Hospitality: General Scriptures Concerning

You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Do not oppress a foreign resident, since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.

When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him.

You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

You are to have the same standard of law for the foreign resident and the native; for I am the LORD your God.’”

He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.

So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat and be filled within your gates.

Then you shall declare in the presence of the LORD your God, “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all the commandments You have given me. I have not transgressed or forgotten Your commandments.

‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars. …

Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies; …

Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?

Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. …

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. …

Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid. …

Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.

Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her with anything she may need from you. For she has been a great help to many people, including me.

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

…and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.

As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.

Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Show hospitality to one another without complaining.

If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you. …