Hospitality is a virtue that is emphasized throughout the Bible. Showing hospitality to others, especially to strangers and those in need, is seen as an important way for believers to live out their faith. Here are some key Bible passages about hospitality and what they teach us:
Old Testament Verses on Hospitality
In the Old Testament, hospitality is presented as a sacred duty and act of righteousness. Several verses instruct God’s people to be hospitable and care for strangers, travelers, and the poor.
Genesis 18:1-8 – Abraham welcomes three strangers who turn out to be angels. He and Sarah provide graciously for their guests, killing a calf and baking bread. This passage shows hospitality as an act of faith and blessing.
Genesis 19:1-3 – Lot takes in two travelers, showing hospitality even in the wicked city of Sodom. He insists they stay at his house and washes their feet.
Exodus 22:21 – “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” God commands His people to care justly for foreigners and travelers because of their own experience as oppressed foreigners in Egypt.
Leviticus 19:9-10 – Farmers are instructed not to reap to the edges of their fields so that the gleanings can be left for the poor and the sojourner. This shows care and provision for the vulnerable.
Leviticus 19:33-34 – “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with 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.”
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 – “God executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.” Again, God commands care for foreigners and reminds the Israelites of how they were once mistreated foreigners.
These and other Old Testament verses portray hospitality as an act of faith, linked to righteousness and justice. Caring for the vulnerable reflects God’s character and how He treated Israel.
New Testament Verses on Hospitality
In the New Testament, hospitality remains a virtue but takes on additional meaning for Christians. It becomes a way to care for fellow believers, welcome newcomers into the church, and show love to all.
Matthew 25:31-46 – Jesus teaches that when we care for strangers, the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned, it is as if we are caring for Christ himself. This includes showing hospitality to “the least of these.”
Luke 10:38-42 – Jesus is welcomed into the home of Mary and Martha. He praises Mary’s choice to sit at his feet rather than be distracted with tasks of hospitality. Hospitality enables fellowship.
Luke 14:12-14 – When putting on a banquet, don’t just invite friends and family who can repay you, but the poor and needy. True hospitality is given freely without expectation of return.
Luke 24:13-35 – On the road to Emmaus, Jesus meets two disciples who invite him to stay with them. In breaking bread together, their eyes are opened to his identity. Hospitality opens our eyes to see God’s presence.
Acts 16:11-15 – Lydia welcomes Paul and Silas into her home after she comes to believe their message. Her hospitality allows her to support these leaders in spreading the gospel.
Romans 12:13 – “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” As Christians, we are called to meet one another’s needs and be hospitable, not insular.
Hebrews 13:1-2 – “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” The call to love fellow believers contains the call to welcome them into our homes and lives.
1 Peter 4:9-10 – “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.” Freely sharing our gifts and homes exemplifies mutual love and service among believers.
The hospitable welcome Christ and the disciples gave became a model for the early church. Within the Christian community, hospitality enabled caring for spiritual needs and building relationships. It also provided practical aid for traveling preachers and teachers.
Principles of Biblical Hospitality
Drawing from these and other passages, here are some key principles for biblical hospitality:
- Hospitality is an expression of love that builds relationships – with God, fellow believers, neighbors, strangers.
- It involves welcoming, feeding, housing, and caring for others generously, without compulsion or reward.
- Our hospitality should extend to the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized, not just those who can repay us.
- As we have received freely from God, so we freely give to others.
- When we show hospitality, we may encounter Christ himself in the guest.
- Hospitality requires giving our time, attention, and resources to care for others’ needs.
- Serving with hospitality allows us to use our gifts to build up the church.
- Making room for others necessitates letting go of selfishness and distraction.
- Hospitality fosters fellowship, witness, and mutual blessing.
The Bible portrays hospitality as much more than just entertaining. It is a way for believers to tangibly live out Christ’s love, sacrificially serve people in need, and build authentic community. When we welcome others generously, we create space for God’s kingdom to grow in their lives and ours.
Examples of Biblical Hospitality
Along with commanding hospitality, the Bible provides us with models to illustrate what open-hearted welcome can look like. We see hospitality expressed in a variety of settings and contexts.
