What Is Hospitality?

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” ¹   Hebrews 13:2

1 Thess. 5:15 - The "all" in this verse is one of those words in the NT that gives Bible teachers fits.  It takes it's meaning from the context around it.  It can mean all of a certain group, or all, universally.  One must look at the surrounding verses to decide what the "all" is that is being spoken of.  Paul has discussed how the pastors are to serve the people and how the people are to respond to the pastors (vv. 12,13). In these verses, he presents how the people are to treat each other in the fellowship of the church. The “unruly,” namely those out of line, must be warned and taught to get back in line. The “fainthearted,” those in fear and doubt, must be encouraged and made bold. The “weak,” those without spiritual and moral strength, must be held up firmly. Patience, forgiveness and acts of goodness must prevail between all the people. 

Now, inherent in all of this counsel is the truth the Pastor (and that is Paul's audience here) is that he is dealing with the visible church.  There is no indication that he is dealing ONLY with those who know Christ.  Timothy is counselled, for instance to do "the work of an evangelist", certainly not something done on folks already believers.  This is a part of what makes dealing with words used like "all" so difficult. 

Further, the "all" in a context like this one (5:5) is plural and is likely a reference to the church at large and not a reference to any singular believer either personally or in concept.  Paul is saying that Timothy is have the good of himself and the whole church in his mind when he ministers, and not any single believer; good advice to say the least.

“…includes even your enemies.” - This is surely true.  In order to follow after the example of Christ, we must be willing to show hospitality to those who hate us.  Christ surely did!  If the NT shows us anything it shows us that!  He came among those who despised Him and He showed them "hospitaility" and brought them God's love - that is what we are to do as well!

“…because our actions may even influence someone toward salvation.” - Of course, a second goal is to bring believers, wayward believers to the place of exercising a stronger and more vibrant experience of their faith in their Lord.  One's walk with Christ and witness is not limited to the unredeemed, and we must remember that.  Living out our lives, representing our Lord Jesus Christ MUST bear in mind the effect that it will have on these two groups and how God would us in drawing them to Himself.

“…we can never know how significant…” - Ideally, "helpful ought not be a consideration, from the point of view that we ought to be willing to be as helpful to all as possibly can be at any time.  Of course, that is almost never the case, but since we are talking about ideals here, let's go ahead and talk about the ideal!  What we wnat to see here, and what is manifest elsewhere in the the Bible is that we want to be careful to remember that many times (and the recorded illustrations in the Bible are just that - illustrations that lead us to consider that God does things in our lives as well. 

Think of that truth, as the writer to Hebrews calls us to do!  There are times when, for the sake of blessing, or for the sake of testing, God sends angels among men!  As conservatives, we tend to reject the very idea of the miraculous, at least in the "Charismatic" kind of way.  Ye the Bible makes it clear that God often does just these kind of things.

“…the third was the Lord Himself.” - I've often wondered if this, as it did in the OT,  does not occassionally happen.  The only reason I can think of for it not to be that it was so in the OT for a specific reason - to point to the coming Messiah and direct men and their thoughts to His coming ministry.  That purpose cannot, naturally, be accomplished should God visit men today.  That is not to say that God could not or would visit men literally, but His purpose would surely need to be very different, though we would argue that it would need to be every bit as real and definate (and as demonstrable to all men).

Matt. 25:40 - This the key to understanding the concept of "hospitality".   This specifically refers, in particular to other disciples. Some would apply this to national Israel; others to needy people in general. But here Christ is specifically commending “those on His right” (v. 34) for the way they received His emissaries.  This is a similar passage to Matthew 18:15 that does not speak of actual little children either.  

4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

This too speaks not of literal children, but children in the sense described in vv. 3, 4 (those who have humbled themselves like children), i.e., true believers.  So what is in view were Christ’s disciples (10:42; 12:48, 49; 18:14), not the poor and needy in general. The judgment of the nations depends on how they respond to Christians and to the gospel (10:40–42), not only because it is through the testimony of Christians that the Gentiles can hear and believe (Rom. 10:14), but also because Christ identifies with His people. Their suffering is His suffering, and compassion shown to them is compassion shown to Him.

It is interesting to note that the three groups are referred to in vv. 31–46: sheep, goats, and My brethren. At the very least, thus we must conclude that these “brethren” are believers in Jesus Christ.  There is no way that this verse it talking about children.

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[1]  This year I am often using MacArthur’s devotional “Strength for Today” as a starting point for my comments. Quotes from MacArthur’s Devotional are in boldface.