Come Into My House

1
Come Into My House

• A Bible Study of Hospitality

2
Hospitality Then and Now

• The hospitality of today, by which is meant the
  entertainment of friends or relatives, hardly
  comes within the Biblical use of the term as
  denoting a special virtue (ISBE, Vol. 3, p. 1433)

3
What Is Hospitality?

• Hospitality (Latin, hospitium, lodging
  hospitale, a house, inn hospitalia, strangers
  apartments hospitalis, a guest hospitare, to
  receive as a guest hospes, a host)
• Hospitality the friendly and generous
  entertainment of guests
• Related words hospice, hospitable, hospital,
  host(ess), hostage, hostel(er), hotel

4
What Is Hospitality?

• Xenia Greek meaning lodging (Acts 2823
  Philemon 22)
• Xenizo Greek meaning to entertain receive as
  a guest to lodge (Acts 106,18,23,32
  2116 287 Heb. 132)
• Xenodokeo Greek meaning to lodge receive
  strangers (1 Tim. 510)

5
What Is Hospitality?

• Xenos Greek meaning stranger (Mt.
  2535,38,43,44 Rom. 1623 3 Jn. 5)
• Philoxenia Greek meaning love of strangers
  (Rom. 1213 Heb. 132)
• Philoxenos Greek meaning to exhibit
  hospitality (1 Tim. 32 Tit. 18 1
  Pet. 49)

6
What Is Hospitality?

• Philagathos Greek meaning lover of good (Tit.
  18)
• Philanthropia Greek meaning love toward men
  (Acts 282)
• Philanthropos Greek meaning love toward men
  (Acts 273)
• Philophronos Greek meaning courteous (Acts
  287)

7
What Is Hospitality?

• Hupolambano Greek meaning to receive welcome
  entertain (3 John 8)
• Sunago take in receive hospitality
  (Mt. 2535,38,43)

8
What Is Hospitality?

• Meanings conveyed from the original Greek words
• Attitude lover of good, courteous, welcome,
  generous
• Action feed, rest, entertain, lodge, shelter
• Audience guest, friend, neighbor, stranger, the
  poor

9
Old Testament Examples

• Abraham (Gen. 181-8)
• Lot (Gen. 191-11 see Judg. 1922ff)
• Rebekah (Gen. 2415-27)
• Ruel (Ex. 216-22)
• Israelite (Deut. 1013-19 1511)
• Manoah (Judg. 1315)
• Shunamite woman (2 Kings 48-13)
• Nehemiah (Neh. 517ff)
• Job (Job 3116-23,31-32)
• Worthy woman (Prov. 3120)

10
Old Testament Examples

• Why was this provided?
• Nomadic culture, travel inns were rare
• What was provided?
• Bread, water, meat, curds, milk
• Feet washed, head anointed with oil, rest
• Animal fodder, water
• Accommodations, protection, asylum

11
New Testament Examples

• Matthew (Lk. 529-32)
• Good Samaritan (Lk. 1030-35)
• Simon the tanner (Acts 105-6,23)
• Cornelius, Lydia the Jailor (Acts 1048
  1615,34,40)
• Philip Mnason (Acts 218,16)
• Barbarians Publius (Acts 281-10)
• Philemon (Philemon 22)
• Gaius (Rom. 1623 3 Jn. 5-8 cf. Lk.107)

12
New Testament Examples

• Why was this provided?
• Persecution scattered Christians
• Itinerate preachers
• Poverty, poor public assistance
• Low standard inns
• What was provided?
• Food
• Care for the body
• Lodging (Gr. kataluma, inn, guest room Lk.
  27 2211 pandokion(kus) Lk. 1034-35)

13
Who Is to Be Hospitable?

• Elders (1 Tim. 32 Tit. 18)
• Widows (1 Tim. 510)
• All Christians (Mt. 2535,40 Rom.
  1213 1 Pet. 49 Heb. 132)
• No one is exempt from showing hospitality!
• Note The work of hospitality is the work of the
  individual, not the local church (Acts 246 1
  Cor. 1122,34)

14
To Whom is Hospitality Shown?

• Brethren, one to another (1 Pet. 49)
• Strangers (Heb. 132)
• The poor (Lk. 1412-14)
• Note No social hospitality is shown to the
  unrepentant Christian (1 Cor. 59-13), the
  idolater (1 Cor. 1014-22), or the false teachers
  (2 Jn. 9-11 1 Jn. 41ff)

15
How and Where Do We Show Hospitality?

• Given to (pursuing) hospitality
• With love (note Rom. 129 Heb. 131 and 1 Pet.
  48)
• Without murmuring, complaining
• Not looking for a recompense
• In our home
• Outside our home (Lk. 1035 Mt.
  2535-36)

16
Why Some Are Not Hospitable

• Not willing to associate with certain kinds of
  people (prejudice)
• Not willing to care for the needs of others
  (uncompassionate, unloving)
• Not willing to sacrifice time, money or energy to
  prepare (selfishness)
• Not willing to be generous (greedy Prov. 229
  Acts 2035 Eph. 428)

17
Why Some Are Not Hospitable

• Not willing to trust anyone (cynical)
• Not willing to be available and connected with
  others (disconnected)
• Personal family ties only
• Work, school, hobbies, etc.
• TV, cell phones, IPods, etc.
• Life in the fast lane

18
Helpful Hints of Hospitality

• Eliminate excuses
• Cant cook? Buy it
• Shy or timid? Have others present
• Small house? Start with a few
• Single? Have a mixed group
• Non-Christian spouse? Go out with others
• Ashamed? Embarrassed? God sees our heart, not our
  house

19
Helpful Hints of Hospitality

• Set some goals
• Plan, purpose, and pray, set dates
• Create occasions to be hospitable
• Involve your children
• Determine to serve all the members here
• Determine to serve visitors (gospel preacher,
  non-member visitors, new converts, foreign
  evangelists)
• Save up and send money or supplies to poorer
  brethren in other countries
• Go when invited by others

20
Why Be Hospitable?

• Fulfill the NT command to be hospitable
• Provide encouragement, support, needs,
  refreshment
• Reflect stewardship
• Show your faith and love to others (Jas. 215)
• Place yourself in a position of honor later
• Serve Jesus himself (Mt. 1040 2540 Lk.
  2429-31)
• Be rewarded in the judgment day
  (Mt. 2531-46 Lk. 1414)