The Best 50+ Bible Verses About Hospitality

Ever wondered what the Bible says about welcoming others? You're in the right place. Let's explore some timeless wisdom on hospitality.

From ancient stories to profound teachings, these verses offer a rich tapestry of insights. Ready to dive in?

50 Bible Verses About Hospitality

10 Bible Verses on Hospitality in the Old Testament

• "Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, 'My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.' They said, 'Do as you have said.' So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, 'Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.' And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate." — Genesis 18:1-8
• "Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, 'Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.' And they said, 'No, but we will spend the night in the open square.' But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate." — Genesis 19:1-3
• "You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." — Exodus 22:21
• "And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." — Leviticus 19:33-34
• "Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." — Deuteronomy 10:19
• "And the old man said, 'Peace be with you! However, let all your needs be my responsibility; only do not spend the night in the open square.' So he brought him into his house and gave fodder to the donkeys. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank." — Judges 19:20-21
• "So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, 'Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.' And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, 'Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.'" — 1 Kings 17:10-11
• "Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. And she said to her husband, 'Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.'" — 2 Kings 4:8-10
• "(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, for I have opened my doors to the traveler.)" — Job 31:32
• "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?" — Isaiah 58:7

10 Bible Verses on New Testament Hospitality

• "For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in" — Matthew 25:35
• "Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.' And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'" — Luke 10:38-42
• "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." — Acts 2:46-47
• "Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.' So she persuaded us." — Acts 16:14-15
• "distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality." — Romans 12:13
• "The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house." — 1 Corinthians 16:19
• "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." — Hebrews 13:2
• "Be hospitable to one another without grumbling." — 1 Peter 4:9
• "Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth." — 3 John 1:5-8
• "But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you." — Philemon 1:22

10 Bible Verses on Hospitality to Strangers

• "Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." — Hebrews 13:1-2
• "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" — Matthew 25:40
• "The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." — Leviticus 19:34
• "distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality." — Romans 12:13
• "Be hospitable to one another without grumbling." — 1 Peter 4:9
• "(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, for I have opened my doors to the traveler.)" — Job 31:32
• "Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, 'My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.'" — Genesis 18:1-5
• "And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold." — Acts 28:2
• "Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." — Deuteronomy 10:19
• "well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work." — 1 Timothy 5:10

10 Bible Verses on Generosity and Hospitality

• "The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself." — Proverbs 11:25
• "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7
• "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." — Luke 6:38
• "Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share." — 1 Timothy 6:18
• "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." — Hebrews 13:16
• "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" — Acts 20:35
• "He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given." — Proverbs 19:17
• "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward." — Matthew 10:42
• "He who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." — Romans 12:8
• "But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" — 1 John 3:17

10 Bible Verses on Love and Hospitality

• "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." — 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
• "We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also." — 1 John 4:19-21
• "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." — Romans 13:8
• "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" — 1 Peter 4:8
• "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." — John 13:34-35
• "But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." — Colossians 3:14
• "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." — Galatians 5:13
• "With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love." — Ephesians 4:2
• "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you." — 1 Thessalonians 3:12
• "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." — 1 John 4:7

What Does the Bible Say About Hospitality

Hospitality, as depicted in the Bible, is a profound expression of love and generosity. The verses from both the Old and New Testaments emphasize the importance of welcoming strangers and caring for those in need. For instance, Genesis 18:1-8 recounts Abraham's eagerness to host three visitors, showcasing the virtue of selfless service. Similarly, Hebrews 13:2 reminds us that by entertaining strangers, we might unknowingly welcome angels, highlighting the divine significance of hospitality.

The teachings extend beyond mere acts of kindness to strangers. They encourage a broader sense of community and love. Romans 12:13 urges believers to be "given to hospitality," while 1 Peter 4:9 advises us to be hospitable without grumbling. These verses suggest that true hospitality is not just about opening our homes but also our hearts, fostering a spirit of generosity and compassion.

Moreover, the Bible links hospitality with love and generosity. Proverbs 11:25 states, "The generous soul will be made rich," implying that acts of kindness enrich both the giver and the receiver. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 beautifully describes love as patient and kind, qualities that are essential in practicing hospitality. By embracing these teachings, we can create a more compassionate and hopeful world, reflecting the love and grace that the Bible advocates.

How to Apply Hospitality Bible Verses in Daily Life

Applying the teachings of hospitality in daily life can be both simple and transformative. Start by being more attentive to the needs of those around you.

Here are some actionable steps to get you started:

• Invite someone over for a meal: Sharing food is a timeless way to show hospitality.
• Offer a listening ear: Sometimes, the best way to be hospitable is to simply listen.
• Volunteer your time: Helping at a local shelter or community center can make a big difference.
• Be kind to strangers: A smile or a kind word can go a long way in making someone feel welcome.
• Support those in need: Donate to charities or offer help to neighbors who may be struggling.

Remember, hospitality is not just about grand gestures but also small, consistent acts of kindness.

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