Scripture Reading: Genesis 18:1-8
Showing Hospitality
Intro.
1. The Bible shows us that hospitality is much more than merely a potluck or a home visit. A heart that is generous and concerned for others is the source of hospitality.
2. Hospitality has always been a mark of God's people.
I. WHAT IS HOSPITALITY, AND DOES GOD COMMAND IT OF US?
A. Hospitality: Entertain Strangers, Heb. 13:2.
1. philonexia: love of strangers.
2. phileo: "to have a special interest in someone or someth., freq. with focus on close association, have affection for, like, consider someone a friend"[1] to have a special interest in someone, affection + xenos: "pertaining to being unfamiliar because of someth. being unknown, strange"[2] (BDAG)
B. God Expected it of Israel, Deut. 10:17-19.
1. Because of God's character and love of strangers, Deut. 10:18.
2. Because Israel had been strangers in Egypt.
C. Yes, God Commands Us to be Hospitable, Rom. 12:13.
1. Given to: Pursue it; to run after, follow in haste to find.
2. God tells us to love strangers, Heb. 13:2. (direct statement)
3. Do not grumble about it, 1 Pet. 4:8-9.
4. Quality of an elder, 1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:7-8.
II. TO WHOM ARE WE TO SHOW HOSPITALITY?
A. Strangers: Those Unknown to Us, Heb. 13:2.
1. Abraham, Gen. 18:1-8.
2. Lot, Gen. 19:1-3.
3. Old man in Gibeah, Jgs. 19:15-21.
4. Good Samaritan, Lk. 10:29-37 (27).
5. Martha, Lk. 10:38.
6. Two disciples on Emmaus road, Lk. 24:28-30.
B. Examples of Not Showing Hospitality:
1. Simon the Pharisee, Lk. 7:44-46.
2. Samaritans, Lk. 9:51-53.
C. "Brethren and (Especially for) Strangers", 3 Jno. 5-8.
1. Brethren, 1 Pet. 4:8-9 (to one another); (Matt. 25:37-40).
a. Spread of the gospel. "Hospitality was particularly crucial for the Christian mission in a day when lodging could not be afforded, and hence the advance of the mission depended on the willingness of believers to provide bed and board for those visiting (Matt 10:11, 40; Acts 16:15; 3 John 7–11)."[3]
b. Necessary in order for churches to meet in various homes, Rom. 16:23; Philemon 2.
c. Without grumbling, 1 Pet. 4:9. "The words 'without grumbling' acknowledge that those who open their homes may grow tired of the service. Hence, they are exhorted to be hospitable gladly, not caving in to the temptation to begrudge their charity to others."[4]
2. Strangers, Heb. 13:2, 16.
III. DO NOT FORGET TO BE HOSPITABLE, Heb. 13:2, 16.
A. Do not Neglect (be inattentive; overlook or care nothing about) (BDAG).
1. God does not overlook even one sparrow, Lk. 12:6.
2. We are not to overlook the needs of those in our lives.
3. God will not overlook your service to the saints, Heb. 6:10.
B. Requires Compassion, Lk. 10:33. (Interest, concern, empathy for others, cf. Deut. 10:19.)
C. Requires Humility, Gen. 18:2-5 (your servant).
D. Requires Kindness, cf. Acts 28:2, 7, 10.
E. Requires Generosity, 1 Pet. 4:9; 1 Tim. 6:17-19.
1. Without thought of return, cf. Lk. 14:12-14.
2. Blessings return to you, cf. Lk. 6:38.
Conclusion
1. There is room for improvement in showing hospitality.
2. Let us pursue hospitality and continue in it (Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:2).
[1] Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 1056). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
[2] Ibid, 684.
[3] Schreiner, T. R. (2003). 1, 2 Peter, Jude (Vol. 37, p. 213). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Ibid.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: July 23, 2015