In homes – Mary and Martha welcomed Jesus into their household (Luke 10:38-42). Lydia similarly invited Paul and his companions to stay at her house (Acts 16:15). Gaius opened not just his home but his whole life to the service of fellow Christians (Romans 16:23).
With food – Meals play a key role in many accounts of hospitality. Abraham and Sarah provide a feast for heavenly visitors (Genesis 18:1-8). The Levite is welcomed with a meal by the old man in Gibeah (Judges 19). Jesus eats at the homes of both the Pharisee Simon and the tax collector Zacchaeus, extending radical welcome (Luke 7:36-50, 19:1-10).
Toward strangers – Hospitality in the Bible often focused specifically on caring for vulnerable strangers. The good Samaritan bandaged the wounds of a man who was a stranger, bringing him to an inn for care (Luke 10:25-37). Hebrews 13:2 warns that in showing hospitality to strangers, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Expecting nothing in return – When Jesus tells the parable of inviting the poor and outcast to one’s banquet, it is to be done without expectation of repayment or reciprocation (Luke 14:12-14). Similarly, 1 Peter 4:9 instructs believers to show hospitality to one another “without grumbling,” not as a burden but as joyful service.
With spiritual nourishment – Jesus gained a welcomed audience with the two disciples traveling to Emmaus when he first offered hospitality through walking with them and helping them understand Scripture more deeply (Luke 24:13-35). Love and care can prepare hearts for truth.
With practical provision – Being hospitable often meant meeting tangible needs. Paul gathered a collection from Macedonian churches to help needy Christians in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8). Local churches cared for widows among them through the daily distribution of food (Acts 6:1-6).
These examples demonstrate that biblical hospitality encompasses meeting a wide range of needs – physical, social, emotional, spiritual. It takes place in homes and along roads, toward friends and strangers alike. Jesus set the ultimate model through His incarnation, entering our “home” to save, serve, and dwell with us.
Cautions Regarding Biblical Hospitality
Scripture does contain some cautions regarding the practice of hospitality so that it is carried out appropriately:
- We should seek wisdom and discernment to know when showing hospitality may cause more harm than good (as with Lot’s daughters in Genesis 19:4-11).
- Hospitality should be offered freely and not used as a cover for greed or sordid gain (Titus 1:11, 1 Peter 5:2).
- Welcoming others into our lives and homes should not lead us into sin but be an opportunity for encouragement in godliness (Hebrews 13:2).
- Balance and wisdom are needed so that care for outsiders does not come at the expense of caring for our own families (1 Timothy 5:8).
- Serving wholeheartedly with the strength God supplies guards against hospitality becoming burdensome (1 Peter 4:9-11).
- Offering welcome should go along with discernment to protect the church from false teachers and dangerous influences (2 John 7-11).
With wisdom and dependence on God, we can avoid the pitfalls and embrace the Christlike generosity that hospitality enables. Our homes and gatherings become outposts of God’s love when guided by biblical principles.
Applying Biblical Hospitality Today
So what should practicing biblical hospitality look like for Christians today? Here are some key applications to take away:
- Seek to cultivate a welcoming spirit that looks for opportunities to show care to others in word and deed.
- Be open to the promptings of the Spirit – offer an invitation, share a meal, provide lodging when God puts someone in need in your path.
- Make room in your schedule, home, and budget to serve and build up others without pretense or reserve.
- Consider those in your community, church, workplace, etc. who may be lonely or marginalized. How can you draw them in?
- Demonstrate acceptance of people regardless of race, status, past sins – as Jesus did.
- Aim to provide rest and nourishment for the whole person – physical, emotional, spiritual.
- Seek to listen well, make others feel heard and valued.
- Be willing to leave your comfort zone and sacrifice personal preferences when serving.
- Offer hospitality humbly, not as an imposition or burden but freely as God’s ambassador.
When Jesus said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35), he set the mandate for all believers. We must let biblical hospitality challenge and inspire us to greater generosity. What matters is that each encounter offers a glimpse of God’s heart of compassion. By opening our lives to reflect His perfect love and grace, we participate in Kingdom work.