Compare Judges 19:15 with Hebrews 13:2 on entertaining strangers. What insights emerge? A tale of two welcomes “They stopped to spend the night in Gibeah, and the traveler sat in the city square, but no one took them into his home for the night.” “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Setting the contrast • Judges 19 paints a bleak picture: a Levite, his concubine, and a servant are left exposed in Gibeah’s square—no invitations, no care, no safety. • Hebrews 13:2 issues a timeless call: welcome strangers eagerly, aware that God may be nearer than we realize. Why Gibeah’s silence matters • Hospitality in Israel wasn’t optional; it flowed from Leviticus 19:34—“You shall love the foreigner as yourself.” • Gibeah’s refusal signals spiritual deadness. Later that night the city’s depravity erupts (Judges 19:22-26), showing how withholding basic kindness can open the door to deeper evil. • A society that forgets covenant mercy quickly forgets moral restraint. Hebrews’ positive command • Hospitality becomes a deliberate act of faith. It recalls Abraham in Genesis 18, who welcomed three men and discovered the Lord among them. • Entertaining “angels without knowing it” reminds believers that unseen, holy watchers may be present; ultimately, Christ Himself identifies with the stranger (Matthew 25:35-40). Key insights side-by-side • Refusal in Judges 19 = warning; obedience in Hebrews 13 = blessing. • Hospitality is a thermometer for spiritual health. Cold hearts in Gibeah reveal rejection of God; warm hearts in the church reveal trust in God’s providence. • The call spans covenants. What Israel failed to do under law, the church must fulfill by grace and the Spirit (Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9). Practical takeaways – Look for the person “in the square”—new neighbor, visitor at church, co-worker on lunch break. – Open your home. Simple meals and genuine conversation are sacred spaces (Acts 2:46). – Expect God’s surprises. He may use your table to work miracles, much like He did with Abraham and the unnamed hosts of Hebrews 13. |
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