The word “hospitality” is wedged between “hospital,” a place of healing, and “hospice”, a place of shelter. The root of all 3 words is the Latin word Hospes, which translated is the word “guests.”
The Greek word for hospitality (philoxenia) in the New Testament means “a love of strangers.”
What Does the Bible Say About Hospitality?
James 2:15-17
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Faith needs to be accompanied by action. True faith in God expresses itself in committed action; our actions need to back up our words.
1 Peter 4:8-9
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Matthew 25:35-36
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Genesis 18—we see the example of how Abraham showed hospitality or “entertained angels without realizing it (Hebrews 13:2).”
John 13—we see a perfect example of Jesus practicing hospitality and humility.
Luke 10:38-41
Here we learn about priorities—it’s more important to be with people, to spend time with our guests, than to fuss and be frustrated about all the minutia (insignificant details).