THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS - Chapter 13 - Verse 2

Verse 2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers. On the duty of hospitality, see a full explanation in See Barnes "Ro 12:13".

For thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Without knowing that they were angels. As Abraham (Ge 18:2, seq.) and Lot did, Ge 19. The motive here urged for doing it is, that by entertaining the stranger we may perhaps be honoured with the presence of those whose society will be to us an honour and a blessing. It is not well for us to miss the opportunity of the presence, the conversation, and the prayers of the good. The influence of such guests in a family is worth more than it costs to entertain them. If there is danger that we may sometimes receive those of an opposite character, yet it is not wise, on account of such possible danger, to lose the opportunity of entertaining those whose presence would be a blessing. Many a parent owes the conversion of a child to the influence of a pious stranger in his family; and the hope that this may occur, or that our own souls may be blessed, should make us ready, at all proper times, to welcome the feet of the stranger to our doors. Many a man, if he had been accosted as Abraham was at the door of his tent by strangers, would have turned them rudely away; many a one in the situation of Lot would have sent the unknown guests rudely from his door; but who can estimate what would have been the results of such a course on the destiny of those good men and their families? For a great number of instances in which the heathen were supposed to have entertained the gods, though unknown to them, see Wetstein, in loc.

{c} "some" Ge 18:3; 14:2; 1 Jo 4:7,20