How does Judges 19:21 connect with Hebrews 13:2 about entertaining strangers?

Setting the Scene in Judges 19:21

• “So he brought him into his house and fed the donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.” (Judges 19:21)

• The unnamed old man in Gibeah offers food, shelter, and care to a weary Levite, his concubine, and servant.

• He practices genuine hospitality even amid a spiritually dark culture (Judges 17:6; 21:25).

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Hebrews 13:2—The Timeless Call

• “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)

• Written to believers facing pressure, Hebrews urges an active, ongoing habit of welcoming outsiders.

• The verse alludes to Abraham (Genesis 18) and Lot (Genesis 19), reminding readers that unseen heavenly visitors may be involved.

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Connecting the Two Passages

1. Same God-given ethic

– Judges 19:21 illustrates the ancient Near-Eastern practice God embedded in Israel’s life (Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:18-19).

– Hebrews 13:2 reaffirms this ethic for New-Covenant believers.

2. Contrast between obedience and societal decay

– Hospitality in Judges shines as a rare act of righteousness against Gibeah’s impending wickedness (Judges 19:22-26).

– Hebrews exhorts the church not to let surrounding unbelief smother this virtue.

3. Hidden spiritual dimension

– Judges 19 hints at God’s oversight; the old man unknowingly serves God’s covenant representative (the Levite).

– Hebrews states explicitly that angels may be present, elevating every guest encounter to a divine appointment.

4. Covenant witness

– In Judges, hospitality distinguishes covenant faithfulness from Canaanite-like depravity.

– In Hebrews, it marks the church as Christ’s body (John 13:34-35; Matthew 25:35).

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Practical Takeaways for Today

• Guard the doorway of your home and heart: open to strangers, closed to sin (Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9).

• Expect God’s involvement: every guest could be heaven-sent.

• Stand out in a self-centered culture: radical hospitality testifies to Christ’s love (3 John 5-8).

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Summary Snapshot

Judges 19:21 depicts one man’s faithful welcome in a corrupt town; Hebrews 13:2 commands every believer to do likewise, reminding us that our ordinary acts of kindness may resonate in eternity.