Hospitality

HOSPITALITY is the free (unremunerated) provision of lodging and board to a stranger. Our word "guest," in its original form, is the Sanscrit ghas, meaning "to eat." We come as strangers into this world, and are from our birth thrown upon the hospitality of our friends. God, too, regards us as his guests, and himself sets the most beautiful example of lavish and noble hospitality. Ps 5:7-8; Gen 23:5 ff. The joys of heaven, both in parable and vision, are pictured under the figure of a feast. The invitation is given to every one — to the poor, indeed, rather than the rich. Luke 14:15 ff.; Rev 19:9. God's Son was in this respect his exhibition, for he fed the multitudes who waited upon his ministry not only with spiritual but with natural food. When, therefore, the N.T. writers enjoin hospitality upon believers, they are only calling upon them to do what God so constantly does. Rom 12:13; 1 Tim 3:2; 1 Tim 5:10; 1 Pet 4:9. In Heb 13:2 we are encouraged to the duty by the fact that some have entertained angels unawares, referring to Gen 18-19. The story of Abraham's treatment of his guests there related is a faithful description of an Oriental's conduct, and is illustrated by the hospitality of the Bedouins. For to-day, as in the hoary past, the sheikh sits in his tent to receive the passers-by; he rejoices to dispense his kindness; payment is refused; the host considers himself sufficiently repaid by the gratitude of his guest. The exercise of hospitality is commanded, Lev 19:33-34; Lev 25:14 ff.; Deut 15:7. Instances are given incidentally in the histories of Abraham, Lot, Jethro, Ex 2:20, Manoah, Jud 13:15, the old man of Gibeah, Jud 19:17 ff. By a study of these chapters an accurate understanding of the practice can be derived. The host was surety for the safety of his guest, even as to-day to have eaten salt, although accidentally, with a Bedouin is to have his protection. National hatred and fanaticism, however, occasionally suppressed this kindly feeling. Thus the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, John 4:9, and therefore the Samaritans refused to give our Lord lodgment, Luke 9:53. In the early Christian Church the command of universal brotherly love, Gal 6:10, was implicitly obeyed. Their readiness in discharging the duty of hospitality won the admiration of the heathen. "Believers scarcely ever travelled without letters of communion, which testified the purity of their faith and procured for them a favorable reception wherever the name of Jesus Christ was known." It was thought disgraceful for a Christian to be obliged to stop at an inn if there were Christians in the place. See Inn.