The Old Testament’s repeated emphasis on active care for foreigners/sojourners/refugees doesn’t change once we get to the New Testament, though it does shift to more of a general emphasis on how to love the people around us. Throughout the gospels, the heart of Jesus for disadvantaged groups of people is strong, and we are encouraged to realize that what we do for “strangers” may go well beyond the tangible things we see right away.
At the beginning of the New Testament, in the second chapter of Matthew, we can read about how Jesus and his parents fled to Egypt to avoid the threat of death from their government, similar in many ways to refugee situations we see today. Jesus experienced that life firsthand as a child.
Looking over the following four passages from the New Testament, what stands out to you? How do these teachings and situations apply to the church today?
Matthew 25:35-40 (CSB) – (Jesus speaking) “‘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 took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Luke 10:29-37 (NASB) - But wanting to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he encountered robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by coincidence a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan who was on a journey came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed compassion to him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
Acts 8:1b (NASB) - And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
Hebrews 13:1-2 (NIV) - Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Persecution and displacement were real in the early church, just as they are today. All is not lost, as God often takes those difficult situations and uses them for good, though not taking lightly the difficulty people face and their needs.
The story of the Good Samaritan is so familiar but rings true every time I hear it, forcing me to consider my response to similar situations. My desire is to always respond as the Good Samaritan did. I also want to be ready to help as the innkeeper did. He had an important role too.
Hospitality is difficult, especially when it involves people who are different than me and uncomfortable to be around for some reason. But rarely are there any regrets when hospitality is chosen over other priorities. Opportunities to “show hospitality to angels” are everywhere!
Opinions expressed are strictly my own and do not necessarily reflect those of IAFR.
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