Humble Hospitality


Luke 14: 1-14; Hebrews 13: 1-8, 15,16

In Luke 14 Jesus goes to the house of the leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath. He is approached by a man with edema. The question on the Pharisees’ minds is, “will he heal this man on the Sabbath?” Healing is considered work, so it is forbidden on the Sabbath. Jesus answers them back with another question. “How many would rescue an ox or their child if they fell into a pit on the Sabbath? To this they can’t respond so he heals the man.

Now Jesus watches while the guests of this meal choose places of honor, sitting closer to the host. So, Jesus tells them a parable. He tells them that it’s better to sit at the lower seat so they can be moved up instead of being asked to be moved down from a higher seat.

Jesus adds another note to this seating in humbleness rule. It is not to just invite – be hospitable to those who can repay you but to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind – those who cannot repay you.

In the Hebrews 13 passage it says to let mutual love continue. One way of this is hospitality, but we are told here to not neglect the stranger. In fact, by doing so some have entertained angels – think of Abraham. Other ways of continuing mutual love to all is through remembering those who are in prison, holding the marriage bed in honor, and being content with what you have.

Examples of us to follow in this mutual love are the leaders who spoke God’s word to us. Consider the outcome of their way of life. If they showed mutual love and humble hospitality, imitate their faith.

We have talked about the sacrifices of animals and grain under the Old Covenant but the sacrifice under the New Covenant is to continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, doing good, and sharing what you have.

True humble hospitality is sharing what you have not only with friends, but with the stranger and those not able to repay you. This is a sacrifice pleasing to God. So let us not neglect to show humble hospitality to all. 

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