As a general rule, we in this nation are extremely blessed. We’re all steward of the great blessings that God has given us in our lives. As blessed as we are in this country though, it can be very easy to develop a selfish view of what we have in this life. We can become unwilling to share our time, our attention, and the material blessings we have with those around us. As servants of the Lord, however, we should cast off feelings of selfishness, and look for opportunities to show hospitality to all men.

The Bible has a lot to say on the subject of hospitality. We could easily consider:

  • “Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:19)
  • “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” (Hebrews 13:2)
  • “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9)

Today, however, we’re going to look at the teachings of Jesus about hospitality, and more than that, we’re going to look at how Jesus showed hospitality during His life.

Jesus – A Friend to the Friendless

His Teaching – The Dinner Party

  • Jesus’ Teaching on Hospitality – “Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”” (Luke 14:12–14)
  • Application to Us
    • Hospitality is not a vehicle to win the social popularity contest.
    • When we open out lives to those in the greatest needs, we echo Jesus’ perfect example as He came as the great Physician to heal those who were sick.
    • Jesus isn’t saying that it’s wrong to invite your friends and family over for a meal, but if you’re the kind of person who only extends that courtesy to those in your inner circle, you’re missing out on a wonderful opportunity.
  • Jesus’ Example of Hospitality – Eating with the Tax Collectors
    • “Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”” (Matthew 9:10–13)
    • Jesus was a friend to the friendless, and wants us to follow suit. We should never be so exalted, that we become disconnected from the needs of others.

Jesus – Using Every Opportunity

His Teaching – At Judgment

  • Jesus’ Teaching on Hospitality – “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for 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.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:41–45)
  • Application to Us
    • Our relationship with God also depends on our treatment of everyone, even the lowliest among us.
    • “A person who is nice to you, but is not nice to the waiter, is not a nice person.”
    • If we had opportunity to show hospitality to Jesus, how would we act? Do we realize that we have opportunity every day to show hospitality to Jesus?
  • Jesus’ Example of Hospitality – The Woman at the Well
    • “So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” (John 4:5–9)
    • Just a chance encounter with a Samaritan woman, but Jesus used the opportunity to teach her and offer her living water.

Jesus – Watchfully Compassionate

His Teaching – The Good Samaritan

  • Jesus’ Teaching on Hospitality – “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”” (Luke 10:29–37)
  • Application to Us
    • “And when he saw him, he had compassion.”
    • We can get so caught up in ourselves that we just aren’t looking at the needs of others – especially those in the greatest need.
    • When we do see someone who needs our support, is compassion the response we have, or is it suspicion, fear, or even just plain apathy? Compassion should be our response, and a compassion that motivates us go above and beyond to meet the need.
  • Jesus’ Example of Hospitality – Feeding the Multitude
    • “In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”” (Mark 8:1–3)
    • Jesus was not only aware of the needs of those who followed Him, but His reaction was compassionate. He knew their hearts and how they only really followed Him for the miracles, but He still acknowledged the need to help.