Yesterday, we looked at the parable of the Good Samaritan and saw an example of incredible hospitality towards a stranger and foreigner, ending with Jesus' imperative to "go and do likewise." Today, let's look at some other NT texts and see how hospitality should also be directed towards those who are like you.
As we saw yesterday, the etymology of the words for hospitality contain the word xenos referring to strangers and foreigners. It would however be a mistake to limit the scope of the word hospitality to only strangers and foreigners. Language, as we know, is not so rigid. We must always look at how it is used in context.
In Acts 28 it is used in the context of strangers and foreigners:
Acts 28:7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
In 1 Peter 4, however, the scope seems to be within the community of faith.
1 Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
So, to practice biblical hospitality we must be willing to engage in acts of friendship with both those like us and those not like us.
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Reflection
Hospitality with those who are like you is most likely easier than with those who are not like you. However, we can easily neglect those relationships if we aren't careful. Whether it be a commitment to showing hospitality to others or simply forgetfulness, we can often let slide the relationships closest to us. Have you been doing that? Have you been neglecting to show hospitality towards those who are like you and closest to you?