They wanted to do crude things to the men and Lot attempted to send his daughters outside instead. Fortunately, the angels intervened and struck the men of Sodom blind. The angels instructed Lot to get his family out of the city because God was about to destroy it.

Of course we know the end of that story. Were it not for the angels warning Lot, his entire family would have been wiped out. And were it not for Lot’s hospitality, the same end would have been met. We truly never do know when we are entertaining, or have entertained, angels. But one thing we do know–the Bible is clear that we are to be hospitable!

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Be Hospitable

positive waitress carrying plate with delicious food

The word for hospitable comes from sandwiching two words together–friend and stranger. The word for friend is philos, which is where we get the word “brotherly love.” A “philos” was someone you loved as a brother or friend. This word, combined with the word for stranger, is translated “hospitable,” but quite literally means to be friendly towards strangers.

Romans 12:13 ESV says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” 1 Peter 4:9 says, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” And in 1 Timothy 5:10, a widow could be enrolled to receive help if she is no less than sixty, had one husband, and “having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”

We often think of being hospitable as opening up our homes to friends and strangers. While this can be part of hospitality, the truest meaning is simply to be friendly to strangers–to treat them as a neighbor. Jesus epitomized hospitality throughout his ministry, including calling his disciples. When he called the Galilean women, they were strangers in need of a kind hand: “And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means” (Luke 8:1-3).

Jesus constantly showed hospitality and demonstrated how his followers should do the same.