How does Judges 19:5 connect with New Testament teachings on hospitality? Text Snapshot: Judges 19:5 “On the fourth day they got up early in the morning to depart, but the young woman’s father said to his son-in-law, ‘Refresh yourself with something to eat, and then you can go.’” Hospitality on Display • The father-in-law postpones the journey so his guests can be strengthened—an intentional, tangible act of care. • Food, rest, and relationship are offered before travel resumes, reflecting a culture in which welcoming others was a moral duty. • By repeating the invitation (vv. 4–9), he models perseverance in kindness, not mere obligation. Connecting Threads to the New Testament • Romans 12:13 — “Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.” – Like the father-in-law, believers are urged to meet physical needs first. • Hebrews 13:2 — “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…” – Judges 19:5 features in-laws, yet later verses reveal strangers in Gibeah; Scripture lays groundwork for welcoming both family and unknown travelers. • 1 Peter 4:9 — “Show hospitality to one another without complaining.” – The father-in-law’s insistence is cheerful, not grudging. • Acts 16:15 (Lydia), Acts 28:7 (Publius) – Consistent pattern: meals and lodging offered to God’s servants before ministry continues. • Matthew 25:35 — “I was a stranger and you took Me in.” – Judges 19 contrasts warm hospitality (vv. 4-9) with its tragic absence in Gibeah (vv. 15-26), underscoring Christ’s warning about eternal stakes attached to welcoming or rejecting others. Shared Principles We Can Act On 1. Hospitality starts with the heart, but it shows up in concrete provisions—food, protection, time. 2. Biblical hospitality is proactive; the host initiates (“Refresh yourself…”). 3. Persistence in kindness reflects God’s steadfast love; it doesn’t end at first polite refusal. 4. The home is a primary arena for ministry, preparing travelers (or modern guests) for the work God has ahead of them. 5. Welcoming others safeguards communities from the cruelty that follows when hospitality is withheld (cf. Judges 19:22-30). Living It Out Today • Keep simple, ready-to-share meals or snacks on hand so interruptions become ministry moments. • Schedule margin in daily life to say, “Stay and be refreshed,” rather than rushing people out the door. • Involve the whole household—children included—in greeting, serving, and blessing guests. • Extend invitations beyond close friends to new believers, missionaries on furlough, or neighbors you barely know. • Remember every act of hospitality ultimately honors Christ, who welcomed us when we were strangers (Ephesians 2:12-13). |
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