I was in Niger overseeing famine relief in 2005 and was staying in the home of a Pastor and his wife. There was only one bucket of water available a day and they gave it to me! There was literally nothing in the shops. The animals were dying and there was little vegetation. But I remember being given a curry that the wife had made from whatever vegetables were left in her small garden. When I left they gave me gifts of cloth.
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13 v 2)
In Niger it was I who felt like an Angel. The honour they gave me as you can see has stayed with me for all this time.
The instruction to the church builds on Philadelphia love because we have moved from loving people with family love into the home of the family.
They have been doing this but they are being instructed to not forget to continue. It’s another ‘keep on’ encouragement.
There are reminders here of that hot sunny day when suddenly the Lord appears to Abram in the form of three men, Himself and 2 angels. Abram takes them into his room and shows hospitality and the result is the promised blessing that would come to him (Genesis 18).
Maybe (like for me travelling through Niger and staying in a home for a few days) the church in the 1st century had been receiving into their homes evangelists and teachers passing by. They may not have known them but they were loving strangers.
Jesus highlights the importance of hospitality when he says when we bring people no matter who they are into our homes and take care of them then we are doing it to Him (Matt 25).
The incentive is that if you only show hospitality to people you know then there won’t be an unexpected benefits but inviting people into your care that you don’t know opens up the possibility of surprises for God does want to bless you.
Missions Paul 