What is hospitality? It’s not what we know it to be today.
The origin of hospitality.
To the ancient Greeks and Romans, hospitality was actually one’s sacred duty. They were obliged to obey the Sacred Law of Hospitality, which meant offering bread, water, lodging, and protection to any traveler who came to their door, treating him or her as a guest. The guest was allowed to stay as long as he or she liked.
In those days, bread was thinner and crispier than our bread today, which brought about the term “breaking bread.” It signified sharing fellowship at a meal, or as it was called, the bread of fellowship.
So, if the homeowner and the guest broke bread together, they were bound together by the strongest ties of friendship, as in a covenant. This was a pledge of reconciliation and peace that would descend to their heirs for perpetuity.
Abraham welcomed three strangers into his tent (Gen 18:1-8). He bowed to greet them, which was a typical gesture of hospitality. He provided them with water to wash their dusty feet, a place to rest, and bread, butter, and milk to nourish them. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Heb 13:2 NASB). As Abraham did.
The traveler was obligated to accept whatever the host offered him. If the guest declined the offer, it meant, in essence, that the host’s bread was unfit for use, which violated the sacred law of hospitality and contained severe penalties. To refuse hospitality was an insult, fit only for an enemy.
On the other hand, a traveler would consider it a hostile act if the homeowner failed to provide food and amenities.
And one of the most despicable acts was to eat with someone and then betray them, which we know Judas did to Jesus.
Luke writes of the account of Jesus’ visit to the home of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36-47). When Simon greeted Jesus, he violated the basic custom of hospitality by failing to provide water to wash Jesus’ feet. This was a profound insult.
Jesus instructed the disciples about hospitality.
When Jesus sent out the disciples, He commanded them to take no bread or money with them, so that they would depend solely on the hospitality and acts of kindness of others and make covenant friends.
Therefore, if the disciples had rejected the hospitality offered them by others, it would have been considered an offense, hindering their efforts to spread the gospel.
Also, Jesus gave them instructions on how to respond to the cities that did not receive them in hospitality, “When you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” (Matt. 10:14-15 NKJV) Serious stuff.
When speaking to the disciples concerning the day of judgment and those not welcomed in, Jesus said, “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 take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.” (Matt. 25:41-43 NKJV) Very serious.
I find it interesting that stranger means a guest-friend, bound by ties of hospitality. Take in means among other things, to entertain hospitably, to bring one into your house for hospitality. In other words, Jesus said, “By not helping others, you received Me not with hospitality.”
This should be a wake-up call for us. Hospitality is more than having a potluck supper for our Bible study group or welcoming a new neighbor.
Paul urges us, “When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.” (Rom. 12:13 TLB)
What is our sacred duty of hospitality today? Who are those to whom we should open our door of welcome? Ask the Lord and see.
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
(1 Peter 4:9 NIV)
Lynn writes devotionals and inspirational stories. She has one book waiting to be published in 2015 and is working on a second one. Her greatest passion is to fulfill God’s call on her life to encourage others and glorify the Lord with her writing. She currently writes for several sites and writes bi-weekly on her site, Heading Home. http://lynnmosher.com
- When Heaven and Earth Collided - December 21, 2016
- A Thanksgiving Proclamation - November 23, 2016
- The Cranky Bride - October 25, 2016
