Why did the prophet invite him to "come home with me and eat"? Immediate Context • 1 Kings 13:9,17—God’s direct command to the man of God: “You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.” • 1 Kings 13:11—An aged prophet living in Bethel hears what happened at the altar and feels compelled to meet this visitor. • 1 Kings 13:14-15—After locating him under an oak, the old prophet says, “Come home with me and eat bread.” The Cultural Weight of a Meal • In ancient Israel, sharing bread sealed fellowship (Genesis 18:1-8; Ruth 2:14). • Hospitality was a moral duty; refusing an invitation could signal distrust or disrespect (Judges 19:20-21). • A meal often confirmed prophetic partnership (1 Samuel 9:19-24). The Prophet’s Mixed Motives 1. Genuine hospitality—normal reflex to honor a fellow prophet. 2. Professional curiosity—he wants to hear more details of the sign that just occurred (1 Kings 13:11-12). 3. Possible jealousy—he had been bypassed by God in favor of a younger messenger; inviting him might reclaim influence. 4. Fleshly impulse—later he lies, claiming angelic revelation (v. 18); his invitation becomes a tool of deception. Divine Test of Obedience • God’s clear word vs. a prophet’s persuasive word: the man of God had to discern (Deuteronomy 13:1-4). • The old prophet’s invitation, though polite, was a test; obedience to God’s explicit command must override every competing voice (Galatians 1:8). • Verse 18 exposes the test: “I too am a prophet like you … an angel spoke to me … ‘Bring him back with you.’ ” – yet the narrator adds, “But he was lying to him.” Consequences Reveal the Purpose • The man of God yields, eats, and later dies by a lion (vv. 20-24). • The severity underscores that even a well-intended invitation, if contrary to God’s word, is disobedience (Numbers 20:12). • God vindicates His original instruction and preserves the authority of His spoken command. Lessons for Today • Weigh every invitation—even from respected believers—against written Scripture (Acts 17:11). • Spiritual authority never cancels God’s prior, unmistakable directive. • Hospitality is godly (Hebrews 13:2), but never at the expense of obedience. • Emotional appeals or claims of new revelation must be tested; the plain word of God stands supreme (2 Timothy 3:16-17). |
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