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Hospitality
Aaron Erhardt
Hospitality
comes from a Greek word (philoxenian) that means “friendly to strangers.”
The idea is being generous or kind to guests. Hospitality was a highly esteemed
virtue in the ancient world, and it is strongly emphasized in the New Testament:
Romans
12:13 -- “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality”
Hebrews
13:2 -- “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers”
1
Peter 4:9 -- “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling”
Jesus
depended on hospitality during His earthly ministry and instructed His disciples
to show hospitality. He even linked hospitality to the outcome of final
judgment:
Matthew
25:31-46 -- “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with
him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all
the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd
separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right,
but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come,
you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was
naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and
you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when
did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when
did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when
did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer
them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart
from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave
me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did
not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also
will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a
stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then
he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to
one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away
into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Furthermore,
hospitality was a mandatory qualification for overseers in the local church (1
Timothy 3:2) and for widows who received permanent benevolence (1 Timothy 5:10).
In
the first century, inns were notoriously immoral, being little better than
brothels, and the disciples were usually very poor. Therefore, they relied on
each other for hospitality. In fact, 3 John was written to commend a Christian
named Gaius for receiving traveling preachers into his home. Though they were
“strangers” (v. 5), Gaius was always ready to share with those in need.
While times may have changed, that same spirit should exist among Christians
today.
Misappropriated
Hospitality
(1) When extended to false teachers. John forbade Christians from showing
hospitality to those who teach error in 2 John 10-11. He wrote, “If anyone
comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your
house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked
works.” Interestingly, John draws a contrast in 3 John 8 by encouraging
Christians to be hospitable to teachers of truth.
(2)
When extended out of compulsion. One may welcome others into his home with the
attitude “I owe them a meal” or “it is my turn.” When this is the case,
the spirit and meaning of true hospitality is forgotten.
There
was a time when we were “strangers” (Ephesians 2:12), and yet God showed us
great kindness. He welcomed us into His house and supplied our needs. Christians
who remember that fact will have no problem showing hospitality to others. It is
something they will gladly “seek” to do (Romans 12:13).
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