Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2
My parents were hospitable people, although I don’t know if they ever entertained any angels as they opened their doors and spread their table for many strangers over their lifetimes. Were they ever taken advantage of in their generosity? Undoubtedly. Did they ever regret their hospitality? Never. That’s just the kind of people they were; sharing from their heart what they had came naturally to them. You also know people just like that. You and I like to entertain some of our close friends and some of the Lord’s people on occasion. But strangers? It takes special people to care for and share with those we don’t know.
One of the big question marks about strangers is that we don’t know how bad or how good they are. Some might be fine, upstanding, and honest people who we would be able to trust and be comfortable with. Others could be scheming and treacherous, dangerous and careless. We don’t know. It’s a risk we usually take when we entertain strangers, unless the strangers come well recommended by trustworthy friends. Is it a risk worth taking? Whether we are looking for the glory of entertaining or just looking to extend a little comfort to people who need it, there is an admonition in our text to entertain strangers. So yet, it will be worth it. Even if we never entertain angels.
The apostle is being gentle in his admonition, when he says be not forgetful. He is not telling the saints to straighten up and become hospitable. No, he is just giving them a little encouragement to keep this good work in mind whenever strangers come along. Sometimes we get absorbed in our own little circles and families, and fail to see the folks who would love to have a bit of our food and our company. Do we ever notice them? Maybe we should look for opportunities to entertain strangers; I am sure the Lord will send such opportunities along.
Nobody has been more hospitable than our Lord. While we would like to entertain nice people, He made a point of entertaining sinners and rebels, even those who would take His name in vain and cry for His blood. While we would hope for our invitees to be wonderful people, the Lord Jesus already knew how rotten we were before He extended His invitation to us. He is our greatest example in hospitality.
When you entertain strangers, don’t forget to treat them as though they actually are angels. Who knows, they just might be! –Jim MacIntosh