Last month I was asked to do study of Biblical Hospitality and share what I found with our middle-school and high-school class at my church. Using the Bible, gospelcoaltion.com, Bible commentaries, and biblestudytools.org in this blog I share my findings.
When you hear hospitality what do think of? Do you think of hotels, and restaurants? Most people do. And that is one of the modern-day uses of it. But I’ve discovered that hospitality can have a much richer meaning.
What is biblical hospitality? As Abraham models in Genesis 18, biblical hospitality is a sacred duty to treat strangers and friends alike, welcoming one another into our homes, communal spaces, and lives. And God has called His people to go further, using hospitality as a way to minister every day.
What Is Hospitality, According to the Bible?
The official dictionary definition of hospitality reads, “the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers. The quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.”
This idea had a very practical application centuries ago, because traveling was often dangerous. People on the road were very vulnerable to weather, thieves, or even wild animal attacks. Knowing they could count on a safe place to stop made leaving home more manageable.
Many writers in both the Old and New Testament encourage God’s people to go beyond simply opening our doors, though. Leviticus 19:34 says, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself…”
According to Scriptural teaching, hospitality is one of the characteristics that God’s people need to cultivate as part of a holy lifestyle.
“...and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds” (1 Timothy 5:10). Widows
So hospitality, ideally, is a practical expression of God’s love that reflects God’s character into the world and brings Him glory. There are many examples in both Old and New Testaments. A woman who appreciated the work of the prophet Elisha went the extra measure to help him feel welcomed in her home (2 Kings 4). Or like Mary and Martha. As Jesus traveled through Bethsaida, he found respite with a generous family of siblings who attended to His needs. Or When Paul and Silas were in Philippi, they were warmly ministered to by one of the women they had just taught. Acts 16
Bible Verses about Hospitality
The Old Testament contains many instructions for God’s people to be hospitable to those who are on the road, or otherwise in need of a place to stay.
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2).
This kind of hospitality is important because inns or hotels were expensive, as well as being centers for pagan festivals and criminal activities. A further encouragement to this kind of hospitality comes from the biblical record that, through their hospitality, some have unwittingly entertained angels. This happened to Abraham in Genesis 18: 3-5 When a group of strangers appeared at his tent one day, Abraham received them with respect and concern.
And to Lot in Genesis 19, Gideon (Judg. 6:11–24), and Manoah (Judges 13:6–20). It is better to offer hospitality generously than to miss the chance to entertain angels and shows the importance of hospitality Christians ought to give one another.
"Being hospitable is different from social entertainment. Entertaining focuses on the host, (their home, the food they are serving etc)
Hospitality in contrast focuses on the guests, on their needs. Hospitality can happen in a messy home, it can happen around the dinner table where all you have is soup not some lavish meal. It can even happen when you and your friend are doing homework together. "
You can share a meal with someone after church today, Invite friends over for games or just for conversation.
Hospitality simply means making other people feel comfortable and at home. Hospitality draws people together and allows them to get to know one another.
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9).
The addition of the words without complaining gives a tinge of realism to the well-known command to be hospitable. Hospitality can be hard work: Some guests will be more difficult than others, and there may be times when it is more of a duty than a joy. In any case, Peter recommended that the believers not complain but serve their guests as though serving the Lord himself, “As you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40
Why would someone complain about being hospitable? Well…
Guests like to eat and food isn’t cheap.
Guests can eat up our emotional energy. They talk about themselves, their aches and pains, their relatives’ aches and pains. It can get tedious
Guests eat up our time. You’ve got things to do, chores, homework, to do lists.
But the Bible advises us to invest in people and to let the rest take its course. When guests arrive, focus on them generously. Your time is truly God’s. Build bonds of friendship by treating guests like royalty.
As we consider the scriptural passages that challenge us to practice hospitality, most of us can recall a time when we tried to extend friendship and were met with rejection. If you’re like me, Satan can use that rejection as a roadblock to prevent you from obeying God on future occasions.
The Gospel Coalition puts it this way, “If we are to cultivate a heart of biblical hospitality, we must refuse to rely on our achievements or to dwell on our failures. And we must lay aside past rejections and grudges. Instead, we must seek to climb the “hospitality mountain.” The work is not easy, but it’s worth it. The ascent begins with developing proper climbing strategies; here are some to get you started:
Make a list of people who would be encouraged by your offer of hospitality.
Make a plan to invite your first guests soon.
Start simple—spontaneously inviting someone home after church or school is a great beginning.
Pray that our hospitable God will give you joy in demonstrating his character to others.
Remember that memories require time and energy to create.”
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