We are instructed to “share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality (Rom. 12:13). This is in a passage where Paul is teaching us about what it means to love one another.So we ask: “What is ‘hospitality’?” Our first reaction is to think that it means we invite friends and family over for a meal or party. But this is not what the apostle Paul is teaching us. We also have used this word to refer to the restaurant and motel industries, which may be closer to the original meaning.The Greek word that is translated “hospitality” is literally, “love of strangers.” Now the background for this is the fact that there were no motels or hotels, so when travelers came into a town in the evening, people would invite them to stay at their house. Most of the time the citizen of the town would provide a shelter for the stranger’s animals and provide a place to camp out. They may or may not provide a meal or even a room.Now during the time of Jesus many towns, especially those on the major trade routes, adopted the practice of providing an area where travelers—strangers could shelter and stay with simple structures for shelter. This is the background for the parable of the Good Samaritan where the Samaritan takes the injured person to a “pandocheion” which is translated “inn,” but literally means a place where all are received. And the person in charge is called the “pandocheus” and is usually translated the “inn-keeper” or host, but literally means the person who receives all. These two words tell us about the practice of providing shelter for strangers or travelers.So we are instructed to “practice hospitality.” Jesus teaches about this practice of hospitality in the parable of the guests (Luke 14:12-14). Jesus was teaching that inviting friends, family, or influential people— those who can return the favor or bless you because of the invitation is fellowship, but not hospitality. True hospitality is not found in how it benefits you but in how you help other people.Hospitality is all about helping those who cannot repay you— those who need your help and kindness. This is when we help people in who have emergencies, hardship cases, homeless and poor, people who may be suffering a loss, even those who need a friendly face.Hospitality is seen as a virtue possessed by those who ...
